How to Find the best robot vacuum under 200 Robot Vacuum

If you can live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and don't mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Find a model that is clean and is compatible with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested for cleaning up pet hair on hardwood floors, tile, and mop carpets with low pile. It can also plan out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that is able to take on the most difficult messes and leave your home sparkling clean.

Choosing a robot vacuum that is also able to mop will allow you to achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. There are models with a tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It will have to be filled and empty and refilled, which is an additional task to complete.

In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from running into things. In the majority of homes, this is not possible or desirable. Most models allow you to make use of an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers the robot can detect. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to access. For example, a child's room or a pile of cords in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It comes with a battery life of around 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to maneuver around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them stay inside a room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some models include fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

Find models that allow you to control from your couch via voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Also, look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to begin cleaning from any location using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may want a model with a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't have to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, using reservoirs of water to wash your floors. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for tough messes such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on higher-end models however, it lets your robot get a complete understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physically-based boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you don't want your robot venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by focussing on particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot automatic vacuum robot, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and generate a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacles avoidance built-in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots have the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your home. However, many can be controlled with an app on your mobile, which gives you more features. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can set up within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog bowls and beds). Other apps let you set up an outline of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However its interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space that allows you to program them for specific areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance to the next level, look for a robotic mop that has a tank of water that you fill and empty yourself.

While none of the models we tested can beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can also handle nuts and screws made of metal and the stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can effortlessly work around furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will help you keep your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create no-go zones so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or ruin your favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel and even fluffy matter such as hair of pets. It does not have the smart mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a good choice for most families.

The greatest aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that your robot could get stuck and not perform as well.