The term robot vacuum is often used to describe any vacuum unit that operates autonomously. One simply needs to manually start the vacuum or set a timer to trigger its cleaning cycle. The robot vacuum will usually return to a charging unit when finished cleaning. However, like with a traditional push vacuum, users will need to manually clean out the cleaning receptacle. Several personal factors need to be considered when choosing between push and robot vacuum models, but here are some of the top rated vacuum cleaners to choose from:

1. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba cleaning robot was the first automated vacuum to succeed in the general market. As such, iRobot has had a considerable amount of time to improve upon the overall concept. This means that the iRobot vacuum cleaner tends to have impressive innovations with every significant release. In the case of the 980, the robot Roomba vacuum cleaner comes with significant improvements to its artificial intelligence. The 980 remembers the average state of a room and adjusts its cleaning strategy accordingly.

2. Gtech AirRam MK2
The MK2 is a modern variant on the push vacuum. It’s smaller than standard vacuums, cordless and lighter. The MK2 forgoes a charging station for a 22V lithium-ion battery. It will typically be able to run for about 40 minutes per charge. And it will usually take about four hours to charge a fully drained battery. The MK2 puts a heavy emphasis on user friendliness. This ranges from a visually attractive design to front lights that help people see into dark crevices when vacuuming.

3. Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute
The V10 uses the upright form factor to its maximum potential. It’s not simply a vacuum unit attached to a handle. The vacuum instead increases overall suction capacity by aligning the bin and cyclone. The straight path creates a significant increase in overall suction power when compared to other models. However, it can function as a handheld unit as well if desired. The V10’s battery uses a charging station which isn’t too dissimilar to that found with the roomba. The main difference of course being that one manually moves the V10 from or to the charging unit.

4. Shark IF250UK
The Shark is a manual push vacuum with some interesting design choices. The unit is heavier than most of the competing push units. However, it’s still light enough that one will typically become used to the extra weight fairly quickly. It features the ability to disconnect the top section for one of two uses. One can use this ability to get at hard to reach areas. And special utilities can also be attached to the vacuum after the top section is removed. The battery life is solid enough that one shouldn’t need to worry about it during normal use.

5. Dyson V8 Cordless Animal vacuum
The Dyson v8 animal vacuum boosts performance by about 150% when compared to the V6. The vacuum’s defining feature is a special HEPA filter system. The vacuum uses a standard cyclonic force to remove dust and dirt from the vacuum’s airflow. From that point the HEPA filter motor will capture both bacteria and allergens. Unfiltered air is continually shielded from the room as a whole. This ensures that allergens, including those from pets, will remain trapped within the vacuum. This makes the unit an ideal choice for people who suffer from allergies of any sort.