The 5 Best Robotic Vacuums
While robots are not quite as ubiquitous as we might have imagined them to be in the 21st century, there are still a number of different automated, robotic devices that can make our lives a bit simpler. The most iconic of these domestic robots would be the robotic vacuum, first made popular by the original Roomba. Since then, a number of different brands of robotic vacuums have cropped up in the marketplace, and while they still don't quite compare to standard vacuums for tackling tough dirt, automated vacuums can certainly make life easier by taking care of the occasional cleaning for you.
What Is a Robotic Vacuum?
A robotic vacuum is an automated vacuum cleaner that is able to suck up debris from carpets and floors without human operation. Robotic vacuums use intelligent programming in order to automatically maneuver their way around your home. As mentioned previously, you'll still need a standard vacuum in order to handle deeper cleaning jobs; however, they do work well for general purpose cleaning.
Best 5 Robotic Vacuums
Neato XV-11 Robotic Vacuum System
Along with iRobot that makes the Roomba vacuums, Neato Robotics is one of the top competitors in the U.S. that sells robotic vacuums. Users like the special design of the Neato XV-11 robotic vacuum, which they say handles corners better than the completely round Roomba. The XV-11 is capable of cleaning up to three rooms on a single charge, and automatically returns to its charging station to finish the rest of the cleaning. It can also be scheduled to automatically clean the house up to seven times in a week.
iRobot Roomba 760 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
The robotic vacuum that started it all, the Roomba 760 comes equipped with all the latest features. Aside from doing a great job of navigating and picking up dirt, hair, and debris, this Roomba also comes with air filters that trap dust and other particulate matter, leaving the air in your home clean and fresh. Its advanced software means that it can clean more of your house more thoroughly, and it's able to pick out the areas that have the highest concentration of debris.
Infinuvo CleanMate QQ-2 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
The Infinuvo CleanMate QQ-2 is a great robovac for those looking for luxury without breaking the bank. Users are satisfied with the cleaning job that the Infinuvo does, claiming that it can pick up a good amount of dirt and hair from the floor. It also comes with a number of unique features, such as a UV light to disinfect floors. The primary complaints this vacuum receives are its four-hour charging time and the fact that it is less effective on high-pile carpet.
Neato XV-21 Automatic Vacuum Cleaner
The Neato XV-21 is the higher-end version of the XV-11 featured above. The XV-21 takes the functionality of robotic vacuums to a whole new level. Its Pet and Allergy Filter helps capture finer dust particles, and its laser-based mapping system allows it to better maneuver around the house. User reviews for the Neato XV-21 claim that it very rarely gets lost or stuck, and that it has helped clear up homes for folks with allergies.
iRobot Roomba 630 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
On the flip side, our final entry to the top five robotic vacuum cleaners is a slightly lower-end version of our previous Roomba. While slightly less expensive, the Roomba 630 still has many of the features of its 760 counterpart — most notably, iRobot's patented three-stage cleaning system. Similar to the 760, this Roomba also self-adjusts for different floor types and comes with "Virtual Wall" sensors to keep it from going to off-limit areas.
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I've had 2 Roombas (and a Scooba) over the years. The problem has never been whether they are any good at vacuuming, because they aren't (at least for me) intended to be the only way I clean my floors. They are intended to be a time-saver for daily maintenance. I loved running my Scooba at night, because the floor would be mostly clean and dry when we woke up.
No, the problem is that they are a huge pain to clean, and the batteries are fairly cruddy. If you aren't religious about charging them regularly, the battery loses capacity really fast. Takes more time to clean them than it would take to just grab a broom and do it myself. Maybe that is because we have quite a few cats and dogs running around the house, and they have issues with pet hair, but they've never really been much of a solution for us.