The One Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake That Every Newbie Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the Most expensive Robot vacuum conveniences such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with an organized 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 to be used in the future for reference. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic hoovers vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. 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 through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop and we loved its excellent navigation on carpets and floors and its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at 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 emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The most affordable robot vacuum models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to map the space. Our best robot vacuum under 200 overall pick and runner-up models use this. 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 near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.
Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This is a great option for those with pets or children who are small. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested, so be sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.