NEATO ROBOTIC VACUUM PLUS

And if you’re intimidated or annoyed by the idea of controlling a robot with an app, then the simpler Roomba i3 would be a better choice, because it’s a sturdier robot and still cleans in a thorough, orderly fashion.Ĭheaper robots usually have semi-random navigation systems. The main downside to the Roborock and similar laser robots is that they’re unlikely to last as long as iRobot’s Roomba models, including our pick, the Roomba i3, and their single-brush designs don’t clean rugs as well, either. But we’re inclined to recommend the Roborock S4 Max in particular because it’s frequently one of the lower-priced models of its ilk (it often sells in the mid-$300 range), and it has the most full-featured app with the richest set of controls. Many of these laser-navigation bots have similar (and sometimes nearly identical) specs, designs, and behaviors, and there’s no clear evidence to suggest that some are more reliable or durable than the others. If you’re up for fiddling with maps in a smartphone app, it’s a fantastic and flexible system. There are at least a couple dozen super-smart yet affordable robots that, using invisible lasers, can quickly learn the layout of any home, then clean individual rooms (or even sections of a room) on command, and skip everything else. IRobot also sells a few models that are very similar to the Roomba i3 and worth buying if you find them on sale, including the Roomba i4 (sold only at Costco and basically identical to the i3) and the Roomba 900 series, which is older but works similarly. It actually works and makes owning a robot even more convenient.

NEATO ROBOTIC VACUUM PLUS

But if you can live without that level of control, the Roomba i3 is clever enough to get the job done in almost any home.Īnother neat option: The Roomba i3+ package is the i3 robot, plus a charging dock that automatically sucks the debris out of the robot and stores it in a disposable bag, which you’ll only have to change once a month. The downside is that it doesn’t work quite as fast as some competing models, and you can’t use a smart-home app to tell it to clean specific rooms like you can with a bot like the Roborock S4 Max (more on that one shortly). With the companion app and a Wi-Fi connection, you can turn the robot on or off, and optionally set an automatic cleaning schedule. It’s also better at cleaning rugs than most bots, and hair doesn’t get tangled in its brushes as quickly. But unlike most of its competitors, the Roomba i3 is actually a sturdy, repairable appliance-and while longevity is never guaranteed, you can reasonably expect to own and use it regularly for years. Like most great robot vacuums today, the Roomba i3 works well in most homes, large or small, because it drives in orderly, back-and-forth rows, keeping track of where it has or hasn’t been, so that it doesn’t miss any big patches of flooring.

Neato robotic vacuum