How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a less efficient navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. But they don't pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you want a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to only run during certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it still picks up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one go. If you have floors that are mixed choose a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, whereas bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic incident.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older models faced and most need a certain amount of light to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models do this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
These models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. Going At this website can be helpful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.