6 Robot Vacuums that Do (Most of) the Work for You

The beloved Eufy Robovac 25C scores praise from thousands of reviewers—and at a legitimately affordable price, too (as far as robot vacuums go). While it may not have some of the advanced robot vacuum features like mopping, automatic bin emptying and home mapping, it has powerful suction on all types of flooring including hardwood floors and low- to medium-pile carpet. It’s a great find if you don’t want to blow your budget but need a little extra help around a house filled with messy children and/or pets.

• You can direct the Eufy 25C with the remote control, just like a remote-control car, connect it to your smartphone and give it voice commands or schedule cleaning times. It will automatically return to its dock when the battery is low.
• The slim design means it can fit under the bed and other hard-to-reach places.
• It cleans in a random pattern, so it’s not the most efficient robot vacuum on the market.

If you have pets, you know it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the shedding. Even if you vacuum frequently, pet hair manages to creep into corners and onto the bottom of socks at every opportunity. But thanks to the iRobot Roomba i3, you can vacuum every day (or even multiple times a day!) without any extra effort. The i3 is lauded by pet owners for its powerful suction that tidies dirt, dander, pollen and pet fur to help with allergies and keep your socks hair-free.

• Control your Roomba i3 with the iRobot Home App or use Google Assistant or Alexa to give voice commands.
• It features “Reactive Sensor Technology,” which means it will avoid getting stuck under furniture or on toys and cords.
• The debris bin is on the small side and doesn’t include a self-emptying feature, so you’ll have to empty it as you go if your Roomba is cleaning a large space.

The Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo U2 is a robot vacuum with mop that is perfect for condos and small homes with plenty of tile or hardwood flooring. When in “hard floor mode” with the mopping plate attached, it vacuums and mops simultaneously in a back-and-forth pattern, so it won’t miss or repeat areas. If you also have rugs or carpet, make sure you program virtual barriers for use during mopping, since the robot vacuum cleaner doesn’t have magnetic sensors that can tell the difference in floor types.

• It features three-layer dust filtration to catch and trap tiny particles.
• Control the vacuum from an app on your phone, use voice commands and schedule it to clean when you’re at work or sleeping. It will move back to recharge in its dock as necessary.
• Though the brand advertises that the vacuum provides up to 110 minutes of runtime, some reviewers say the battery often runs low partway through cleaning.

A more advanced version of the i3, the iRobot Roomba i3+ is more expensive but also has more features like a self-emptying bin, smart sensors that can tell the difference between carpet and hardwood, as well as rubber brushes that won’t tangle with pet hair and adjust to stay in contact with the floor at all times. It’s great at trapping allergens and will even suggest an extra clean when your area’s pollen count is high or it’s pet shedding season.

• One of the best features of the Roomba i3+ is its self-emptying dustbin. When it docks at the tower, it empties into an AllergenLock bag that traps 99 percent of pollen and mould, taking up to 60 days to fill.
• It’s a bit loud, particularly during the 10 to 15 seconds when the tower empties the bin.
• Unlike many other robot vacuums, it’s great at navigating around obstructions and can detect stairs or sunken rooms.

In the mid-range as far as cost for an Ecovacs robot vacuum cleaner, the Deebot Ozmo T5 has both vacuuming and mopping abilities. You can set it up to clean for up to three hours—plenty of time to cover up to 3,200 square feet with one charge. It also features a smart navigation system that allows you to pre-set a map of your home for different floors. The robot vacuum will then vacuum and/or mop each area in an orderly pattern and will stay away from virtual boundaries that you create.

• The Deebot Ozmo T5 can simultaneously mop and vacuum your home using the Ozmo Mopping System.
• Put the vacuum on Max+ mode to increase suction power when you need a really deep clean.
• It is smart-home compatible and can be controlled with the app or voice activation.

This affordable robot vacuum by Tzumi has all the features you would expect from a high-performing robot vacuum cleaner—but it’s less than half of the price of some of the fancier models. It includes powerful suction, connection to the Tzumi Smart Home app and automatic docking when it’s time to recharge. Program four different cleaning modes (auto clean, manual clean, spot clean or edge clean using the side brushes) with the remote or use the app on your smartphone or voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant.

• Rubber wheels with grip mean the Tzumi Ion can easily transition from carpet to hardwood floors and back again.
• Thanks to anti-collision and cliff sensors, it’s gentle around furniture and won’t go tumbling down stairs.
• It has a slim frame but won’t be able to fit under some low couches.