You'll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best's Secrets

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner best (explanation) vacuum will help you save time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider one that comes with smart robot vacuums mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuum cleaner best vacuums, has been acknowledged for her work in testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best robot vacuum for the money choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to only mop and we loved its excellent navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. 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 more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are fantastic at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have 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 dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving your time. The mops can also be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum won't enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, however you will 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 them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

The new sensors don't solve all issues that these devices have, however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older ones did, and many of them need a certain amount of light to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

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

Some of the models that we recommend let you create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.