Where Can You Get The Most Reliable Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Information?
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The top models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you 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 credited with testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
While robotvacuummops can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. 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, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal choice for hardwood floors as they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be dried, washed and reused.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests that these robots are suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic incident.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older ones faced and most need a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it is in another room.
Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test so make sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.