For Whom Is Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best And Why You Should Care
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job picking up dust and light debris, and most allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
self cleaning vacuum can even sweep your floors, but they can't climb up the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll also need a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent ability to pick up carpets. And, if you're looking to add more features, you might be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, such as self-emptying bins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a huge, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid the tangles of fur and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans for later use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app comes with an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine debris such as sand. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't 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 choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. automatic vacuum is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on bare floors as well as rugs. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptied and has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart mapping system that can be set to only run during certain times (a useful feature to stop the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other mop/robot combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They do an excellent job of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed, look for one 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 effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save you time. They are also able to be washed, dried and reused.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can utilize the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
Like the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to 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 back, robot vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these devices however. robot vacuum deals with the same challenges that the older ones faced and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to create maps of the space. Our top overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.
The models can also be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors 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 the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful if you have pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.