How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The most expensive models will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect 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 with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app provides the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they can't handle small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you want a more advanced model, look into 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 empty. good robot vacuum has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at 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 robot vacuum/mop combinations, but it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases 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 wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. 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 sessions for certain areas. 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, so you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to 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 ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic accident.
The new sensors don't solve all issues that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to see where they are going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is a great option if you have pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.