❌ You have space for a bigger robovac: You're paying a premium for the size here – there are bigger, better-performing bots in this bracket.

Combo models might also have mops that can kick out from the side of the vacuum to get closer to the sides of rooms.

It's not rare these days to see range-topping models run to four figures, but the rate of meaningful improvement has started to slow, and for many people, the features included in those models are far from essential.

✔️ Cleaning modes: Consider a vacuum with various cleaning modes if you like the option to fully customize your cleaning experience or you're looking for one product that can clean multiple floor types.

Plus, different cleaning modes (like Eco) have longer or shorter battery run times with less or more powerful suction. This can be helpful when you're trying to vacuum larger floor areas versus suck up a specific mess in one small area.

We also factor in the weight of each model. All special features and claims are assessed, and we even give the tool storage and owner's manual a grade.

Pet hair wasn’t much of a challenge for it and it navigated obstacles well, reaching nicely into awkward spaces, but it struggled at room edges, especially on carpet.

Historically, robovacs aren't great at cleaning up to the edges of rooms, but today's best robot vacuums add spinning side brushes designed to flick debris into the robot's suction path.

Baby tech & essentialsKids’ sportsKids’ travelPushchairsKids’ clothing & footwearToys & activitiesSchool clothing & equipmentGifts for kidsKids furnitureChildren’s books

For certain people and households, very much so. I only used manual vacuums before I started testing robot vacuums for TechRadar, and now I wouldn't be without one. They have revolutionized my cleaning – I live alone, so I'm not dealing with loads of dirt and dust buildup, but I send the robot out once or twice a week and it just takes care of the vacuuming for me.

Who it's best for: This model is a great choice if your floors are mostly wood or laminate, thanks to its large parquet floor brush that safely and thoroughly cleans the cracks and crevices of hardwood floors.

Your home has lots of stairs and bare floors. Many full-size canister vacuums come with a power nozzle that has a rotating brush to mimic that of an upright.

She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3.

Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops and other major (and minor) home appliances as executive director of the Home Care Lab. She oversees all testing done in the Cleaning Lab and recently tested all of the handheld, stick, upright and canister vacuums that were submitted for consideration in the most recent Cleaning and Organizing Awards.