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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models are capable of getting rid of dust as well as light debris and cords.

The ones that are more expensive can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best auto vacuum robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use and able to cope with the daily messes. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with 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 prefers the ones with the most features like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.

Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to cover larger areas. This model is a great option for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app offers a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

This model isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it excels in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and fine particles such as sand. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in a house cleaning robot bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop that is able to clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 self cleaning vacuum-Empty robot vacuum cleaner best [https://yogicentral.science/] Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it does pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Ideal for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are capable of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one pass. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robotic vacuum cleaner on sale mop and vacuum combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum cleaner amazon vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors let it stay clear of hazards like stairs.

The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to create an area that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are made for small 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 be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advancements 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.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these machines however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of illumination to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting one that has a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top pick and runner-up models use this. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas you don't wish the robot to enter. This can be helpful for those with small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.