How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has good ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you might 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 numerous robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
Compared to robot vacuum cleaner best buy -rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the location the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app offers a 3D view of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is great at picking up heavier 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 impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. 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. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
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 up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the job in one go. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for models 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 allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to map the space. Our top model and the runners-up do this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.
In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to enter. This can be helpful when you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.