Best Rated Robot Vacuum Cleaner

While robot vacuums are fantastic at keeping your floors clean however, they're not able to replace a large-sized vacuum. Even the most powerful robots struggle to get deep into carpets and rugs. They also often get caught in socks and cords.

Being on top of routine maintenance (replacing filters cutting hair that is tangled from brushes and emptying the dust bin) will make your robot last longer.

Battery Life

The majority of robot vacuums are able to handle a few cleaning sessions without having to be charged. The runner-up in our top picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Q30S Combo is rated to last up to 180 minutes (3,230 square feet) of cleaning time on one charge. This is more than enough to clean the majority of smaller homes that have carpets that are hard and low-pile carpets or a larger house with rooms that are roughly the same size.

A longer battery lifespan also means that the robot will spend more time cleaning, and less time charging its dock. It's worth opting for an auto-emptying dust bin, as those models are more efficient in picking up debris and returning to the dock for charging. It's important to clean or replace the filters and wipe down the sensors and the camera on a regular schedule so they can see clearly.

Smart mapping technology can be a valuable feature, since you can program your robot to ensure that it only cleans specific rooms or areas it's likely to bump into furniture and other obstacles. This feature is also beneficial to ensure that your robot is able to get under and around furniture such as beds, sofas and other high-height items. A few robovacs are cheap and have boundary strips you can place on the floor to block off areas while other high-end models use cameras and sensors to accomplish this.

Even the most powerful robot vacuums can't replace a traditional vacuum when it comes heavy-duty dirt and debris. It's wise to keep a traditional power vac on standby for these tasks and to schedule robot vacs regularly for light cleanups throughout the week.

Navigation

A robot must be able to navigate you home without getting stuck or crashing into things like metal screws or pet hair that is loose, or sand. In our tests the tracking device is used to track the robot's movements through an entire lab. It then analyzes its surroundings. We also examine how the robot avoids obstacles like power cords, furniture legs, and pet waste.

The top robots can map out several floors, and recognize landmarks such as windows and doors. The most advanced robots, like the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra have a dual sensor navigation system which uses an LIDAR to map out a room and a structured-light camera mounted on the front to identify objects in real-time. The S8 can evade obstacles such as power cords and legs of furniture. It also has the ability to store up to four floor maps.

More affordable models don't have this kind of detection and rely on bump sensors, which aren't as precise. In my testing they were able to rip through cords, dog poop and even a pair of shoes placed in the middle of the room. The most affordable choice, the Dreametech D10+, is one exception to this. It has excellent carpet as well as a hard floor, tangle and hair pickup. It also has an auto empty score that is near-perfect.

Another important feature is a large dust bin which doesn't have to be manually empty. It also has, for the models that mop, a water tank that can hold weeks worth of mopping. Karcher's RCV 5 is a great example of this. It has a wide enough footprint to fit under furniture, but not so big that it can't fit into the nook between your toilet and tub.

Apps

Robot vacuums are a lot like upright vacuums and require lots of technology to bring them up to speed. The result is a pretty mature market full of options. However, even the most advanced models require some interaction with their users - particularly when it comes to scheduling cleanings as well as establishing a home floor plan and establishing virtual barriers.

You might consider a model with its own app that can recognize the layout of your home and save these settings for future use. This will let the vacuum begin where it left off on subsequent runs, rather than having to start the mapping process every time.

Also, consider models that offer spot or zone cleaning. You can instruct the robot vacuum cleaner to focus on an area, like under the table after a huge family meal. You can typically use the app or voice commands.

Many models also provide objects-avoidance. It allows the robot to see something in its path, such as a box of shoes or a crate filled with dog toys, and coach itself around it. This will keep it from crashing into objects that could harm its sensors or cause a jam.

Some of the most expensive models we've tested include this feature. They rely on bump sensor technology for this, but they didn't always stay clear of things I tested at home.

Pet Hair

Find the best robot vacuum vacuum cleaner designed to pick up pet hair. The most effective models will have the highest rated robot vacuum suction, a brush which stops tangling, and an automatic emptying mechanism. Some models can detect dirt levels to alter the level of cleaning. They are able to detect objects that aren't part of the flooring in your home, such as furniture, toys, food bowls, cords, and more.

Some robot vacuums include additional pet-friendly features. They include the water dispenser that can be used to mop floors, and an HEPA filtration system that reduces allergens like pet dust. They may also offer an operation that is quieter, which can reduce the amount of sound that's produced during cleaning sessions.

Robot vacuums that have mapping capabilities are a great option for pet owners. They're designed to assess your home and devise an strategy based on the arrangement of each room and obstacles. Shark Matrix Plus is a two-in-one robot vacuum that can map a room, and navigate around furniture, and other obstacles using accelerometer and gyroscope sensors.

Other models that are more advanced allow you to define no-go zones that are areas that the robot is meant to avoid--like fragile items or pet feeding spots--by adjusting settings through an app. This feature is particularly useful for households with busy schedules, as it allows you to plan your cleaning schedule and adjust settings without having to be in the same space as the vacuum. Spot cleaning is an additional great feature. You can instruct the vacuum cleaner to clean a space that is particularly dirty or stuffed with pet hair.

Dust Bin

If you don't need something small, consider a robot with a large bin, or even a self-emptying dustbin. We suggest choosing a model that has an enormous bin or a bin that self-empties. The former will enable you to keep up with cleaning the bin regularly enough to ensure you are on top of its performance, while the latter will help you save time and effort by automatically dumping the contents into an internal container after every few cleanings.

Look for models that have smart mapping capabilities that allow them to "learn" the layout of your home and plan more efficient routes. They also detect and avoid objects that could block their paths (like shoelaces or tangled charging cables). Find models with intelligent mapping capabilities, which enable them to "learn" the structure of your home and plan more efficient routes, and models that detect and avoid objects that may hinder their routes (like shoelaces or strangling charging cables).

Some models also offer spot cleaning. This lets you select an area of your home for intensive cleaning. In our tests, we found that the top models are able to take out small particles like sand, baking soda, orzo, metal screws and pet hair, in addition to heavier debris like oatmeal, orzo, and metal screws.

The brand you choose will determine the longevity of the robot. most robots will last for years and will continue to perform in the event that you maintain them with regular maintenance tasks, such as cleaning tangled hair from brushes, emptying the dust bin after each use and cleaning cameras and sensors as required. The best affordable robot vacuum robots are also more modular. This makes it easier to replace or repair parts like wheels and batteries when they get worn out.