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 regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at cleaning up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb stairs. Look for models that have intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a model 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 reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for 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.

The Black and Decker model has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. However, it does have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the spot where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests in our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and resume where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as effective at cleaning as our top models, however it excels in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine debris such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up small particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner for sale mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can exchange a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and wet mop with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other affordable robot vacuum vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its remarkable navigation on rug and automatic floor vacuum surfaces, as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot vacuum robot & Mop is a great option. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running amok). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuums and mops but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for a model equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best mop and vacuum robot combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry 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 get rid of dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best suited for small Spaces

These robots are made for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and require some level of illumination to be able to see where they are moving. If you live in a dark house or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

In addition being capable of working in dark, these models can be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in another room.

Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This is a great option for those with pets or children who are small. These features aren't included on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the choices below before making your purchase.