How to Choose the Best robot vacuum cleaner best Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The most expensive models will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with 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. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing stairs.
Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped, making it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
best automatic vacuum cleaner for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like canister or upright vacuums and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop and we were impressed by 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 top-of-the-line vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart mapping system that can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the best automatic vacuum choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. 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, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, 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 major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advancements decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The most expensive robot vacuum affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount illumination to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top models and runners-up models use this. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.
In addition being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.