How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. top robot vacuum are good at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
top robot vacuum is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones 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 the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.
If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one go. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mops can also be dried, washed and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones did and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
They can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. robotic vacuum cleaner sale is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below before making your purchase.