I throw in Cheerios or popcorn to see if they know to vacuum that up rather than avoid it. I also run them over oatmeal and flour to see how well they pick up fine debris and have them tackle both thick and low-pile carpets. I watch to see how they handle rug tassels, skinny chair legs, and room transitions.

They can handle various floor types, from carpets to hardwood. Some even have self-emptying bins. With so many options available, finding the right one can be tricky. This guide will help you understand the key features and benefits. Make an informed decision to keep your home clean with ease.

Robot vacuums are quite an investment, and it’s important to be able to buy replacement parts to keep them going for longer and have access to good support in case your robot has a serious issue.

Spacious homes require vacuums with robust battery life and effective navigation. Models like the MAMNV T7S Combo with its 180-minute runtime, and the Shark AI Ultra with mapping, allow for fewer interruptions and wide coverage. Self-charging ensures they continue seamlessly, even across multiple cleaning cycles.

Not all robovacs can handle the Em excesso challenge posed by lots of pet hair, but one that really impressed on this front was the Dreame L40 Ultra. This bot was put through its paces in a home filled with furry, four-legged friends, and really rose to the occasion.

The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog canister is on the pricey side for a vacuum, but it’s one of the best bagless canisters you can buy. For one thing, on a brand level, Miele vacuums have superb ratings in predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, meaning the members we’ve surveyed are very satisfied with their Miele vacuums and have experienced few problems with their purchases.

The Combo has a redesigned dock that’s very large — to accommodate two water tanks and a dust bag — but it doubles as a table.

For certain people and households, very much so. I only used manual vacuums before I started testing robot vacuums for TechRadar, and now I wouldn't be without one. They have revolutionized my cleaning – I live alone, so I'm not dealing with loads of dirt and dust buildup, but I send the robot out once or twice a week and it just takes care of the vacuuming for me.

Overall value: We assess based on how well the product performs in all of the tests, comparing its performance with the price tag and promised features.

I also set schedules, hook them up to voice assistants, Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners and play with any advanced features in the app. I evaluate how well they map and how easy the maps are to edit and use, as well as test and unique features such as home security camera capabilities, AI cleaning programs, and auto-mop removal.

While its mapping is very good, it can take a really long time (Roombas use vSLAM, not lidar), and it doesn’t seem to adapt to changes in my home as easily as other robots.

The Dirt Detect feature remembers the dirtiest rooms, and I found that meant it actively seeks out the spots my hairy Wirehaired Pointing Griffon hangs out. The 10 Max can also be set to mop only, which is a new option and is handy for deep cleans.

We see the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum as an excellent starter robot vacuum, and an especially great choice if you (or someone you love) want to dip your toe into the robot vacuum world without having to download apps or navigate smart mapping features. The sleek and simplistic design makes it easy to use out of the box, and there’s pelo app or voice control features that would make it “smart.”  We love that it has an obvious power switch and easy-to-use remote control—it takes just a couple minutes to set up.

The system is specifically engineered for pet households, reducing manual efforts spent on clearing hair from brushes and rollers.