How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with the daily messes. 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 a model with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product review er who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is a great option for pet owners, because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, 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 identify objects as well as detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. 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 app offers an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be empty and has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations, but it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the best price of our top picks.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one go. If you have mixed flooring choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.
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. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan 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 need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
Like the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to trace the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is 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 go to. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.