How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large 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 need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer 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 such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
Compared to 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 does have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
this page for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It is able to detect and lift 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 each time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did 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 loved its navigation on bare floors as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. Full Document are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one step. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling 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 dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to be able to know where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition to 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 when they're above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.