How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The
best robot vacuums Robot Vacuum For Vinyl Plank Floors,
Git.Innov.Energy, robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't trip when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it cannot mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
The
best amazon vacuum choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/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 clean your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot
automated vacuum cleaner & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a huge charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however, it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are a great pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is comprised of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. The sensors in it allow it to 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 over to get rid of light dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it easier to use. You can, for example utilize the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advancements decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to know where they are going.