How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app offers the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rug. 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 charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one pass. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. best vacuums can also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and reused.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies, these robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to see where they are moving. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.