How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing steps.
Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vac uum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to 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 can also stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app offers the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for months without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific hours (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one go. If you have mixed flooring choose a model with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When click here to read need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove light dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and used again.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.