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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 are good at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
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The best robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology, or an app to remote control vacuum cleaner it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at 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 downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they can't handle small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for 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 into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go months without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They do an excellent job of picking up crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one sweep. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robotic vacuum cleaner reviews mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards 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 over to remove light dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for small spaces. 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 have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot cleaner amazon vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older models faced and most require a certain amount illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful for those with pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.