How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill 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 stairs.
In comparison with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The app provides a 3D view of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a less impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. good robot vacuum recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptying, and it has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system and can be set to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one go. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. 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, meaning you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins, which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
see this here experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these devices however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they're moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.