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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot vacuum sale that can take on stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model 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 many 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's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it works. The app comes with the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum price vacuum is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a huge charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty, and it has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it still picks up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top 10 robot vacuum cleaner-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of a more complete chore in one go. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them clean to remove light dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so 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 suited for small areas. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to know where they are moving. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the space. Our top model and the runners-up do this. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room cleaning robot.
A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the affordable robot vacuum to enter. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.