How Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Was The Most Talked About Trend Of 2024
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb stairs. Look for models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you want a robot with extra features, consider an option that incorporates 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 robovacs that have the most features like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. 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.
Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is a great option 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 identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it does. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top models, but it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange a cleaning bin for 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 spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them each time. best affordable robot vacuum is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we loved its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs and its ability to go over and up onto 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 advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other mop/robot combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When you need mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in 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 affordable robot vacuum suited for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them 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 robotic incident.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these devices, however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older models faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The 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. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.
