The rounded shape means that they won’t snag or catch, and they have no sharp corners to damage any of your prized possessions. The low profile lets them pass under furniture to clean where you cannot. These are all standard features.

For our straight-line pickup tests on hard flooring, we spread large and small debris within a marked area proportional to the width of each robot vacuum’s nozzle. Each robot vacuum is given 10 minutes to clean and the debris collected is weighed to determine how much was picked up.

✅ 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.

This model is equipped with a mopping system, and Roborock claims it’s self-washing and self-drying. That said, it’s one of the noisier models we’ve tested, and though it receives a respectable score in data security tests, it scores near the bottom for data privacy.

Robots that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off are especially great for large homes. If a model doesn’t have this, it will start from the beginning of its course each time it recharges.

Hunter Fenollol specializes in smart home gadgets and appliances with a focus in robot vacuums, Roombas and security cameras.

Premium, but decent value given the features and performance. Worth the investment for pet owners who want something for regular use.

PrecisionVision Navigation features here. This ensures the Roomba will recognise and avoid objects. Plus, when it spots them, it will send you a photo so that you can tell it to avoid or clean around it in future.

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.

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.

 Automatic vacuum cleaners are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. They make life so much easier! Not sure which one to buy?

The pay-off of the small base station is that it can't self empty, so you'll need to take a trip to the trash every time the small onboard bin gets full. It'll be fine for smaller homes or light cleaning, but might be annoying Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners if you're regularly dealing with lots of dirt or pet hair.

 If you have pets, consider a model with a rubber brush roller. We found that pet hair was less prone to sticking to them than a hard bristle brush, and the hair that did end up sticking was easier to remove.

We've tested many robot vacuums at Tom's Guide. While most perform great, they aren't as easy to recommend for everyone.