How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can 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 more expensive models even clean your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Look for models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with everyday debris. It is also important to choose a model that can take on stairs and that has decent 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 reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing stairs.

Compared with the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, robotvacuummops and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used and makes it much easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future references. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it works. The app provides a 3D view of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. A lot of models do a great job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a good job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in small particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best option. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 rpm. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum &amp