10 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we've tested that we tested are efficient and easy to use and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart 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 tested many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so that they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has an option that allows you 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 also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it does. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is great at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and metal screws. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the floor from becoming wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We liked its navigation on bare floors and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime 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 comes with a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value of our top picks.

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 fantastic in removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. If you have mixed flooring, look for one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum cleaner on sale mop and vacuum bot combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and reused.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for example, use the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuum cleaner deals vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older ones did and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. You'll still need to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.