When you shop for a robot vacuum, you wonder how it’ll truly perform in the real world. As a robot vacuum reviewer, I’ve closely watched multiple of these robots navigate my home, getting rid of pet hair, mopping my hard floors, and, on many occasions, getting stuck on the obstacles I set out for them.
ZDNET also has a lab where we test these robots. We then compare our test results with the robot’s in-home performance to narrow down the best picks for you. Essentially, we do the meticulous work so you don’t have to. This means you can trust when we share our top performers, as we don’t upsell specific brands or preferences — it’s all based on actual testing and performance.
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What is the best robot vacuum right now?
The best robot vacuum right now is the Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni. This robot’s vacuuming feature outperformed all others in our lab tests, picking up as much as 60.3% of debris from both hard floors and carpet. Aside from an effective 18,000Pa vacuuming feature, the X8 Pro Omni features a self-cleaning roller mop for your hard floors and a hands-free docking station.
Also: We tested our favorite robot vacuums, and this model had the best pickup performance
In our April update, we updated all of our top picks to our current recommendations based on hands-on and lab testing.
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The best robot vacuums of 2026
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Why we like it: Released in 2025, the Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni was the brand’s first to feature 18,000Pa of suction power and a roller mop. The robot also comes with an Omni station, which is where it empties its dustbin, washes its mop roller, refills its clean water tank, and drains the dirty water.
Who it’s for: Because this robot is our lab’s current top performer in suction power, I recommend it for anyone looking for strong suction on both hard and soft floors. The X8 Pro Omni picked up an average of 97.1% of sand on hardwood and 57% on low-pile carpet, making it a fantastic option for buyers prioritizing suction power.
Review: Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni
Who should look elsewhere: The X8 Pro Omni is outstanding, but it’s not right for all buyers. Because of its features, I wouldn’t recommend this robot to someone looking for the best mopping performance on the market or the best obstacle avoidance.
Why we don’t like it: The biggest downside to the Deebot X8 Pro Omni is its obstacle avoidance, which unfortunately doesn’t always avoid small items on the floor, like tissues or rolled-up paper. This ends up getting the robot’s roller brush stuck, requiring user intervention.
Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni features: Price: $799 (limited-time deal) | Suction power: 18,000Pa | Mopping: Yes, extendable roller mop, 10mm auto-lift | Self-emptying: Yes, dustbag | Self-washing: Yes, 167℉ | Extra features: Yiko AI voice assistant
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Why we like it: The 3i G10+ is one of the most underrated robot vacuums I’ve ever tested. It’s only $200, but it features a debris compression system that lets you go up to 60 days without emptying its dustbin, without a huge charging station. Its dock is under 5 inches tall, so you can hide the robot under furniture to keep it from being an eyesore.
Who it’s for: Since the robot has a manual mopping feature that requires washing before use, I’d recommend the 3i G10+ for homes with mostly carpet and hard floors that only need a little refreshing between deeper cleanings. This robot is also perfect for those on a budget, making it a great fit for those looking to get the most bang for their buck.
Review: 3i G10+
Who should look elsewhere: Because the 3i G10+ is rather tall at 4.3 inches, mine has gotten some scratches on its body when going under furniture. At this height, the robot can get stuck under furniture, so I’d recommend using virtual boundaries if that’s the case for you.
Why we don’t like it: The only thing I didn’t like about the 3i G10+ is the odd mechanical whirring sound it makes as it cleans. I originally thought it was an issue with my unit, but our lab techs used a different unit and had the same experience. The sound doesn’t affect the robot’s performance, but may be a problem for those sensitive to noise.
3i G10+ features: Price: $200 (limited-time deal) | Suction power: 18,000Pa | Mopping: Yes, mop pad, 10mm auto-lift | Battery life: 180 minutes | Self-emptying: No, debris compression | Self-washing: No | Extra features: Up to 60 days without emptying
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Why we like it: The Matic is the biggest revolution we’ve seen in the robot vacuum market. From its shape to its navigation, this robot is redefining what a robot vacuum should look like. With a robotic shape, the Matic has a cleaning head with a roller brush, nozzle, and roller mop.
Who it’s for: Matic is perfect for most homes, but especially those with changing obstacles and a lot of hard floors. Unlike a robot vacuum that reacts to what is directly in front of it, Matic navigates like a self-driving car. It uses an NVIDIA chip to process its surroundings with artificial intelligence and react to any changes without bumping into things.
Review: Matic Robot
Who should look elsewhere: Matic is the most expensive robot vacuum on this list, because it’s an American company that assembles all the parts in the US. It also requires disposable dust bags every couple of weeks, which adds to maintenance costs. For these reasons, it may not be the best option for shoppers on a strict budget.
Why we don’t like it: The biggest thing I don’t like about the Matic Robot is the bag that replaces a dustbin. Instead of a dustbin, the Matic uses waterproof bags that hold both wet and dry debris. The bags have water beads inside to contain the wet mess, and last up to a week in my home. Each week, I have to replace the Matic’s bag, which is sold for $30 for each 12-pack.
Matic Robot features: Price: $1,245 | Suction power: N/A | Mopping: Yes, roller mop, auto-lift | Battery life: 180 minutes | Self-emptying: No | Self-washing: Yes | Extra features: Real-time 3D mapping
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Why we like it: The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is one of the best mopping robots you’ll find on the market. Its roller mop uses only fresh water, keeping dirty water separate inside the robot’s body. The mop is also scrubbed clean as it spins, then sprayed with fresh water. This robot actually cleans your floors instead of dragging a wet pad on them.
Who it’s for: Because the new roller mop is one of Roborock’s best features, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is perfect for homes with mostly or all hard floors, whether it’s tile, hardwood, or vinyl planks.
Review: Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow
Who should look elsewhere: The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow does well around furniture legs, but I wouldn’t recommend it for homes with a lot of cords on the floor or where kids may leave random small items.
Why we don’t like it: Both my home tests and our lab tests showed that obstacle avoidance is the biggest downside to the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow. I tested this robot vacuum while I was testing two others: the Mova Mobius 60 and the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal, and the Roborock constantly got its roller brush stuck on items that the Mova and Shark avoided. This required me to rescue the Roborock often.
Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Plus features: Price: $900 (limited-time deal) | Suction power: 20,000Pa | Mopping: Yes, roller mop, 10mm auto-lift | Battery life: 180 minutes | Self-emptying: Yes, dustbag | Self-washing: Yes, 167°F | Extra features: Hot air drying
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Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Why we like it: In all my tests, the Mova P50 Pro Ultra is the best robot vacuum for pet hair ever. Sure, it has 19,000Pa of suction power, a reliable set of mop pads, and great obstacle avoidance for the price, but its roller brush puts it over the top. With blades built into the roller brush, the robot cuts hair as it rolls up, avoiding tangles and collecting all your pet’s shed fur.
Who it’s for: The P50 Pro Ultra is built for homes with pets or even those with long-haired residents. While pet hair is a common concern for robot vacuum owners, having all girls at home also means we see a lot of long hair, which this Mova robot effectively handles.
Review: Mova P50 Pro Ultra
Who should look elsewhere: This Mova’s hands-free mopping feature is likely overkill for mostly carpeted homes. I recommend this robot for people with mostly hard floors, but also those who don’t have a lot of clutter on the floors, including charging cords, as this robot’s obstacle avoidance isn’t flagship-level.
Why we don’t like it: The P50 Pro Ultra’s obstacle avoidance was a bit confusing at times. While the robot avoided all dog toys, it didn’t always avoid cables. However, it often avoided dust bunnies and hairballs. I used this robot to keep my dog’s bedroom (AKA, my office) clean, and it was outstanding in handling hair, but it often avoided clumps.
Mova P50 Pro Ultra features: Price: $798 | Suction power: 19,000Pa | Mopping: Yes, dual rotating mop pads, 10mm auto-lift | Battery life: 210 minutes | Self-emptying: Yes, dustbag | Self-washing: Yes, 167°F | Extra features: Hair-cutting roller brush
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I’ve spent years testing robot vacuums, and the most important feature will depend greatly on the user. Many carpeted homes don’t need an expensive robot vacuum with a self-washing mop and giant charging dock to match, for example.
Here’s how to determine which robot vacuum is right for you:
| Choose this robot vacuum… | If you want… |
| Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni | Some of the best suction on the market for hard and soft floors. |
| 3i G10+ | An inexpensive solution that is reliably effective and doesn’t require emptying after each session. |
| Matic Robot | The best navigation and obstacle avoidance on the market, powered by NVIDIA tech. |
| Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow | Top-of-the-line mopping feature with a self-washing roller mop that cleans with fresh water. |
| Mova P50 Pro Ultra | The best solution to pet hair, no matter how many furry friends you have at home. |
While trying to determine the best robot vacuum, we kept several factors at the forefront of our testing and research, which can also aid your search.
- Floor types: Some robot vacuums are equipped to work with certain floor types, like carpet or hardwood. Others may be able to accommodate other floor types, like stone or marble. Before you buy, consider the types of flooring in your home and which vacuum is most appropriate.
- Mapping: For full automation, your robot vacuum must have a mapping feature to navigate each room. You also want to consider an obstacle avoidance feature that can avoid things like furniture, wires, and even pet waste. This feature is a must-have in my home with strewn about.
- Battery: A robot vacuum is hardly worth it if it doesn’t have the battery to keep it going. Consider the battery time before choosing the best robot vacuum to ensure it has enough power to clean your home. If you select a robot vacuum with the technical capability to pause its job, return to the charging base to refill its battery, and then resume the job where it left off, this may not be as big of a factor as others on this list.
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Connectivity: Many of the best robot vacuums offer voice control, some even with Alexa. Others may feature an app that allows you to control your robot from afar, set schedules, track progress, and control the machine’s efforts. If you’re hoping for voice activation rather than using an app, check and see if the machine is compatible with the home assistant of your choice.
ZDNET has several robot vacuum reviewers that have tested over 50 units thus far. We conduct tests in real homes with real challenges and in a controlled lab environment for comparison.
Here’s what we consider when testing robot vacuums at ZDNET:
- Determine evaluation criteria: For our key evaluation criteria, we consider how robots perform by assessing their suction power, navigation, mapping, and battery life. We also assess the user experience, the robot’s versatility, longevity, and whether it delivers on its specifications.
- Unboxing: During this process, we assess the packaging and setup experience and note any accessories and unique features.
- Testing environments: We test the robot vacuums on different floor types and see how they navigate various obstacles to test performance.
- Performance metrics: We test suction power with various debris types and assess obstacle navigation and mapping accuracy.
- Extra features: When testing robot vacuum and mop combinations, we evaluate their effectiveness at removing stains and overall cleaning quality. We also check how unique features work, like obstacle avoidance and recognition, extendable mop pads, etc.
To top it all off, we gauge the device’s longevity and long-term performance by using it over the course of a few months. Our review timelines vary, but we typically test robot vacuums for about a month before reviewing and keep our reviews updated while the device is available.
For a more detailed look at our testing process, check out our robot vacuum testing methodology page.
The #1 robot vacuum right now is the Ecovacs Deebot X8 Omni, according to both our in-home and laboratory testing. This robot proved to offer the most effective suction performance during our rigorous tests, and offers many other benefits, like a self-washing roller mop and hands-free dock.
Whether Shark is better than Roomba is a matter of preference and requires considering context. Generally speaking, I’ve had better experiences with Shark robot vacuums over Roombas.
Shark has recently released some groundbreaking robot vacuums, including one with a UV system that detects stains to better remove them. There’s also the fact that all self-emptying Shark robot vacuums feature a bagless system: much like a traditional upright vacuum, the Shark robot empties its dustbin into a larger bin that you empty into a trash can. This means you never have to buy dust bags for your Shark.
The Shark robots I’ve seen also offer some of the best obstacle avoidance on the market, capable of avoiding small toys and wadded-up tissues that other robots get stuck on.
iRobot Roombas have a strong history as trailblazers in the robot vacuum market. However, the company has since declared bankruptcy and been acquired by 3i, leaving users and potential buyers with a big question mark over iRobot’s future.
Historically, Roombas have offered unique features, like a mechanical mop that lifts above the robot’s body, and its P.O.O.P. marketing angle, which emphasizes that robots avoid pet waste. Yet Roombas have unfortunately fallen far behind competitors in innovaion of what really matters to consumers: suction performance and navigation.
The technology has come a long way since auto-emptying bases were first introduced. That being said, they all have seemingly worked out the kinks and work well. In our testing experience, we haven’t had auto-empty base issues. The only thing we would keep in mind is to make sure your self-emptying base is equipped with disposable bags to capture and hold all of the dirt and debris. It makes cleaning up that much easier and ensures that once the dirt is vacuumed up, it isn’t being let back out into your home. Once the bag is full, you’ll simply pull it away, throw it in the trash, and put in a brand new bag.
In our testing experience, you get what you pay for with two-in-one machines. We don’t like robot mops that don’t use a cleaning solution. Our floors are dirty enough that simply pushing around water doesn’t get anything cleaned. When looking at purchasing a two-in-one machine, be sure to see what the recommended cleaning solution is. If the manufacturer only wants you to use water, we personally would steer clear.
You also want to make sure the robot comes with the AI technology that can differentiate carpet from hardwood flooring. It is not worth guarding your favorite rugs every time you use the machine to keep the robot from ruining them. Both Roomba and Roborock do an excellent job of this.
Also: The best robot vacuum mops you can buy
If you have a lot of carpets and rugs in your home, you will want to look for a robot vacuum with a higher suction power or Pa (Pascal Pressure Unit). The higher the Pa, the better the suction power is.
Other robot vacuums we’ve tested
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
With a powerful 16,200Pa of suction power, an extendable side brush, a roller brush with blades to cut hair, a self-emptying dustbin, and self-washing mop pads, this robot seems to have it all. The tangle-free brush stays mostly free of pet hair, and in our lab testing, it averaged 40.96% on pickup performance.
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