How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The most expensive models can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with daily debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones 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 they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger areas. check these guys out is a good choice for pet owners as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as 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 reference. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, so you can continue to do chores while it works. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
For robot vacuum cleaner best carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. 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 automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles such as 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 program it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it 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 robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and mop are both controlled by 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 also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to know where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it is in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas you don't want the robot to move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.