The Secret Life Of Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and has good ability to pick up carpets. And, if you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart robot vacuums 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 dozens robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing stairs.

When compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the location where it last stopped, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four automatic floor cleaners plans for later use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is great 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 efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It's also got 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 has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos, but its still very efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the automatic floor cleaners's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart vacuum cleaner navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

When you need mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the 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 no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaners incident.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues that these devices have however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light in order to see where they are moving. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. 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, making the robot believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.