How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily messes. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has good ability to pick up carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer 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 recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can last for months without needing to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still picks up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed you should look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have 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, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently over larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to be able to see where they're moving. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition to being able to work in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. robotvacuummops is still recommended to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is a great option for those with pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.