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.

Prior to joining GH, she graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and spent two years as an analyst in an environmental lab in Queens.

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.

Most robot vacuum models can easily handle cleaning both carpets and hardwood, but some are better at cleaning one or the other. Higher-end robot vacuums such as the Roomba J9+ Combo can accommodate rapid surface changes by folding its mop pad atop itself and ramping up power whenever carpet is detected, and then throttling back down when it senses hardwood.

While the vacuum earns very good scores for data security, it rates as less than satisfactory for data privacy. Despite being a little noisier than many other tested models, this robot vacuum is powerful and designed for convenience. CR doesn’t have enough survey data to rate owner satisfaction and predicted reliability for Dyson.

Who it's best for: Vacuum mops is an excellent floor-cleaning innovation for those who have small storage spaces and want to clean all different floors and messes with one tool.

You’ll be using an upright vacuum to clean bare floors and low-pile rugs, we recommend selecting a model where you can adjust the height of the nozzle and switch off the rotating brush to avoid damaging flat and delicate surfaces or scattering debris.

It’s hard to find a robot vac that doesn’t have some form of mopping, but not all mops are created equal. I looked for mopping bots that could get up dried-on stains, like milk and ketchup, and scrub up small wet spills without messing themselves up.

The best robot vacuums from Consumer Reports’ tests are great for regular touch-ups and spot-cleaning without you having to grab your trusty upright or canister vacuums (which are better cleaners, we’ve found).

It's also packed with handy features such as its upgraded AdaptLift chassis that allows easy access over tall thresholds (without getting stuck). The App was easy to set up, map and schedule routines. More importantly, the Orevo Curv excelled in the majority of our tests.

❌ You're dealing with lots of dust: There's no self-empty on the dock, and the small onboard bin will fill up quickly if you're dealing with lots of dirt or hair.

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That level of smarts means Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners a high price tag, although our tester felt it was justified by the build quality and featureset. If you're looking for a truly autonomous cleaning solution, the Roborock Qrevo Curv will deliver.

Robot vacuums are impressive devices that will clean your floors well and — thanks to bigger batteries and better robot brains — rarely get tired of doing their job.