The Reasons To Work With This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those that have self vacuum near me-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that 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 score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place the last time it was used and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off so that you can complete 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 effective at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less efficient navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 cheap robot vacuum cleaner vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other amazon robot vacuum vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be set to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed, look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors assist it in avoiding staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuum cleaner review vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started 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 our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The most affordable models struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and most require a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
These models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot floor cleaner believe it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This is helpful when you have pets or small children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.