We Tested 44 of the Best Robot Vacuums, and These 8 Models Are Actually Worth Buying

Best Overall

iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum

$275 at Amazon


$219 at Walmart


$275 at Home Depot

The iRobot Roomba 600 series—which includes this particular model—consists of affordable, durable robot vacuums that do exactly what vacuums are supposed to: pick up debris from carpets and hard floors. This is largely thanks to the two counter-rotating brush rolls—a unique feature for a vacuum in this price range.

In our testing, the iRobot Roomba 694 did a great job cleaning up all the debris we spread on the floor, whether it was sand, hair, or cereal. It maneuvered well around furniture, including small chair legs, although it did have some trouble when going around the edges of the rug and transferring to/from the hard floor. The dustbin proved easy to remove and empty, but we recommend cleaning the brush rolls at least once a month, as hair can build up and affect the vacuum's performance.

This robot vacuum is not as smart as some of its competitors—it doesn't come with smart mapping or object avoidance, features that typically come at a much higher price point. (It did "eat" two socks during our testing.) Instead, it travels around your home in no particular order and then heads back to its dock once the battery begins to run low. While some might prefer the more predictable coverage you get from mapping robot vacuum cleaners, this less-expensive pick achieves the same goal at the end of the day, albeit a bit more chaotically.

We found that this basic model didn't have any trouble finding its dock at the end of a cleaning cycle and that it hardly got stuck at all. You can also connect it to your WiFi network and use the accompanying app to turn it on or off and set a schedule. It's compatible with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and it was easy to set up and use the app right away.

After six months of use, we noticed no changes in quality. The Roomba has remained effective, agile, and easy to use, While we wouldn't necessarily recommend it for larger spaces or homes with stairs, we think its the perfect tool for those in apartments or smaller homes. It did encounter some difficulty reaching the bottom of our carpet fibers, though, so we'd suggest using it as a vacuum aid rather than a replacement.

Dimensions: 13.4 by 3.5 inches | Dustbin Capacity: 0.35 liters | Battery Life: 90 minutes | WiFi Connectivity: Yes | Smart-Home Connectivity: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant