How Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Was The Most Talked About Trend In 2024
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords. The higher-end models even sweep your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins. Best Overall The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you may be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely. click here , a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the 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 robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing steps. In comparison to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities, and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles. In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it does. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options. Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a less effective navigation system. The best option for Carpet If you have carpeting, select an automatic vacuum with a high rating for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. However, they aren't able to pick up small particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and may also be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds. For most carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can swap out a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and avoiding obstacles. Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop, and we liked its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device. If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other mop/robot combos but it's effective in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks. Best for Hard Flooring Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors as they can easily maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas. The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one go. If you have floors that are mixed 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 go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting. If you have lots of hardwood floors in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs. When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. They are also able to be washed, dried and used again. Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models. Best for Small Spaces These robots are made for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session. A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic accident. The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems that these devices have, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark. In addition to being capable of working in the dark they can also be configured to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, since the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room. A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.