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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor however they're not able to climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a robot that has adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a great option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor robot maps for future references. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
best robot floor cleaner for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty automatic hoover robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. 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 robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.
best cheap robot vacuum for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is made up of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them to remove light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, 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 have difficulty reaching. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from 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 them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This has have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues with these devices however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and they need an adequate amount of light to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.
