Fascination Sobre Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners
There are caveats, though. Robovacs can't deal with stairs, so their usefulness in multi-floor homes is far more limited. They're also not capable of proper deep cleans, so if you're dealing with lots of hair or dirt, they might not cut it.
Another nice-to-have feature, AI-powered obstacle detection helps your robot “intelligently” detect and avoid clutter (and a potential poop apocalypse if it encounters pet waste). These models use cameras (worth noting) to see objects in their path and onboard processors to “decide” how to approach them based on what they see.
More advanced robot vacuums have lasers on the front of the machine and some on the underside of the device too. These lasers detect where furniture, objects, and edges are in your home, helping avoid bumps, and cliff detection prevents the machine from falling down the stairs. Read our article on how do robot vacuums work to find out more.
✅ You don't have much space: The SwitchBot is very tiny, and can get into tight spaces that others can't. The dock is also compact for a self-empty option.
Several of the top robot vacs below also double as robotic mops, but we didn’t evaluate mopping capabilities in our vacuum tests.
A new robot vacuum can be a significant investment, so to ensure you end up with the right one for you, each model here Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners has been tested either on-team, or by one of our regular, experienced freelance reviewers.
Most uprights feature onboard hoses, wands and tools for vacuuming crevices and upholstery and cleaning above-the-floor spaces like door frames and crown moldings.
If your robot vacuum has a mopping function, some bases come with water tanks and scrubbing abilities as well, so it can keep the mop cloth clean. However, there are some drawbacks to self-emptying bases. Besides the additional cost, these take up a lot more floor space.
If your pet occasionally makes a mess on the carpet, look for models that are designed to recognize and avoid poop.
(If you want even more impressive mopping, check out the Eureka J20 at #6, which has a roller mop that supplies continuous fresh water, and siphons off the dirty stuff as it cleans.)
Their built-in, app-enabled smarts allow them to find their way out of tight spots and around some obstacles, though that brings up some privacy concerns.
We've tested many robot vacuums at Tom's Guide. While most perform great, they aren't as easy to recommend for everyone.
Why we love it: While it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of pricier vacuums, like multiple suction levels, a HEPA filter or a brush roll that can be turned off, it does have five height options ranging from bare floors to high pile carpets, an oito-foot hose for cleaning above the floor and a large, easy-to-empty dust cup.
The mop pads spin to scrub floors clean, and the robot seamlessly switches between bare floors and carpet without getting the carpet wet. The only hiccup is that it's pricey.