How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The most expensive models can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot that uses 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 huge fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a less effective navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select one with a high rating for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and they may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can last for several weeks without having to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to complete the job in one move. Choose robot vacuum cleaner cheap that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go 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 like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, spread germs less and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and used again.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, so 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 hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic accident.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need an adequate amount of light to know where they are going. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models use this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The models can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful for those with pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.