Everything You Need To Be Aware Of Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robot floor cleaner robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart robot mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that can detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location the last time it was used and makes it much easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid the steps, 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 cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a less impressive navigation system.

best home vacuum cleaner for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one with a high rating for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best robot hoover option. You can swap out an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet to avoid wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It has a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than other mop/robot combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one go. Find models that have an onboard sensor to 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 floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid staircases 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 clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. They can also be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines however. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need a certain level of light to be able to see where they're moving. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our best overall models and runners-up models use this. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

They can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This is a great option for those with small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.