Best Robot Vacuums for Hardwood Floors 2021 – Reviews and Guide

1. OUR TOP PICK:  iRobot Roomba 960 Robot Vacuum

This is an affordable version of the Roomba 980 that retails at around $600, which is about $200 cheaper than the iRobot Roomba 980 model. With many similarities in key features, there are only a few differences. The iRobot Roomba 960 is lighter than the 980 due to different motor types used. The 980 version has a longer battery life of around 90 minutes unlike the 960, that works up to 75 minutes. If you have a larger area to be cleaned or a thicker pile carpet, iRobot Roomba 980 is the right option.

The iRobot Roomba 960 Robot Vacuum supports an app-based Clean Map feature where you can control and track the cleaning process. The iAdapt 2.0 feature utilizes sensors and a top mounted camera for effective navigation. The presence of acoustic and optical sensors makes the robot effectively detect dirty areas. The robot vacuum is also equipped with cliff sensors that prevent it falling from high levels such as stairs. The virtual wall uses infra-red signals to block the robot from areas you don’t want it go.

Roomba 960 docks to recharge and goes back to where it left off to continue with the cleaning. It efficiently sucks up dust, small debris, and pet hair as it moves in a predictable pattern. In the process, the high efficiency filters trap 99% of allergens from the air. When the dustbin is full, it alerts you so that you can empty it.

The iRoomba Home App that connects through the internet to your robot gives you the advantage of controlling it while you are not around. Through the app, you can schedule the time and the day cleaning will commencing. The app notifies you when there is an issue such as a mechanical problem or when the dust bin is full. The app has a log that can give you statistics on the area covered and time taken.

When we tested the iRobot Roomba 960 robot, it effectively sucked up dust, debris, and pet hair. The 980 was effective also and did splendid work on carpets as compared to the 960, which is much more effective on a bare floor surface and low pile carpets.

Simple, regular maintenance is required. Replace the worn out sensors, side brushes, and filters. It is also good to check the undercarriage to ensure that the robot is not tangled with hair and threads. The robotic vacuum comes with a 1-year warranty.

Pros

• Light and thus easy to carry around
• Has a long battery life for good coverage
• Docks to recharge on its own
• Traps allergens from the air
• Easy to control and operate when away
• Has camera and sensors for good navigation
• Has strong suction power on hard floors and carpet

Cons

• Less efficient on thick pile carpet due to use of older motor type found in the 700 and 800 Roomba series. This limit the carpet boost functionality that is found in 980.
• The battery life is short, especially if you have a multiple floors to be cleaned. But the 75 minute run time will be enough if you have a medium sized home or dealing with one room at ago.

Verdict

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, versatile robot vacuum for your bare floor or low pile carpet, it is worth going for iRobot Roomba 960 Robot. With the same app-based control and navigation system as the famous iRobot Roomba 980, you can prevent dust and debris from piling up in your house.

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2. EDITORS CHOICE: iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum

Roomba is an impeccable trademark in robot vacuums. The release of iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum has justified their incorporation of technology in vacuum cleaners. The i7+ is an intelligent robotic vacuum makes cleaning easy. There is no more need to worry about the dust and pet hair you find all over the floor when you return home from work.

The self-emptying vacuum does everything while you are away or sleeping. The automated, sophisticated features of the i7+ Roomba robots are amazing. The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal that can hold up to 30 bins can have an entire home cleaned without you moving a finger. The robot will dock to empty its own dustbin when full or recharge when it runs out of power before it returns to cleaning. That means that you can go weeks without supervising the cleaning process.

Although retailing at $1,099, it has the most cutting-edge features that have revolutionized everything about vacuuming bots. The Wi-Fi connected iRobot Roomba i7+ can clean specific rooms based on voice commands executed through the Alexa or Google assistant.

The user-friendly iRobot app has a smart mapping system that can map and adapt to your house as it cleans. That gives you the power to label and mark the areas where you want the robot to clean on any specific day or time that you set. The app also keeps a log of every activity, so you can track how everything was done and the amount of time spent.

The iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum produces less noise than previous versions, much to the delight of dogs. When we tested, it did an excellent job collecting dust and pet hair on both hardwood floors and carpet. The corners were almost completely reached with only 1 inch remaining in the corner.

Navigation was also perfect as the sensors detected objects very well. The vacuum cleaner did not get tangled with fibrous debris but we were just cautious and removed all the threats and clothes from the room. The i7+ can comfortably fit under the couches and furniture due to its flat and compact design. The clean base is slightly tall but that is a non-issue since it can be stationed anywhere comfortably.

Maintenance of the i7+ is easy thanks to the iRobot store. Worn out filters, side brushes, and rubber brushes can be replaced by simply visiting the iRobot store through the app. It is also easy to clean the robot through the step by step instructions provided by the app. This is after the app has alerted you on when to clean the core elements such the dustbin, filters, and brushes.

The Roomba i7+ comes with the following

• The vacuum
• Clean Base system
• 2 Dirt disposal bags
• Virtual wall barrier
• Extra high-efficiency filter
• Extra side brush

Pros

• Highly intelligent with voice command features
• Automatic dirt disposal makes it the most convenient cleaner
• Good navigation without getting tangled
• User friendly thanks to mapping technology
• Makes less noise, thus friendly to children and pets
• Strong suction power and good cleaning capabilities
• The flat and compact design makes it fit under furniture
• Good customer support, thus easy maintenance
• When there is any problem, you will be notified through the app and be given instructions on how to solve it

Cons

• Sometimes there is miscommunication between the robot and the Clean Base system. The app may alert you on the clog in the Clean Base system and after checking you may find none.
• There was also an alert on the bumper being stuck and we had to fix it before the robot docks to empty itself.

Verdict

Although this model is pricey, the model has the most luxurious features that you cannot find in any other robotic vacuums cleaner. The sophisticated features give you all the comforts of modernity, and if all goes well you will not think about how much you spent to have the iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum.

Good things are pricey, and if you have the power to afford this bot then it’s an excellent choice. Nevertheless, if you are budget minded, you can still have a robot vacuum cleaner under $1000 that has cool features found in high end bots.

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3. BEST VALUE: ECOVACS DEEBOT 661 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

This is a budget robot that comes with cool features found in pricey brands. Examples of these features are self-charging, quiet operation, and Google or Alexa voice command. With maximum suction power and 120 minute runtime, this is the best robotic vacuum for your hard floors and carpets.

ECOVACS DEEBOT 661 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner has the following key features:

• Excellent Controls: The robot has Alexa and Google assistant voice commands that make it possible to schedule and trigger cleaning while you are away from the house using your smart phone. The ECOVACS Smart App has cutting-edge features such as direct control, status updates, accessories, and cleaning modes, among others.
• Thorough Cleaning: It is equipped with two side brushes and a main brush that lift and vacuum debris from the floor and corners as well. With increased suction power of up to 2X, it handles tough messes. It also has different cleaning modes such as Auto mode for the entire floor, Spot mode for small areas, and Edge mode for the edge of the floor.
• Long Battery Life: With up to 120 minutes of runtime, this robot can clean your entire home without stopping. It also docks to recharge when out of juice and returns to clean where it left off.
• Has filters that collect allergens and other small particles.
• Equipped with sensors that allow it to navigate well around obstacles. Cliff sensors prevent it from stumbling over objects and stairs.
• Can access areas such us under the furniture.

Pros

• Good cleaning
• Not pricey, thus budget friendly
• Great controls through the app
• Long battery life
• Self-charging
• Quiet

Cons

• Not sharp in sensing objects ahead
• Does not empty itself

Verdict

Considering the price, this is a nice robot for cleaning your home. It might not have smart navigation features found in high end robots, but it will serve you well. It is therefore worth having if you are budget-minded.

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4. RUNNER UP: SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R85

This is another intuitive and efficient robot vacuum by Shark Ninja that is technologically advanced. With Wi-Fi connectivity, it is easy to control while you are away from your home thanks to the Shark ION Robot app. It comes with a remote control, so it is possible to control when there is no internet connection.

We found Shark ION Robot Vacuum to be one of the best budget robot vacuums for hardwood floors retailing under $300.

Key features:

Wi-Fi connectivity

This is a key feature that enables you to operate the robot through voice commands facilitated by Google and Amazon Alexa. You can also instruct when and where to clean while you are away as long as you have an internet connection. Everything is done through the Shark ION Robot app that is installed in your smart phone.

Strong Suction

This model has adjustable modes of suction based on your desires or the type of floor you are cleaning. For regular, everyday cleaning, the normal mode is the best. You can set to a quiet mode when you want minimum noise. This mode is suitable for bare floors. The max mode is set when you want to clean thick pile carpet. SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R85 has a higher sucking power compared to Shark ION R75 robot vacuum.

Easy Maintenance

SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R85 has a Self-cleaning Brush Roll that makes it easy to maintain. Equipped with tough bristles strategically positioned on the brush roll, the robot effectively lifts hair and dirt without getting tangled. It is the best for pet owners. The two side brushes are well-adapted to collect dust and debris from baseboards and wall edges.

Due to normal wear and tear, replacing filters and side brushes is easy. You’ll also want to clean the underside of the sensors once in a while to make them more effective. Also, check the undercarriage to ensure that everything is intact and the brush rolls and wheels are not tangled with threads. The robot has a shock absorbing bumper protection that offers cushion when it accidentally bumps into furniture or hard obstacles.

Spacious Dustbin

Most robotic vacuum cleaners are not self-emptying. That means you should be ready to empty the collected dust, debris, and hair into the  garbage. However, with this model, it takes longer before the dust bin is filled up due to its large capacity.

The bin is also easy to remove and fix it back after emptying. The underside of the bin is transparent and also has a fill line. That makes it convenient to know when it is filled. Despite the large dirt bin that makes the robot appear tall, it can still comfortably maneuver under furniture like the couch and bed.

Good Navigation

With the Shark Smart Sensor, SHARK ION Robot Vacuum R85 navigates the room effectively as it avoids objects. It also has a cliff sensor that makes it avoid areas like stairs. There are other sensors that also dictate how the robot moves. For example, when it is out of power, it effectively goes to the base for charging without any problem.

The bot comes with passive magnetic strips that are used as virtual walls. They are used to create boundaries to limit areas where you want the robot to operate.

Excellent Battery Life

Most robotic vacuums have a run time of between 60 and 90 minutes. Shark ION Robot Vacuum R85 fits that bill, with a one hour working time on a fully charged battery. That is enough time to complete cleaning a standard home. The robot docks when it has run out of power, and recharging the battery takes three to four hours.

Shark ION Robot Vacuum R85 comes with the following

• The vacuum (Shark ION robot body)
• 2 side brushes
• 1 HEPA filter
• The charging dock
• BotBoundary strips
• A remote control with batteries
• The product manual
• 1-year warranty

Pros

• Can be operated when you are away
• Has strong suction power with different modes of operation
• Easy to maintain thanks to self-cleaning brush rolls
• Comes with a spacious dust bin
• Has good navigation abilities

Cons

• The robotic vacuum is not self-emptying and you have to manually empty the dirt bin when it’s full.
• The battery life is low, especially when you are cleaning an entire home.

Verdict

There is still room for improvement but the Shark ION Robot Vacuum R85 is excellent for cleaning your home when you are around or away. It is budget friendly compared to its versatility. At under $300 with such advanced control features, it is worth having.

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5. RUNNER UP: Neato Botvac D5 Connected

Neato Botvac D5 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum is a budget vacuum for hardwood floors under $600 that has intelligent controls and navigation features. With strong suction power and long battery life, the robot qualifies as one of the best out there. In terms of performance and key features, this robot has a lot of similarities with it Neato Botvac D7 or D6 Connected that costs around $200 more.

Key features

• Neato Botvac D5 utilizes LaserSmart Technology that makes it intelligently navigate and map your home, creating a floor plan for easier cleaning.
• It moves in straight lines to cover large cleaning areas quickly. With laser-guided technology, it is also able to clean in the darkness.
• D-shaped design lets it access tight areas such as the corners and under the furniture without difficulty.
• Equipped with a large core brush and side brushes that easily collect dust, debris, and pet hair.
• The ultra-performance filters effectively trap 99% of allergens, dust mites, and small, invisible particles.
• It has long battery life of 90 minutes and thus is suitable for cleaning an entire home or large surface areas without recharging.
• The robot docks to recharge when out of power and goes back to clean from where it left off.
• Neato Botvac D5 Connected uses the Neato app and therefore can be operated while you are away. It can also be scheduled to automatically start working in terms of days and time. The app also shows settings, bot information, and a schedule and activity log.
• Can be controlled easily using a phone by a voice command through Google or Alexa.
• Can be used on carpet, tile and hardwood.

Pros

• Solid and compact
• Effective for cleaning edges and underneath furniture
• Long battery life
• Strong suction power
• Easy to use and control through app
• Automatically docks without any problem

Cons

• Small dust bin
• Not self-emptying
• Slightly noisy

Verdict

Neato Botvac D5 Connected is an impeccable robot vacuum that cleans effectively, has app control, and has excellent battery life. Under $600, this robot outsmarts the many others within the same price range. We therefore find it worth having it in your home for regular cleaning.

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