How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is a good option for pet owners, as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, 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 can also stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. good robot vacuum of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one go. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
Like the name suggests the robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. best robot cleaner can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to see where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. good robot vacuum aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.