The People Closest To Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Share Some Big Secrets
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a huge 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 they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
This robot vacuum cleaner comparison from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized 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 for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it is a pro in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.
The best value robot vacuum 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 embedded in low-pile carpet and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the Best Auto Vacuum (Git.Fuwafuwa.Moe) choice. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping system 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 chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best vacuums choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in automatic floor cleaner texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they require some level of illumination to be able to see where they're going. You should consider a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to trace the space. Our top overall models and runners-up models use this. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option when you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested so make sure to read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.