The One Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake That Every Newbie Makes

How to Choose the Best robot Vacuum Cleaner Comparison Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. The best models do a great job of removing dust and light debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, because it will prevent hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one with a high rating for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum, and they may not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot cleaner amazon vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and wet mop with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. It is not necessary 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 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 set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors and carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than other mop/bagless robot vacuum 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 the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging the floor's surface. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister remote vacuum cleaner, so they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete a more complete chore in one pass. If you have mixed flooring choose one with an onboard sensor which detects any changes in floor 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 your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination 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 assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the bot cleaner plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance you can use the app to create a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

best inexpensive robot vacuum for Small Spaces

These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of 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 traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these machines, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they require a certain level of light to see where they are moving. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.