20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Fans Know
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. In addition, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a less impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out an empty bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in keeping away from obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and eliminating obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, 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 want 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 go months without needing to be emptied and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running wild). 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 picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for models equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can transition effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot 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, best robot hoover robotvacuummops.com can mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. They are also able to be dried, washed, and used again.
The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance you can use the app to create 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 the debris via a trapdoor, and 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 for Small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances have reduced the number of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
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's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.