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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job of removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about 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 prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is a good option for pet owners, because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it works. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot broom vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best buy robot vacuum choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for such a small device.
If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest rated robot vacuum price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are capable of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best floor vacuum robot robots are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. If you have mixed flooring choose a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to set up a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores 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 suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these devices, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to be able to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.