The Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake That Every Beginner Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing steps.
The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot the last time it was used, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning robots for home options.
The robot isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum cleaner best buy vacuum and mop that lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to clean your home even when you're away. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its excellent navigation on carpets and floors, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a huge charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptied and has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a clever mapping system that can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart 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 need to worry 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 to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and used again.
The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines, however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need a certain level of light to be able to see where they're moving. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to map the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models use this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the cheap robot vacuum cleaner to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.