You'll Never Guess This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best's Secrets
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile 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 fine particles like an upright 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 an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors and rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you want a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and bare floors. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed choose a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove light dirt and dust. 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 your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
best automatic vacuum as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them navigate and avoid household items that their traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
They can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This is helpful for those with pets or small children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.