You'll Never Guess This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best's Tricks

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart robot mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also likes the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing stairs.

Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning robots for home times and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger areas. This model is an excellent choice 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 can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four automatic floor vacuum maps for future use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot vacuum cleaner Best works. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at cleaning like our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

The best combo vacuum for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose one that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean while you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also has amazing navigation and auto vacuum cleaner-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than some other mop/robot combos, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are a great choice for hardwood floors as they are able to navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots are those that come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed, 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 example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is mostly made up of hardwood floors, think about an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove light dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to help save time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

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 utilize the app to create no-go zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of these machines' problems. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to know where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.

These models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, but not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-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 allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't offered on all the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.