Seven Reasons Why Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Is Important
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-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 get tripped up when climbing stairs.
In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum cleaner on sale vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to cover larger homes. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great 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 an automatic vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time 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. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot automated vacuum cleaner & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuum/mop combinations however, it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction power of a Top 5 Robot Vacuum-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. If you have mixed flooring you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor 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 a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful amazon robot vacuum vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging 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 remove light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. 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 has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, however, you'll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these devices however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and require some level of illumination in order to know where they are going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to trace the space. Our top pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful when you have pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of the choices below prior to making a purchase.
