How to Choose the Best robot vacuum Cleaner best Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum black friday vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best vacuums models are capable of cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.

The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for a model that has additional features, you should consider a model that has smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot is working. The included app offers the 3D image of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

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

The best automatic vacuum for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of removing dust embedded in low-pile carpet and a few do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.

For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out the cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests, and you can schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can also be set to mop only and we loved its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb 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 to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping the sly kids and pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuums and mops however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren't. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, so they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop and take care of an entire task in one pass. If you have mixed flooring you should look for models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is composed of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mop pads are also able to be dried, washed, and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. 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, meaning you don't have to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies the robots are best designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago, cheap robot vacuum vacuums went through significant changes. Manufacturers started adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might be stuck on or across. These advances reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues that these devices have, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount illumination to be able see where they're headed. You should consider a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit that is mounted on top to trace the area. Our top overall models and runners-up models use this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function, though, as the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot vacuum cleaners to believe it is in another room.

Some of the models we recommend let you set up virtual no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't included on all the models we've tested and recommend that you read our full reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.