How Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Has Become The Most Sought-After Trend In 2024

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and light debris and allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

best auto vacuum Overall

The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective and easy to use and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you want a robot with extra features, 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 tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger homes. This model is a good choice for pet owners as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four automatic floor cleaners; simply click the next document, maps to be used in the future for reference. It can also pause the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off, so you can do chores while the robot works. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less effective navigation system.

The best option for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet, and several do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with 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 better than other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home when you are away. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and excellent path planning for such a small device.

If you're looking for a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

best value robot vacuum for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage bare surfaces. They are capable of removing crumbs and dust, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best robots come with two-in-one features, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one go. Find one that has an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

Like the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better over larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced a major change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that could help them avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy or pet waste.

However, the new sensors haven't resolved all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to map the area. Our top overall pick and runner-up models use this. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room cleaning robot.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.