How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is a good option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles 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 by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. The 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 is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpet and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot 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 via the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptying and has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it does pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum, taking care of an entire task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed, look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, 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 floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and used again.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, 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, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
Like the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. best affordable robot vacuum are also less expensive than higher-end models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they need a certain level of light to know where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.
Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to enter. This is helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.