How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Look for models with 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 the daily messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. 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 for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences like ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
In click through the following website page with the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it last stopped and makes it much easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it is working. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle small particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptied, and it has impressive navigation skills and automatic emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to complete the job in one go. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, and it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.
When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce waste, make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can use the app to set up a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies, these robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments 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 conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light to know where they are moving. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up have this feature. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.