How to Choose the Best Robot vacuum cleaner; Pediascape.Science,
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot equipped 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 tested numerous robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuums, is credited with testing hundreds of 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 refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule house cleaning robot sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is a good choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four automatic floor cleaner maps for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did 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 loved its navigation on bare floors and rug. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and great path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for hardwood floors, as they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one move. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum deals vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. 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, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. They can also be dried, washed and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these machines, however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to see where they are going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to map the area. Our top pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent 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 we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.