How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. best robot cleaner does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it does. The app includes a 3D view of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you're looking for 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 amazing ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. More 's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of the entire chore in one sweep. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.
When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe 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 in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most require a certain amount illumination to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.