10 Quick Tips For Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the best robot vacuum cleaner (click the next document)
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want 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 hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs 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 vacuum cleaner comparison vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as efficient in cleaning as our top models, but it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If you want a more 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 and not need to be cleaned. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they are able to maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. Look for one that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is made up of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mops can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
Like the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuum cleaner vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.
The new sensors haven't eliminated 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 an adequate amount of light in order to be able to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.
In addition to being able to work in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful for those with pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to read our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.