The Venga! Robot Vacuum Cleaner is a great budget option, which offers superb versatility through changeable heads. These allow it to act as a vacuum, mop or brush. It also has built-in sensors to stop it from colliding with walls or falling down the stairs.

Many vacuums connect to apps that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions, and some even sync with Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and other digital voice aids for a truly hands-free experience. All robot vacuums will automatically return to their docks to recharge, and some can even pause a cleaning session, recharge and continue cleaning from where they left off.

First and foremost, you should follow the directions in your instruction manual for where to place the robot vacuum. While most will offer similar guidance, the measurements required can vary, and some designs may prefer a greater clearance. Generally speaking though, your robot vacuum should be placed against a flat and straight wall on a level surface, with around 3 ft of clearance on each side, and at least 4 ft in front.

AR Score is a scoring system developed by our experts. The score is from 0 to 10 based on the data collected by the Appliances Radar tool. This score doesn't impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Learn more

【Small Body Design】: With a 28cm diameter, M210P robotic vacuum cleaner can work under or around furniture such as beds, sofas, etc. It not only has a high coverage rate but also an ultra-low failure rate, allowing you to completely clean the room.

On March 13, 2025, iRobot issued a warning to investors that they could face closure within a year, in part due to high levels of debt. This came only a day after the company announced new Roomba robot vacuum cleaners.

Although this does mean it will likely require more clearance space and will protrude further out from the wall as well. Make sure you have a space in mind for your robot vacuum’s dock before you make a purchase, otherwise you might have to move some furniture around.

One of the downsides of automatic vacuum cleaners is that they can be a bit heavy. Make sure to choose a model that you will be able to easily maneuver around your home.

Obstacle pickup tests are conducted across both rooms of our testing enclosure, with a mix of oatmeal, orzo, baking soda and sand scattered throughout. The robots are tasked with navigating under a couch and coffee table, crossing over an area rug, and passing through a doorway to collect debris.

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 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.

Most manufacturers do not recommend moving the base after it has been set up so it’s important to pick a spot where it won’t be too obstructive or your robot will have to re-map your home.

Once the robot is docked, a vacuum in the docking station automatically sucks the contents from the bin into an enclosed disposable bag in the base. This vac also has mopping capabilities, but unlike the Combo i5 and Combo j5+, you don’t have to swap out the bin for mopping because it can vacuum and mop simultaneously.

Automatic vacuum cleaners are supposed to make your life easier, not harder. Make sure to choose a model that is easy to use. Check out the reviews to Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners see what other people have had to say about the ease of use.

A robot that doesn't map will just bump around the objects in your home as it cleans and may miss spots or even entire rooms. You won’t be able to view the robot’s cleaning route, send the robot to clean a specific room or spot (more on that below) or set up pelo-go zones.