Top Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

While robots won't be able to replace a conventional vacuum in picking up ground-in debris like metal screws and pieces of orzo pasta, they are excellent at sweeping crumbs, dust and hair from pets. The best models feature smart navigation technology and object avoidance features that allow them to maneuver around cords, toys and other obstacles in the household.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is a great robot vacuum that comes with a range of innovative features that make it more easy to maintain than other models. Its automatic bin emptying is one of the most convenient features we've seen in an iRobot and it is compatible on both hard floors and carpets. It's also simple to set up and operate with the app that guides you through the process step-by-step. Another impressive feature is the ability to go back to the spot where it left off in our tests--it did this for 77 minutes on one cleaning before running out of battery.

The i3+ EVO, unlike some of the other robot vacuums we have tested, has a self-emptying bin that automatically dumps debris into an external dirt compartment on its charging base once it is full. The i3+ EVO can be kept from overfilling with a self-emptying bin. However it must be manually emptied at the end of each cleaning session. The i3+ EVO dust bin can hold 2.4L, which is enough to last four to five cleaning sessions.

Like the i7model, this model uses state-of-the-art floor tracking sensors to create maps and navigate in neat rows. However, the i3+ EVO only stores one map, whereas the i7 has the capacity to store multiple maps. The i7 is also able to use its map to create no-go zones and virtual barriers, but the i3+ EVO cannot.

The i3+ EVO is more effective of removing surface debris in comparison to other robovacs that we have reviewed, but it is not the best at cleaning edges and corners. It's also not as gentle on furniture, despite being fairly quiet. It was a bit rough on furniture, since it forced chairs away. It also made some collisions against the sides of the bed.

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