How to Choose the best robot vacuum cleaner (click through the following article)

A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best models do a great job of removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb up stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient and easy to use and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has good cleaning power for carpets. If you want a robot with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features 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's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing steps.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped at the last point, making it easier for you to clean larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also stop the cleaning robots for home process at any moment and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like 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 for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. But they don't pick up small particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other self-cleaning robot vacuums vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to clean your home when you are away. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on bare floors and rugs, as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 self cleaning vacuum-Empty robot hoover Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be empty and has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value among our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one move. Find one that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example, use the app to create zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the bigger robots struggle to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their traditional sensors could become stuck on or run across. These advancements decreased the amount 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 issues with these machines, however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount light to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to trace the space. Our top overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

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

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.