Best Rated Robot Vacuum Cleaner

While robot vacuums are excellent in keeping your floors spotless, they can't substitute for a larger vacuum. Even the best robots aren't able to get deep into rugs and carpets, and they may get caught with cords and socks.

Your robot will last longer if it is maintained with routine maintenance. This includes replacing filters, cutting the tangled hairs from brushes and emptying the dust bin.

Battery Life

The majority of robot vacuums are able to handle a few cleaning sessions without needing to be charged. The runner-up in our overall selections, the Ecovacs Deebot Q30S Combo comes with a battery capable of lasting up to 180 minutes (3,230 square feet) of cleaning time on a single charge. This should suffice for homes that have carpets, hard flooring and carpets with low pile or larger homes where the rooms are similar in size.

A longer battery life means that the robot will be able to spend less time charging and spend more time cleaning. It's worth opting for an auto-emptying dust bin, since those models are more efficient in collecting debris and returning to the dock to recharge. It's also important to empty or change the filter and clean sensors and cameras on a regular basis to ensure they are able to see your home clearly.

smart vacuum cleaner mapping technology is a great feature to look out for since it permits you to program your robot to only clear certain rooms or areas where it's more likely to hit furniture or other obstacles. It's also beneficial for ensuring your robot is able to go under and around sofas, beds and other furniture that is tall. A few robovacs that are cheap come with boundary strips you can use to block off certain areas. Other models of higher quality rely on cameras and sensors.

Even the best robot vacuums cannot replace a traditional vacuum for heavy-duty dirt and debris. It is recommended to keep an electric vacuum in your home to tackle these tasks, and also schedule robot vacs to do light cleaning throughout the week.

Navigation

A robot should be able of navigating your home without getting caught or running into things such as metal screws or pet hair, or sand. In our tests we used a tracking device used to track the robot's movements through an entire lab. It then maps its surroundings. We also examine how well it avoids obstacles, including power cords, furniture legs and pet waste.

The most advanced robots are able to map out multiple floors, and recognize landmarks such as doors and Windows. The most advanced models such as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, come with a dual-sensor navigation device that utilizes an LIDAR sensor to map out the room and a structured light camera on the front of the robot vacuum deals to identify objects in real time. This allows the S8 to stay clear of common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs and can also store up to four floor maps within its internal memory.

The majority of the models that are affordable depend on bump sensors that aren't as precise. In my tests they cut right through cords, dog poop and even the shoes that were placed in the middle of the room. The Dreametech D10+ is the best value pick. It is a great carpet and hard floor, tangle and hair pickup. It also has an auto empty score that is close to perfect.

A large dust bin onboard, which doesn't have to be manually empty is another feature that's important. For models that mop the floor, this tank will hold enough water to last for several weeks of cleaning sessions. The Karcher RCV 5 comes with this and a big enough footprint that it can be placed under furniture, but not so large that it won't fit in the nook between your toilet and bathtub.

Apps

Robot vacuums are a lot like their upright counterparts and require a lot of tech to bring them up to speed. There are many options in a market that is mature. Even the top models require interaction from their customers especially when it comes to schedule cleaning, make a the floor plan of your home and install virtual barriers.

Think about a model that has its own app that can determine the layout of your home and save the settings for future use. This will let the vacuum begin where it left off in subsequent runs, instead of having to restart the mapping process every time.

It's also worth keeping an eye out for a vacuum that comes with zones or spot cleaning options. They allow you to instruct the robot vacuum to concentrate on a specific area, such as under the dining room table after a big family meal. You can do this using the app or by voice commands.

Many models also offer object avoidance. It lets the robot detect objects in its path, like the shoe box or a crate full of dog toys, and guide itself around it. This will keep it from crashing into things that might damage its sensors or cause a jam.

This feature is offered on some of the more expensive models we test. They depend on bump sensor technology to do this, but they didn't always stay clear of things I tested at home.

Pet Hair

Choose a vacuum cleaner that is specifically designed to collect pet hair. The best models have powerful suction, a brush that avoids tangling, and an emptying mechanism that can automatically empty hair into the dust bin when it is needed. Some models can also determine dirt levels and adjust the intensity of cleaning accordingly. They can also detect items that aren't part of your home's flooring like furniture, toys, food bowls, cords, and more.

Some robot vacuums include features that are pet-friendly, such as a water dispenser that can be used to mop floors and a HEPA filter that can help reduce allergens like pet dust. They could also provide an operation that is quieter, which can reduce the amount of noise generated during cleaning sessions.

Robot vacuums with mapping capabilities are an excellent option for pet owners, as they're designed to evaluate your home and develop plans of attack in accordance with the layout and obstructions in every room. Shark Matrix Plus is a dual-purpose robot vacuum that can map a room, and navigate around furniture and other obstacles using accelerometer and Gyroscope smart sensors.

Other models that are more advanced let you define no-go zones that are areas that the robot is expected to stay clear of, such as fragile items or pet feeding areas--by altering settings through an app. This feature is particularly beneficial for families with a lot of activity as it permits you to schedule cleaning time and adjust settings without having to be in the same space as the vacuum. Another excellent feature is spot cleaning, which lets you direct the vacuum to clean an area that is particularly dirty or full of pet hair.

Dust Bin

If you don't need something small, go for a model with a big bin or even a self-emptying trash bin. We recommend picking the one with a large bin or a bin that self-empties. The one will let you keep up with emptying your bin often enough to maintain its performance. The latter will save time and effort by automatically emptying the contents into an inside container each time you clean it.

No matter the size of your home, most robots can easily move around and up to furniture, and most are able to detect and navigate around household obstacles such as loose cords, shoes, and dog poop. Look for models that have intelligent mapping capabilities. This lets them "learn the structure of your home and devise a an efficient route.

Some models offer spot cleaning. This lets you choose a specific area of your house for thorough cleaning. In our tests, we discovered that the best floor vacuum robot models can take out small particles like baking soda, sand orzo, metal screws and pet hair, as well heavier debris like oatmeal orzo, and screws made of metal.

According to the brand, robots can last years and continue to perform as well, so long as they are maintained. For example cleaning hair that is tangled out of brushes, emptying dust bins after each use, and wiping sensors and cameras down as required. The top robots are more adaptable. This allows you to repair or replace parts like batteries and wheels, when they wear out.