10 Places To Find Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best value robot vacuum ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, 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 best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and that has decent cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic floor vacuums; hyperlink, vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.
Compared to the top 5 robot vacuum-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since 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 that can map rooms and detect obstacles with a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as efficient in cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a less impressive navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. 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 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and eliminating obstacles.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors and its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also features impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts 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 think about a robot vacuum cleaner price mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them 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 reduce time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless robot vacuum or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do 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 the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are generally less expensive than the more expensive models, too, although you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This has decreased the amount of times our testers needed 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 aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these devices, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they need a certain level of light to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.