(If you want even more impressive mopping, check out the Eureka J20 at #seis, which has a roller mop that supplies continuous fresh water, and siphons off the dirty stuff as it cleans.)

✅ You don't have much space: The SwitchBot is very tiny, and can get into tight spaces that others can't. The dock is also compact for a self-empty option.

On the navigation front, we'll also test the robot vacuum's edge cleaning abilities – does it get right up to the edges of rooms, or leave a margin that needs manual cleaning.

The S8 MaxV Ultra is the best in the category of “hands-free” robot vacs, bots that do virtually everything for you: empty their bins, refill their mop tanks, and clean and dry their mop pads. Roborock invented this category with the S7 MaxV Ultra and has been steadily improving it.

Deciding which vacuum to buy can be a complicated process. Everyone wants a powerful cleaner that’s effective and convenient to use, but without firsthand experience, how can you tell which models will perform well?

That level of smarts means 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.

We definitely noticed this when testing the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 since our household has both a curious toddler and a cat that complicated things a bit—both were fascinated by the machine when it ran. That said, if toys are left out, this vacuum will

Onboard dustbins tend to be small, so if you're dealing with lots of dust or hair then I'd recommend prioritizing a self-empty dock. However, be aware that the more functions you add, the bigger the dock will be – the ones with water tanks can be pretty massive.

The iRobot Roomba Q0120 brings hallmark Roomba reliability with essential features for everyday convenience. Its 3-stage cleaning system offers variable suction suited to hard floors and carpets, automatically adapting performance for dust, dirt, and pet debris removal.

My biggest frustration with apps is maps that are fiddly to update and / or crash and must be rebuilt constantly. Most vacuums now have voice control (see FAQs), but some offer more in-depth control, such as telling Alexa to have the robot clean twice under the dining room table.

✅ You want great vacuuming and mopping: This combination robovac's cleaning powers are Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners excellent – it even managed to vacuum into the corners of rooms, which is generally an issue for robovacs.

While its vacuuming is good, particularly on carpet and tile surfaces, the single rubber / bristle roller brush lets it down and is a good illustration of my point that it’s not all about suction power; it’s also about the brushes and how you use them.

For the record, the brand does promise "NeverTouch" in the name and the base offers auto drying of the mop pads, but we did

It’s also less prone to getting tangled up with hair. Two brushes are better than one, and a brush housing that has some flexibility — so it can move with the contours of the floor — is also more effective.