Ten Robot Vacuum Cleaner Bests That Really Help You Live Better
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.
The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll want a self-cleaning robot vacuums with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot vacuum cleaner review has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the most popular models. It comes with a huge non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is a good choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-highest rated robot vacuum models, it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rugs. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent 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 Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also features impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end 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 robot floor cleaner two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete the entire chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, and it can mop too. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example utilize the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot floor cleaner vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robot incident.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines, however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they require a certain level of light in order to be able to see where they're moving. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The models can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to go to. This is a great option for those with small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested and recommend that you go through our complete reviews of the models below before making your purchase.
