How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many 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 the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger areas. best robot vacuum is a great choice for pet owners, because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning like our top models, but it is a pro in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
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 dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum /mop combinations however, it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to be able to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below before making your purchase.