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 cleaning. The top models do a great job at removing dust and other small particles and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The app provides the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each 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.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors 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 to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
more info -in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one pass. If you have mixed flooring choose one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that their traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advancements 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.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. more info with the same obstacles that the older ones faced, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall model and the runners-up use this. Full Record allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.