Top performers can find their way out of tight spots and around extension cords. You’ll need to do some prep work in moving clothes, toys, and other objects from the floor before sending out the vacuum, though.

The Shark IQ can be controlled via an app as well as with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can create a schedule and connect it to smart home devices. It even has mapping features of more expensive robot vacuums so you can mark individual rooms as well as set invisible boundaries called Pelo-Go zones.

On test, we were wowed by this robovac's mopping abilities. The mop pads assert downwards pressure as they rotate, leaving our tester's floors shining and spotless. In contrast, the vacuuming was good but not outstanding.

That might not be an issue if you're cleaning on one floor as the bot will just return to its dock to recharge as required, but it becomes more annoying if you're using it on multiple floors.

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.

We look at whether there's any remnants left after a single pass from the robot vacuum, and if it catches them on a second run. We repeat these tests for both hard floor and carpet.

They rate the ease of removing the dust cups or bags and the ease of operating the vacuums’ controls. We also test any other features like battery charge indicators, brush roll control buttons and other tools and accessories.

So, ideally you will still want to run your regular vacuum every so often, while the robot vacuum helps keep dust down in the interim. By keeping on top of the light debris, you won’t need to use your full-sized vacuum so often.

With some 2-in-1 robovacs, the mopping is a bit of an afterthought, but the Eufy X10 Pro Omni has rotating pads that press down for a more thorough clean on hard floors. On test, it had no trouble at all cleaning a dried-on sugary drink and sticky sauce, automatically choosing the right amount of water for the job.

Though we rated it highly across all of our testing categories, we did note that pet hair clung to the brush attachment. Its dust cup is small, but it empties from the bottom with the click of one button.

However, I think it's fair to assume you'll need to manually empty it more than you would a traditional, self-empty robovac, given dock dustbins tend to hold 2.5L or 3L of dirt.

You are looking for a two-in-one option. Most have rotating brushes for efficient floor and rug cleaning, and many convert to or have a hand vacuum on board so it’s like having two vacuums in one. Most come with attachments, like dusting brushes, crevice tools and charging stands for storage.

cem% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more. The best robot vacuums complement regular vacuuming and require little attention, though their built-in smarts raise privacy concerns.

Right now, the best robot vacuum on the market is the Eufy X10 Pro Omni. On test, this combination robot vacuum and mop was almost perfect, Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners acing our cleaning tests and delivering accurate navigation too.