You'll Be Unable To Guess Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best's Tricks

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models do a great job picking up dust and other small particles, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

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

Best Overall

The best budget robot vacuum robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily debris. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider an option that incorporates smart mapping technology or an app 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 big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is a good option for pet owners, because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms with a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rug. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and a few do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It 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 mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto vacuum-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also comes with a smart mapping system that can be set to only run for certain hours (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best (Bridgehome.Cn) combos however it's still good at picking up hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum to complete the entire chore in one go. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for a model with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot floor cleaner mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop too. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mops the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them to get rid of light dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance, use the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that hold less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident.

However, the latest sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The less expensive models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they require a certain level of light to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them 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 is still recommended to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas that you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't offered on all the models we test, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.