How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Make sure you choose 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 the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot with 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 tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall 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 has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to clean larger homes. 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 we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily using this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later 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 included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum s/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors and rug. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one go. If you have floors that are mixed, look for models with an onboard sensor which 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 move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop 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 also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for example make use of the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need a certain level of light to see where they are moving. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to trace the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below before making your purchase.