Chores are just a fact of life, but there may be some chores you detest more than others. If vacuuming comes to mind for you, consider a robot vacuum cleaner. These smart home gadgets have come a long way in recent years. Previously, you\u2019d shell out hundreds for basic dirt-sucking capabilities. Now, robot vacuums have gotten so advanced that even affordable machines have good suction power, and maybe even a handful of extra features like obstacle avoidance and home mapping. Prices for models with self-emptying bases and mopping capabilities are also falling.That\u2019s all to say that the robot vacuum space has gotten much more crowded recently. While that means you have many good options to choose from, making sense of the market gets tougher and tougher each year. Engadget has tested dozens of robot vacuums over the years and we continue to try out the latest models as they become available. Below, we\u2019ve collected our top picks for the best robot vacuums you can get right now.
\nTable of contents <\/p>\n
Best robot vacuums 2025
\n What to look for in a robot vacuum
\n Robot vacuum maintenance tips
\n Robot vacuum FAQs <\/p>\n
Best robot vacuums 2025 <\/p>\n
What to look for in a robot vacuum
\nFloor type
\nWe recommend thinking first about the floors in your home: Do you have carpet throughout, or tile and hardwood floors, or a mix? Robots with stronger suction power will do a better job cleaning carpets as they can get into the nooks and crannies more easily. Some machines have \u201cmax\u201d modes as well, which ups the suction power but also typically eats at battery life faster than the \u201cnormal\u201d cleaning mode.
\nVacuum suction
\nSuction power is an important factor to consider. Unfortunately, there isn\u2019t a standard power scale that all robo-vacs adhere to, so it\u2019s difficult to compare among a bunch of devices. Some companies provide Pascal (Pa) levels and generally the higher the Pa, the stronger the vacuum cleaner will be. But other companies don\u2019t rely on Pa and simply say their robots have X-times more suction than other robots.
\nWi-Fi connectivity
\nAs we explained in our budget guide, Wi-Fi connectivity is a key feature for most robot vacuums. Some of the affordable devices aren\u2019t Wi-Fi connected, though, so it\u2019s best to double check before you buy cheap. Wi-Fi lets a robot vacuum cleaner do things like communicate with a mobile app, which then allows you to control the device from your phone.
\nMapping features and object detection
\nPast a certain price threshold, you\u2019ll find advanced perks like home mapping features, improved object detection and automatic dustbin disposal. Home mapping is exactly what it sounds like: The vacuum uses sensors to map your home\u2019s layout as it cleans, allowing you to send it to particular rooms or areas.
\nMost robo-vacs have object detection, but some will be better than others at actually avoiding things like chair legs and children\u2019s toys. Higher-end models even go so far as to promise obstacle avoidance to steer clear of things like pet poop that can potentially ruin your machine.
\nRobot vacuums with mopping capabilities
\nWe\u2019re also now starting to see more robot vacuums with mopping capabilities. Machines with this feature have a water tank either built into the robot\u2019s chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in for the dustbin when you want to mop your floors. It makes the robo-vac more useful if you have hard floors in your home that you like to keep squeaky clean, but it does require more work on your part.
\nFilling and emptying the reservoir remains a human\u2019s job for the most part (except on the most expensive machines), as does adding cleaning solutions if the mopping robot comes with this feature to ensure it uses clean water for every cycle.
\nAuto-empty station
\nFinally, for peak convenience, consider a robot vacuum that comes with a self-emptying base station. These are basically garbage bins attached to the machine\u2019s docking station. At the end of each job, the robo-vac automatically empties its small dustbin into the large clean base \u2013 that means you won\u2019t have to empty the dustbin yourself and you\u2019ll only have to tend to the base once every few weeks.
\nJust keep in mind that most self-emptying bins require proprietary garbage bags \u2013 another long-term expense you\u2019ll have to factor in. Also, any vac-and-mop robot with a water tank will not dump its dirty water into the clean base, so you\u2019ll still have to clean up that yourself.
\nRobot vacuum maintenance tips
\nFirst and foremost, always empty your robot vacuum\u2019s dustbin after every cleaning job. If you have a model with a self-emptying base, there\u2019s less work for you to do yourself. If not, simply detach and empty the dustbin as soon as the robot is done cleaning. It\u2019s also a good idea to take a dry cloth to the inside of the dustbin every once in a while to remove any small dust and dirt particles clinging to its insides.
\nIn addition, you\u2019ll want to regularly examine the machine\u2019s brushes to see if any hair has wrapped around them, or if any large debris is preventing them from working properly. Some brushes are better than others at not succumbing to tangled hair, but it\u2019s a good idea to check your robot\u2019s brushes regardless \u2014 both their main brush and any smaller roller brushes or corner brushes they have. These parts are often easy to pop off of the machine (because they do require replacements eventually) so we recommend removing each brush entirely, getting rid of any tangled hair or other debris attached to them and reinstalling them afterwards.
\nRobot vacuums also have filters that need replacing every couple of months. Check your machine\u2019s user manual or the manufacturer\u2019s website to see how long they recommend going in between filter replacements. Most of the time, these filters cannot be washed, so you will need to buy new ones either directly from the manufacturer or from other retailers like Amazon or Walmart.
\nRobot vacuum FAQs
\nAre robot vacuums worth it?
\nWe tackled this question when we reviewed budget robot vacuums and the answer is yes, especially if vacuuming is one of your least favorite chores. Robots take the hard work out of cleaning your floors \u2013 just turn the thing on and watch it go. Any robot vacuum cleaner worth buying is semi-autonomous in that it will suck up dirt around your home until its battery is low and then make its way back to its charging dock. Unlike a regular vacuum, you should only have to interact with it to turn it on, empty its dustbin and untangle it if it were to get stuck somewhere.
\nThat\u2019s not to say robot vacuums are perfect. They\u2019re almost always less powerful and less flexible than traditional vacuums. Since most robo-vacs are much smaller than traditional models, they often don\u2019t have the same level of suction you\u2019ll get in an upright machine. Plus, their dustbins are smaller, so they will need to be emptied more frequently. While Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuums give you the flexibility to start a cleaning job from anywhere using an app, targeting a small area of your home can be more complicated. Some robo-vacs have spot-cleaning features that focus the machine\u2019s attention on a specific area, which almost \u2013 but not quite \u2013 mimics the spot-cleaning you\u2019d be able to do yourself with a regular or cordless vacuum.
\nHow long do robot vacuums last?
\nRobot vacuums can last many years, if you take care of them properly. Check out our recommendations for robot vacuum maintenance above, but in a nutshell, you should make sure that you’re emptying the machine’s bin after every job and periodically cleaning the interior of the bin and the brushes. It’s also a good idea to check the user manual to see how often your robot vacuum’s filter needs changing.
\nDo robot vacuums work better than handheld vacuums?
\nThere’s no straight answer to this question. Robot vacuums offer more convenience than handheld vacuums, so for those who are looking to automate a chore, that could mean one of these devices works better for them than a standard vacuum. However, handheld vacuum cleaners often have stronger suction power, and they give the user a bit more control. It ultimately depends on how you intend to use your main vacuum cleaner and what you want to prioritize most.
\nHow often do you have to clean a robot vacuum?
\nCleaning a robot vacuum isn\u2019t too much of a chore, but you\u2019ll want to give it a little TLC every few weeks or so, depending on how often you\u2019re running it and how much dirt it\u2019s picking up. The dustbin usually needs to be emptied after each cleaning run, especially if you have pets or lots of carpet where dirt can hide. Many newer models have self-emptying docks, which means you won\u2019t have to empty the dustbin yourself after every use, but the main bin will still need a good clean once a month or so. Also, it\u2019s a good idea to check the side brushes and main brush for any hair tangles or debris every couple of weeks to keep things running smoothly.
\nWhat are the negatives of robot vacuums?
\nRobot vacuums won\u2019t work for everyone. One of the biggest drawbacks is that they usually don\u2019t have the same suction power as a full-sized upright vacuum or even a cordless stick vacuum, so they might struggle with deep-cleaning thick carpets. They\u2019re also designed for floors only, so if you\u2019re looking to clean furniture, stairs or other tricky spots, you\u2019ll still need a traditional vacuum to do that. Plus, they can sometimes get stuck or miss spots, especially if you\u2019ve got a lot of furniture or obstacles in the way. While their sensors help, they might still bump into things or need a little help getting out of tight spots. And while most have decent dirt detection features, they\u2019re best for keeping things tidy rather than doing heavy-duty cleaning.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/home\/smart-home\/best-robot-vacuums-130010426.html?src=rss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chores are just a fact of life, but there may be some chores you detest more than others. If vacuuming comes to mind for you, consider a robot vacuum cleaner. These smart home gadgets have come a long way in … Continue reading