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 of removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we have tested are effective and easy to use and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. If you want a robot with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app 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 fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing steps.
In comparison with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to plan cleaning times and return to the place where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a great option for pet owners, because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app comes with an interactive 3D model 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 excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and has a less impressive navigation system.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select one with a high rating for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a decent job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuum/mops at avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If best affordable robot vacuum looking for a high-tech model, consider 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 has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete a more complete chore in one sweep. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dirt and dust. best affordable robot vacuum are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and used again.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for instance, use the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems with these devices, however. The less expensive models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are moving. You should consider a model that uses a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that may interfere with this function, however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. robot vacuum deals can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.