How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as 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 the LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. robotic vacuum cleaner on sale can exchange the cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only and we loved its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for 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 weeks without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to only run during certain hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful than other mop/robot combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed choose one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. 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 like you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, whereas bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic incident.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these machines however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination in order to know where they are going. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to trace the space. Our top model and the runners-up do this. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition to being able to work in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.