Seven Reasons To Explain Why Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Is Important
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model that uses 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 tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self vacuum-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen 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 see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum deals vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the best smart vacuum price of our top picks.
best budget robot vacuum for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed choose a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When you need mops 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 pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. They can also be dried, washed and used again.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
They can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.