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 Dyson 360 Vis Nav almost has it all: immense suction, excellent edge cleaning, and a great design. Plus it's packed with all sorts of features, such as disc brakes and a remote electronic lock. However, it's expensive and lacks a self-emptying option which makes it more hands-on.

The dock is also very compact for a self-empty model. The interior space is mostly given over to a larger-than-normal dust bag, which means you won't be bothered by the tiny onboard bin.

And a capable robot vacuum could really be worth the investment if you're finding it tricky to stay on top on manual cleaning.

Why we love it: Powerful and versatile, this model has a motorized power nozzle to deep clean carpets, a mini motorized brush tool to lift pet hair from upholstery and a floor brush to gather fur on hardwoods and other bare floors. Bonus: All attachments except the power nozzle can be stored right on the vacuum.

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Its sleek design fits under furniture, tackling hard floors, pet hair, and carpets. Schedule cleaning sessions and enjoy a spotless home every day. The water tank and dustbin ensure thorough mopping and vacuuming. Self-charging feature guarantees it’s Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners always ready for action.

It’s worth mentioning that the Eufy Robovac X8 earns only so-so marks for data security and even lower scores for data privacy. But as a brand, Eufy robot vacuums earn favorable marks for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our member surveys. iRobot Roomba Combo i5

The Roborock Qrevo Edge adequately handles regular cleaning, but this robot vacuum stumbles in the one area it should shine

The affordable iRobot Roomba Combo i5 does very well in most of CR’s tests. The vacuum has smart-mapping technology that allows it to learn and adapt to the areas in your home that need to be cleaned. It also has mopping capabilities; you simply swap in the mopping bin (and a cleaning solution of your choice) with the attached mopping pad.

This is so that it has adequate space to start cleaning and dock on re-entry, without any furniture getting in the way. Don’t forget that it needs access to a power socket as well.

✅ 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.

We use industry-standard rayon fibers to simulate pet hair that we evenly spread on a carpet’s surface to see how well each machine cleans it up.

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.