How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. And, if you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to clean larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. The app comes with the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a less efficient navigation system.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. robotic hoovers detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuums and mops, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove light dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed and used again.
The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually 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 robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to map the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This is helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.