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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning robots for home up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor, but they can’t climb up stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with daily debris. You’ll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you’re looking for additional features, you might be interested in a model with smart robot vacuums mapping technology or an app that lets you 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 numerous robot vacuums. She’s a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She’s also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don’t get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger homes. This model is a great option for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn’t as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only drawback is that it’s not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and some do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren’t able to pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in 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 is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We loved its navigation on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you’re looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can go months without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and automatic floor cleaners emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system that can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/cheap robot vacuum cleaner combination models however it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It’s also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren’t able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one move. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is made up of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don’t have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a zone that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don’t have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you’ll need to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
However, the new sensors haven’t solved all of the issues these machines face. The most affordable models struggle 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 reside in a dark area or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can 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 in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it’s in a different space.
Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don’t want the robot to go to. This can be helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren’t on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.
