The Most Common Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake Every Newbie Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The most expensive models can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot vacuum cleaners that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot vacuum deals black friday (Full Record) equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.
In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best automatic vacuum choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and avoiding 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 also be set to mop only and we loved its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the task in one move. Look for one that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not 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 is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner best snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues with these devices, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light in order to be able to see where they're moving. If you live in a dark house or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the automatic floor cleaner, not when they're above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to enter. This is helpful when you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.