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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris and 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 stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about one that comes with smart robot vacuums 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 robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is a good choice for pet owners as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. 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 is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every 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 avoiding obstacles.

Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both 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 a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you're looking for 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 emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful than other mop/robot combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep automatic cleaning robot.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed choose a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to 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 just wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robot vacuum cleaner black friday vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones did, and many of them need a certain amount of light to see where they're going. You should consider an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.