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.

I tried this high-tech golf bag with a speaker and solar panel — and it even has a game-improving trick

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.

And while removing dog hair on carpet wasn't as impressive, it still rated high in comparison to others that we've tested. What's more, we were impressed with its mopping results, and the self-cleaning doc was a bonus.

Who it's best for: If you have a busy schedule and pelo time to clean your floors, this is our favorite robot vacuum. It can suck up dry debris, spot clean small areas and pick up pet hair, all while remembering floor layouts.

This is quite a common feature for robot vacuums. By connecting with your smartphone app, you can schedule when you want it to clean, be it daily, weekly or when you’re not at home.

5%. Ultimately, this is a great investment if your pets are prone to accidents and you want to avoid further mess. Keep in mind that's it's a little forceful prior to mapping though — it even knocked one of the weights which secures the walls out of place during our debris tests.

If your pet occasionally makes a mess on the carpet, look for models that are designed to recognize and avoid poop.

I’ve been testing robot vacuums for seven years and have run over 70 robot vacuums all over my house. These are my top picks if you’re looking for the best: a robot vacuum that can do it all with limited intervention from you.

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.

✅ You also need a manual vacuum: Most people with robovacs also have a manual vacuum. The Ecovacs takes the fuss of that out by providing you with one in the first place.

Read more on this subject in our article exploring can a robot vacuum replace your existing vacuum cleaner?

Navigation: Our technicians attach a tracking device to the vacuum and map its movement through a multiroom lab. Then they calculate the coverage of the room over multiple runs Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners and note what the vacuum avoids and what it doesn’t. They conduct several runs to see whether the vacuum is able to learn the layout and improve its navigation.