How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. vacuum deals do a great job picking up dust and light debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with daily debris. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a robot with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides 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, select an automatic vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best option. You can exchange the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in 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 set it up to schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. 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 high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one pass. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They can also be dried, washed and reused.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different 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 disposable or bagless bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount light to be able see where they're headed. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
In addition being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is a great option if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.