What Do You Know About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. top 5 robot vacuum performers are good at picking up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is a great choice for pet owners as it can avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can 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 to be used in the future for use. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the automatic floor vacuum. You don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot hoover vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces and its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot remote vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best buy robot vacuum value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one sweep. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful affordable robot vacuum vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have 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, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a no-go zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and stores it 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
Like the name suggests that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount light to be able to see where they're going. Look into an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to trace the space. Our top models and runners-up models have this feature. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
These models 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 may hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.