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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning robots. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self cleaning vacuum-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with the daily debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self vacuum-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect 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 for future references. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it works. The included app offers the 3D image 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 is superior in removing small particles like sand and baking soda and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum with a high rating for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs and its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the 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 has a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a clever mapping system and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
The best choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner on sale vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robot vacuum cleaner black friday snag.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues with these machines however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to know where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in a different space.
Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot broom (https://mgbg7b3bdcu.net/?qa=user/bobcatfront6) to move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of the choices below before you make a purchase.
