And again, we’ve found over and over again that such bots work well in smaller spaces. We will also continue to monitor reports and how and why robot vacs are using your data, but when it comes to object-recognition robots, we just don’t think they shark dustbuster are worth your time, money, and possible privacy tradeoffs—yet. Certain models are pretty good at avoiding certain obstacles, but none of them reliably avoid every kind of common floor clutter, and some models don’t deliver on their promises at all.
Robot vacuums are perfect if you have pets that shed and have children. And if you’re not home because of work or travel, you can schedule shark robotic vacuums cleanings so you won’t have to vacuum when you return. And some vacuums offer WiFi capability so you can manage it from your smartphone.
We wrote a review of the self-emptying Roomba i7+ in 2018, when it was brand-new, and at the time we called it the best robot vacuum that money could buy. The rest of the industry caught up very quickly, so the i7+ is no longer such a standout, but it still works well. It’s no longer one of iRobot’s “core” models and isn’t available through as many retailers as others, but you can still find it in plenty of places for now. The functionally identical Roomba i6 is also common, as are the auto-emptying Roomba i6+ and Roomba i8+. We chose the best robot vacuum models based on their design, capabilities and overall value—but also their longevity and durability. A good robot vacuum should last at least three to five years without any worries, sometimes far longer.
All of the vacuums listed here have Recharge & Resume with the one exception being the Roomba e5. Comparing Shark to Roomba’s higher-end models there is a more significant difference. The Roomba S9+, i7+, i3+, e5, and other high-end models offermore features and better cleaning performance compared to most Shark robots. Canister vacuums work best on hard surfaces or smaller, carpeted areas like a car or the stairs. They come equipped with a suction hose and a retractable cord for easy maneuvering. Canister models have a separate unit for the motor and receptacle for easy maneuverability, flexibility and versatility.
I mentioned that 50% is a good benchmark in that test, and the best cleaner in that challenge from our last two years of tests is the Neato D9, which returned an average of 62%. That’s a great score, but the Roomba scoffs at it, because in our previous test setup, the Roomba S9 Plus sucked up 71%, which was significantly better than any other cleaner we had ever tested. If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our robot vacuum reviews, ranked by their high-pile carpet performance.
Recategorized yeedi vac station as ‘Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum For Carpet’ pick. Recategorized Neato D8 as ‘Best LIDAR Robot Vacuum For Carpets’ pick. Added Roborock S7 as new ‘Best Robot Vacuum For Combination Flooring’ category pick. Replaced iRobot Roomba S9 with Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI as ‘Best Robot Vacuum For Carpet’. Recategorized yeedi vac station as ‘Best Upper Mid-Range Robot Vacuum For Carpet’ pick. Recategorized Neato D8 as ‘Best Mid-Range Robot Vacuum For Carpet’ pick.