10 Places Where You Can Find Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most expensive robot vacuum convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it comes with the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger homes. This model is a good choice for pet owners as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and more advanced Cleaning robot price (tucker-sandberg-2.mdwrite.net) options.
This robot is not as effective at cleaning like our top models, but it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it can't mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.
The best robot vacuums option for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic remote vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well 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 remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
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 charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptied, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still picks hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, but 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, which is why they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of the entire chore in one go. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. They are also able to be dried, washed and reused.
The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models too, although 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 underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be 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.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. 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 moving. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall model and the runners-up have this feature. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
The models can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.
