Are Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best The Best Thing There Ever Was?
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The most expensive models will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with everyday debris. 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 an option that incorporates smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the 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 loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. The app offers 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, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
auto vacuum -in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. Choose models that have an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If your home is mostly comprised of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need 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 using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. They can also be washed, dried and used again.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. This has have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to know where they are going. Look into one that has an LIDAR spinning unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models do this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
These models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.