The best robot vacuums you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

• Vacuuming is a real pain, but robot vacuum cleaners can suck up the dust for you. Of all the robot vacuum cleaners we tried, the iRobot Roomba 690 proved to be the best for most people with its easy-to-use app, smart features, great suction, and affordable price.

Nobody likes household chores, but they have to be done. Unfortunately, we don't live like the Jetsons yet, but you can get capable robot vacuum cleaners to take care of the dust and dirt for you. Robot vacuums can't completely replace manual cleaning, but they can help cut down on the amount of time you spend waging war on dust bunnies.

Robot vacuums work best in smaller homes and normal-sized apartments between 800 and 1,200 square feet. They handle hard floors and short carpets best, though they can get stuck now and then. Robot vacuums need a good motor for powerful suction, decent battery life, a brush roll, and enough smarts to be self-sufficient. Many robot vacuums work with apps on your phone and some will even run when you tell them to with voice commands if you have Amazon's Alexa at home.

You can get robot vacuums for as little as $220, but the high-end models run up to $900 or more. We tested out a number of highly reviewed robot vacuums that run the gamut from $220 to $700. We also included a $170 robot mop and duster in our guide because it's a great vacuum alternative for basic cleaning. Read on to see which of our picks is best for you.

Although the iRobot Roomba 690 is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Eufy RoboVac 11, the Neato Botvac Connected, the iRobot Roomba 960, and the iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop.

Best robot vacuum overall

iRobot

Why you'll love it: The iRobot Roomba 690 sucks up dirt and debris, responds to voice commands, and costs less than high-end bots.

You don't have to spend a fortune to own a robot vacuum cleaner, but you don't have to go with a low-powered one, either. The iRobot Roomba 690 sits right in the middle of the road, making it the best robot vacuum for most people. It has strong suction and smart features like voice control that put it above most budget vacuums.

iRobot's three-stage cleaning system loosens dirt and debris so it's easy to suck up. The vacuum has a spinning side brush, which is very effective. Setup is easy and the companion app is excellent. You even get introductory videos with tips to help you get started. It's so easy to use that we had our bot up and running in about 10 minutes. 

The Roomba 690 can clean carpet, rugs, tile, hardwood, and laminate floors without any problems. It navigates around obstacles like furniture, clutter, and other objects. You can also set up barriers, so your bot doesn't clean the wrong room or stumble onto your thick shag carpet and stop running. We created a barrier between our hardwood and tile floors so we could separate the rooms better.

We tested out the iRobot Roomba 690 and came away very impressed. It picked up dirt, dust, cat and human hair, cat litter, crumbs, and just about everything else we threw at it. It wasn't quite as powerful as the $700+ robot vacuums we tested, and it did get stuck on a stray shoelace, but overall, it impressed us, and we think it offers the best bang for your buck.

Since it's a smart vacuum that's Wi-Fi-enabled, you can set a schedule for it to clean during specific times and more in the companion app. You can even control it with your voice using Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant. We tried it a few times, and it really felt like living in the future. 

The Roomba 690 runs for 60 minutes and returns to its base for charging as soon as it runs out of juice. It's funny to see your robot amble its way home without any assistance. The robot vacuum played nice with our cat, too, so have no fear that your Roomba will run over your pets. If anything, be worried that your cat may pounce on your Roomba.

Pros: Affordable for a smart robot vacuum, voice control, app-controlled, can be programmed

Cons: Not as powerful as high-end models, doesn't clean the whole house in one go like the 960

Buy the iRobot Roomba 690 on Amazon for $324.99 (originally $374.99)

The best robot vacuum for less than $250

Amazon

Why you'll love it: The Eufy RoboVac 11 is significantly cheaper than every other robot vacuum we tested, but it's just as good at cleaning.

If you don't have $400 or $700 to spend on a robot vacuum, don't worry — The Eufy RoboVac 11 is a great deal at $219.99. It may not have all the smart features like app or voice control, but it cleans just as well as our top pick and costs almost $200 less. The company does have a smart version for $299.99.

To clean, you simply press a button, and the vacuum is up and running. It can clean carpet, hardwood, tile, and other flooring types, thanks to its various cleaning modes. The Eufy has a low-profile design, so it can squeeze under tables and chairs or into small spaces. As far as battery life goes, the Eufy can go for about 1.5 hours and it recharges automatically.

Just like the iRobot Roomba 690, the Eufy has a three-point cleaning system that loosens dirt and debris to suck it right up. The side brushes, rolling brush, and powerful suction of the vacuum takes care of dirt, hair, crumbs, small stones, and other debris. It's not as strong as some high-end vacuums, but it's more than enough for most people.

Insider Picks reviewed the Eufy before, and we loved it. The only reason it wasn't our top pick is that it is lacking smart features like voice and app control, and we're nerdy enough to wish for those features. However, if those things don't matter to you, it's an excellent deal.

You also get a remote control, charging base, AC power adapter, cleaning tool, HEPA-style filter, four side brushes, and a 12-month warranty when you buy the Eufy. Not bad for $219.99.

Pros: Affordable, runs for 90 minutes, strong suction, good brushes, easy to use

Cons: Not as smart as some high-end ones

Buy the Eufy RoboVac 11 on Amazon for $219.99

The best connected robot vacuum cleaner

Neato

Why you'll love it: The Neato Botvac Connected vacuum is the ultimate smart bot with killer suction and other great features.

If you want one of the very best robot vacuum cleaners available, you need to check out the Neato Botvac Connected. This Wi-Fi connected bot works with a companion app and voice control with Amazon Alexa. It has great suction, and it'll clean your home better than cheaper robot vacuums. The Botvac excels at picking up hair, which is great news for pet owners and anyone with long hair.

The bot will send you notifications when it's done cleaning and you can schedule cleanings right in the app. Neato also supports voice control with Amazon's Alexa, so you don't even have to open the app if you're feeling lazy.

It can clean any type of flooring, and its D-Shape design lets it fit in weird spots where other vacuums have trouble. The shape may make it harder to adjust course at times, though. Its CornerClever technology helps the bot cut closer to corners and tight spots to get the dust that others might miss. The Botvac uses a laser to map your house and navigate around objects instead of running into them and correcting course.

You can choose between two cleaning modes: Eco is quieter and conserves energy, while Turbo picks up more hair, dust, and debris in the least amount of time possible. Both modes are great, though you'll probably use Eco more often than the Turbo mode. 

The only downside here is the high price tag, but it may be worth it for the smart features and strong suction.

Pros: Great suction, works on any flooring, app and voice control

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Neato Botvac Connected on Amazon for $699.95 (originally $799.00)

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