Stacie Kingston

How to Choose the best robot vacuum deals Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust, light debris and cords.

The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors however they're not able to climb up the stairs. Find models that feature smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart robot vacuums mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so that they don't fall when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor robot plans for future use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it does. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles such as baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. It is not necessary to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.

Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which was a great performer in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors with no flooring and rugs. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can last for months without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are fantastic in removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one go. Find models that have 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 go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum deals with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking 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 dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

Both the robovac as well as the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can use the app to set up an area that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

As the name suggests that these robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in getting around corners better over larger models. They can also fit under furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that traditional sensors might get stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.

The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Consider getting an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device that is mounted on top to map the space. Our top pick and runner-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not above them. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that could hinder this function, however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the Robot Vacuum cleaner Best to believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't wish the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have small children or pets. These features aren't included on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.