Where Can You Find The Top Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Information

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and lightweight debris and allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like ones that have self cleaning vacuum cleaner-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. In addition, it has an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the location the last time it was used and makes it much easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most 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 with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on carpets and floors and its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at 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 emptied. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most expensive robot vacuum effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the task in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. 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, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a disposable or bagless bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner on sale snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination to be able to see where they are going. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

In addition to being capable of working in dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that might hinder this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.

A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.