Everything You Need To Know About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the best self cleaning robot vacuum Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of getting rid of dust, light debris and cords.
The most expensive models can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot vacuum cleaner comparison with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. In addition, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for later use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot vacuum cleaner comparison can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist 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 that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set 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 runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptying and has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted areas or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor robot 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 your home is made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also 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 occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't offered on all the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.