15 Things You Didn t Know About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The more expensive ones can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we tested are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing steps.
Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location the last time it was used, making it easier to clean larger areas. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect 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 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 time, so that you can continue doing chores while it does. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top robot vacuum cleaner 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 isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle small particles like an upright or canister vacuum, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to go 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're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top 10 robot vacuum cleaner-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is composed of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean smart robot up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these devices, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light in order to know where they are going. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up do this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be beneficial if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.