Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins 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 that they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
When compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a less efficient navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that scores high for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best roborock vacuum choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart robot mapping system, and can be programmed to only run during certain hours (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuum/mop combos, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.
best robot vacuum deals for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo 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 can also mop. 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.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins, which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner commercial accident.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these machines, however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to know where they are going. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to map the space. Our top overall models and runners-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
The models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.