How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find robot floor cleaner that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, 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 stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app comes with the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a less impressive navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. 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 lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. 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 closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long runtime 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 comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has amazing ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop to complete a more complete chore in one sweep. Choose one that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed for smaller spaces. best robot floor cleaner have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances 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.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these devices, however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to know where they are going. Consider getting an option that incorporates an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.
A few 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 children who are small. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.