Ten Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best That Will Make Your Life Better
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The top models do a great job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot vacuum cleaner that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing the stairs.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick one that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot cleaner amazon vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
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 dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are great in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed 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 effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins, which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuum cleaner quiet vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues that these devices have, however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they need an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they are moving. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot vacuum cleaner cheap to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.
