Question: How Much Do You Know About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best?

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb 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 is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier to take care of larger homes. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning like our top models, however it is a pro at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few 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 or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 buy robot vacuum cleaner vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and [Redirect-302] mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It detects and [Redirect-307] raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuum/mops at keeping away from obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer 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 liked its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptied and has impressive navigation skills and auto vacuum cleaner-emptying on both carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature that can keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models however it still manages to pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one go. If you have mixed flooring choose one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

The robovac can be controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for example, use the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

As the name implies that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your area, like our best combo vacuum overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.

In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.