How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. And, 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 the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used which makes it easier to clean larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests in our tests, 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 the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get up and over 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 more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a clever mapping system that can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than 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.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They do an excellent job of removing 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, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one go. Choose models that have an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. 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 comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. auto vacuum cleaner has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This has reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.