The company has many robots in its midrange 600 series and E series that are all about $300 or less. The app is simple and easy to use, the vacuum is quiet and powerful, and it has stellar navigation capabilities. When I reviewed the Roomba S9+, I predicted that within a few years most robot vacuums would have a self-emptying bin.
In the first generation, the dirty air passes through the fan before reaching the filter, while later models use a fan-bypass vacuum. Roombas are powered by a user-replaceable rechargeable battery; older models used NiMH batteries, while newer models use lithium-ion batteries, and a few models support both. First-generation models must be recharged from a wall power adapter, while all subsequent models have a self-charging homebase that the unit seeks out at the end of a cleaning session via infrared beacons. Later models introduced several additional operating modes, such as “Spot”, which cleans an area of a few feet, and “Max”, which cleans endlessly until the battery is depleted.
Roombas except for first-generation models also support scheduling, allowing cleaning to start at the time of day and on days of the week that the owner desires. Most 500-series models support scheduling through buttons on the unit itself, and higher-end models allow the use of a remote control, smartphone app, or smarthome automation integration to program schedules. I wrote two blogs on how to use your robot vacuum with your voice assistant, so check those out if you want to know more about Alexa voice control or Google Home voice control. A couple of manufacturers now also work with Siri Shortcuts so you can use Apple’s Siri voice assistant to command your bot. If this is something you want, look for robots from iRobot or higher-end models from Roborock and Ecovacs.
I’ve written about robot vacuums for Wirecutter since 2013, logging hundreds of hours of research and testing in that time. Also consider the Eufy RoboVac 11S, which is so quiet and nimble that it blends into the background like no other robot . This basic, affordable bot sounds more like a desk fan than a vacuum—even if you’re home while it works, you’ll barely notice it running. It’s shorter than most bots, which lets it glide under more furniture, picking up plenty of hidden debris. The big downside is that the 11S don’t seem to be built to last for more than a couple of years on average, and we’ve heard about plenty of unrepairable breakdowns that happen even sooner. And while the 11S will get your floors much cleaner than if you didn’t vacuum at all, this bot just isn’t built to dig up much debris from rugs, especially softer, thicker types.
We’ve tested most of the auto-empty docks out there, including multiple versions from iRobot and Shark, and one each from EcoVacs, Roborock, and a generic-brand dock that came with a generic-brand Roborock knockoff . The Roborock S4 Max has a single, relatively small brush roll , so it’s not as effective on carpets as Roomba’s dual-roll design. I have a long-haired cat, a long-haired wife, and a toddler, who all leave plenty for the robot to pick up .
It can’t refill its own water tank, clean its own mopping cloth, or function as a home security camera, but it offers all the other perks of the S7 MaxV Ultra for $400 less. Based on your preferences, habits, home and the seasons, Roomba® j7/j7+ uses iRobot OS to create personalized cleaning suggestions, like cleaning more frequently during pet-shedding or allergy irobot vacuum cleaner seasons. A full suite of advanced sensors allow this robot to navigate under and around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps it from falling down the stairs. However, we couldn’t get it to complete the mapping process despite several attempts and a call to customer service. The iLife V3S Pro’s bin is easily accessible from the top of the robot.
A great thing about this vacuum is the versatility it provides, both in cleaning capability and user experience. You can control it with a manual remote control, through the dyson robot vacuum mobile app, or even by using Alexa voice commands. There are multiple cleaning modes available, such as spot cleaning, edge cleaning, and single room cleaning options.
The company has a good history of following through on those kinds of promises, but you should expect the improvements to trickle out over several years, not months. Besides, most good robots at all prices are pretty good at avoiding bot-trapping obstacles. And bot owners tend to get in the habit of picking up the kinds of floor-bound clutter that can create a problem—toys, shoes, laundry, even certain lightweight floor mats—so that the robot can work effectively. The Electrolux Pure i9 is an oddity that we want to love but can’t recommend. Another surprisingly useful upside to the basic Eufy bots is the short body.