20 Reasons To Believe Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Cannot Be Forgotten

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models are capable of picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model with extra features, 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 product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped last, making it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is a good choice for pet owners, because it will prevent tangled fur and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app includes a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and 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 automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and staying clear of obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors and carpets. 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 high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptying and boasts impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best robot vacuum for the money two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of an entire task in one pass. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor vacuum robot texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create a 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 the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best robot vacuum under 200 for Small Spaces

As the name suggests the robots are best self cleaning robot vacuum designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are usually less expensive than the pricier picks, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light in order to know where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to go to. This is a great option for those with small children or pets. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.