How to Choose the best robot vacuum black friday Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of cleaning up dust, light debris and cords.

The most expensive models will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is credited with testing dozens of robot vacuums. She's a huge fan of robovacs that offer the most 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 trip up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. However, it has a large dustbin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place the last time it was used and makes it much easier to tackle larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to 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 to be used in the future for reference. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot vac can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it cannot mop and that its navigation system is a little less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, select one that has a high score for carpet and rug maneuverability and pickup. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum bot/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on bare floors and rugs and 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 top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be empty and boasts impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/Robot Vacuum cleaner best combination models however it does pick hair and pet hair extremely well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the ideal option for hardwood floors since they can easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage surfaces that are not bare. They are great for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one go. If you have mixed flooring, look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is primarily composed of hardwood floors, you should consider a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure, rather than wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.

The robovac is controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. For instance you can make use of the app to designate an area that the vacuum won't enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means 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 that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins that hold less debris, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture where larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that could help them navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These advances decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have however. The most affordable robot vacuum models struggle with the same obstacles that the older ones did and, in addition, they need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. Consider getting a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models use this. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers while working in the dark.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not above them. You'll still need to shield any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, because the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it is in another room.

Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful if you have pets or small children. These features aren't included on all of the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.