You'll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best's Secrets
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot 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 is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. automated vacuum cleaner prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is a good choice for pet owners, because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as efficient in cleaning like our top models, but it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they can't handle small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.
Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If read this looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be emptied. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are great in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the task in one go. Find models that have an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust 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 combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them clean to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. More can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.