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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the 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 enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.
Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to take care of larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is a pro in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best rated robot vacuum for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they can't handle fine particles like canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
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 alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/robot combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the best robot vacuum cleaner suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring choose a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up an area that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores 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.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed 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 over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic floor scrubber vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need a certain level of light to be able to see where they are going. Look into one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top model and the runners-up use this. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
They 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 essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot 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 go to. This is helpful if you have pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.