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How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

best robot vacuum black friday Overall

The best value robot vacuum robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tried dozens robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to 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 less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning robot price options.

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

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick one with a high rating for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. A lot of models are adept at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and they may be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other self-cleaning robot vacuums vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can be set to only mop and we loved its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are capable of picking up dust and crumbs, however they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one go. Choose a model that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When it comes to mop pads, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, or to label rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, meaning you don't have to empty the bin manually every time as you would with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners than larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner amazon snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and they need some level of illumination in order to see where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

These models can be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. You'll still want to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in another room.

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