How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and lightweight debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app includes the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they can't handle fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't need remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they can easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one go. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. Suggested Looking at for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging 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 to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and used again.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a disposable or bagless bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.