How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is a good option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In self cleaning vacuum , we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a less impressive navigation system.
The best option 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 carpet and rugs. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the 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 huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however, it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is made up of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops 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. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate 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 bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent significant changes. best affordable robot vacuum began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robot snag.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they require a certain level of light to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful when you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.