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

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. The top models do a great job at removing dust and light debris and allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to keep up with daily debris. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability 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 for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been recognized for her testing of numerous robot vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

In comparison with the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it stopped last which makes it easier to tackle larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four automatic floor cleaner maps for future reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app provides the 3D image of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing 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 like canister or upright vacuums and may also 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. It allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum Cleaner best buy (Theflatearth.Win) vacuum/mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only and we loved its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty robot vac Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without needing to be cleaned. It also has impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors with no floor. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to complete the task in one move. Find one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If your home is made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum cleaners vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. 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, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and make it less likely to spread germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. They are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

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

best robot vacuum under 200 suited for small Spaces

These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

However, the latest sensors haven't solved all of the issues these machines face. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require an adequate amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you reside in a dark area or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

These models can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot vacuum sale believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test and recommend that you read our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.