It’s uncomfortably loud—by far the noisiest vac we’ve ever tested. It sort of converts into a handheld vacuum, but it’s very heavy, and you’ll need to remember where you put the awkwardly shaped nozzle. The LG CordZero R9 is a very expensive vacuum with powerful cleaning specs, but user reviews from Australia, where it’s been available for a while, are not favorable.
We found that consumers experience the most satisfaction with their robot vacuums when they view them as floor maintainers in between manual cleanings. It can keep your place from looking dusty and grab bits here and there, but you’ll still need a full-size vacuum. This pick for the best budget robot vacuum doesn’t come with mapping capabilities, although dyson robot vacuum adaptive navigation keeps it from bumping into furniture or falling down stairs. A quieter runner than others we tested, it might be a great pick for spaces or situations where a not-so-loud robot cleaner is needed. Some models will work more effectively with darker floors, most likely due to the cliff sensors mistaking the dark for a drop-off.
When you find the right one for you, be sure to read up on our simple robot vacuum tips. Generally speaking, all the vacuums on this list can handle hardwood floors and pet hair without issue. Unlike many traditional vacuums, most of the robots included here don’t use bags to hold the dust, shark cordless hair, and other debris they suck up. Instead, they use an easy-to-remove dustbin you can simply eject and empty into the nearest garbage can. The Neato Botvac D4 Connected isn’t cheap, but it offers virtual boundaries and customized cleaning maps for less than any other robot vacuum.
This affordable robot vacuum is quieter and fits under more furniture than any other model we’ve tested. While it works best in small spaces, it rarely gets stuck and does a good job on bare floors and short-pile rugs. Brian Bennett is a senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. These include everything from cordless and robot vacuum cleaners to fire pits, grills and coffee makers.
Its suction power ability to scour sand from hardwood floors (78.9%) wasn’t too far below that of the Roborock S7. The Eufy RoboVac 25C’s sand performance across low-pile (53.5%) and medium-pile (52.2%) carpets was decent as well. Either way, you can expect most robot vacuums to handle a small cleaning and attempt to return to charge themselves at their base station. Previously a base model to consider, the newer options offer better power and more functionality than this Roomba.
She has been testing, speaking and writing about appliances, textiles, cleaning products and more at Good Housekeeping for more than 40 years. From end to end, you’re blessedly liberated—freed from the physical chore of vacuuming and freed from handling your vacuum’s filthy byproduct. Just note that the Roomba i7+’s Clean Dock takes up additional space and must be placed near a power outlet. I hate to be a downer, but you’re probably still going to need a second vacuum once in a while.