Best Robot Vacuums: Our Latest Lab-Tested Robovacs Are Award Winners

These robot vacuums are ones that tested well, scoring at least a 7 overall rating, or that might be the right fit for a specific situation.

Yeedi S16 Plus

The S16 Plus has great pet hair pickup, but not-so-good avoidance of pet waste.

Amazon/Zooey Liao/CNET

Yeedi S16 Plus: The Yeedi S16 Plus distinguishes itself with the best pet hair pickup we've tested, completely clearing our hardwood test area. It also has one of the most user-friendly app interfaces available. However, it falls short of our main list due to significant failures in obstacle avoidance and inconsistent cleaning power on specific surfaces. In our navigation tests, it avoided only two of six objects, running over a sock and two types of simulated pet waste, which makes it a risky choice for homes where messes might occur.

While its overall sand pickup average is a decent 51.51%, its specific performance lags behind top-tier competitors. It achieved a mediocre 86.13% pickup rate on hardwood and struggled significantly on midpile carpet, with only a 17.39% success rate. Consequently, despite its sleek design and effective self-rinsing Ozmo mop, we recommend models like the Eufy E28 for people who need reliable obstacle avoidance.

Yeedi M14 Plus

The M14 Plus has impressive obstacle avoidance capabilities, but has poor midpile carpet pickup.

Amazon/Zooey Liao/CNET

Yeedi M14 Plus: The Yeedi M14 Plus is a standout choice for smart navigation, tying for the best obstacle avoidance score in our testing by successfully evading five out of six common hazards, including pet waste and socks. It pairs these smarts with excellent hardwood performance, removing 92.7% of sand in our lab tests, and has what our testers rated as the most intuitive and comprehensive app interface available. With a base station that offers self-emptying and hot water mop washing, it's a highly capable automated cleaner for homes with hard floors.

However, the M14 Plus falls short of our main list due to its abysmal performance on soft surfaces; it managed a dismal 8.7% pickup rate on midpile carpet, making it unsuitable for homes with rugs. Its navigation coverage was also below average at 71.18%, leaving more missed spots than top-tier competitors like the Mova V50 or Dreame X50. While often available at a deep discount, its high retail price of $1,199 makes the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor a stronger value proposition for most buyers.

Roborock Qrevo Curv

The Qrevo Curv is an older and distinctive-looking robot vacuum.

Roborock/CNET

Robock Qrevo Curv: The Roborock Qrevo Curv is easily recognizable by its distinctive egg-shaped base station and has an AdaptiLift chassis that helps it cross high thresholds. In our lab tests, it proved to be a specialist for homes with plush rugs, achieving a 35.65% sand pickup rate on midpile carpet. This was the highest score recorded in its specific test batch and the second-highest midpile score we've seen to date, trailing only the Mova V50.

However, the Qrevo Curv misses our main list due to its underwhelming performance on hard floors and poor hazard detection. It removed only 75.91% of sand from hardwood, a mediocre result compared to top-tier competitors, which consistently score above 90%. Additionally, its navigation systems failed to identify common clutter. It avoided only one out of six obstacles in our avoidance test. Our lab experts also noted that its cleaning path was inefficient, with heat maps showing it focused heavily on the room's edges while neglecting the center.

Eufy E25

The Eufy E25 is a capable robot vacuum for obstacle avoidance, but it doesn't offer quite as much value as the E28.

Eufy/CNET

Eufy E25: The Eufy E25 stands out as one of the better obstacle-avoidance systems for robot vacuums. It successfully evaded five out of six hazards, including simulated pet waste and cords -- a feat matched only by its sibling, the E28, and the Yeedi M14 Plus. While setup was a breeze, thanks to an app that instantly recognized the device, its cleaning power didn't quite match its brains. It managed a respectable 85.4% sand pickup on hardwood but struggled significantly on soft surfaces, recording the lowest low-pile carpet score in its batch at just 31.88%.

We ultimately excluded the E25 from our main list because it offers less utility than the Eufy E28 for a similar or higher price. "I would recommend the Eufy E28 over this unit because it offers the carpet-cleaning functionality with similar cleaning abilities," noted lab technician Schylar Breitenstein. With a price tag hovering around $1,300 without sales and a midpile carpet pickup rate of only 12.17%, it is hard to justify the E25 when the E28 provides the same elite obstacle avoidance plus a unique portable carpet cleaner for better value.

iRobot Roomba 705 Max

The Roomba 705 Max had the best cleaning coverage we've tested and it's a capable cleaner on hardwood.

CNET

iRobot Roomba 705 Max: The iRobot Roomba 705 Max distinguishes itself with room coverage, with an impressive 86.36% score. It is a thorough cleaner on hard floors, picking up 92.7% of sand, and it has a compact, stylish base station that auto-empties the dustbin without dominating your floor plan. If you have a tidy home with predominantly hard floors and want a vacuum that won't miss a spot, the 705 Max offers the thorough cleaning pattern iRobot is known for.

However, we excluded it from our main list because its obstacle-avoidance technology is virtually nonexistent compared to modern standards. In our lab tests, it failed to avoid a single object, running over everything from socks to simulated pet waste -- an odd flaw for a robot touting its AI vision. Additionally, it lacks the mopping capabilities standard on most robots in this price class. Our lab team critiqued the app as "underdeveloped," noting that the expensive warranty add-ons feel "like an unnecessary paywall." For a smarter robot that can actually dodge trouble, we recommend the Eufy E28.

3i S10 Ultra

The 3i S10 Ultra is a unique water-recycling robot vacuum.

3i/CNET

3i S10 Ultra: We haven't reviewed many robot vacuums from 3i, but the company has some unique offerings, including the S10 Ultra, which it says is the first water recycling robot vacuum in the world. What that means is that it's capable of purifying and distilling its own wastewater extracted from the robot, as well as using water vapor and condensation from the air to refill the robot's water tank with clean water. It's a fascinating implementation that can help cut down on water wasted on mopping.

In terms of performance, the S10 Ultra is a capable robot vacuum, removing 93.45% of sand from hardwood floor, which is the third highest score on our list. However, carpet performance wasn't as good, at 37.68% low-pile and 17.68% midpile, resulting in a 49.6% average. That said, it has all the key features you'd expect from a higher-end robot vacuum, including advanced lidar navigation, dirt and liquid detection, a self-cleaning spinning roller mop and AI obstacle avoidance. Our lab technician, Schylar Breitenstein, noted that the app wasn't very user-friendly and that she had issues with connectivity to Wi-Fi. Obstacle avoidance was also a disappointment, with a complete failure for all six obstacles. The bulky and heavy base station weighs 50 pounds and takes up significant space. All this keeps it off our best list.

Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni

The X9 Pro Omni is a capable newer robot vacuum from Ecovacs, but we like its predecessor a bit better.

Ecovacs/CNET

Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni: The Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni distinguishes itself with reliable carpet detection that correctly ramps up suction when transitioning from hard floors to rugs, a feature our lab noted isn't always consistent in this category. In terms of raw cleaning power, it performed decently, removing 88.32% of sand from hardwood floors and securing the third-highest midpile carpet pickup score in its test batch at 20.87%. Our testers also appreciated its navigation around furniture, noting that it "navigates well around chair legs" and easily cleared our 4-inch threshold tests.

However, the X9 Pro Omni misses our main list because its performance doesn't justify its premium price tag. Despite claims of AI avoidance, it only successfully dodged two out of six obstacles in our hazard gauntlet. Furthermore, its room coverage was a middling 76.42%, with lab technicians observing that it "seems to clean in one direction" without the cross-hatch pattern that ensures a deeper clean. With a total average pickup score of 51.47%, it is a capable cleaner, but lacks the elite efficiency of top contenders such as the Mova V50.

Monsaga MS1 Max

Monsaga MS1 Max: The Monsaga MS1 Max caught our eye as a potentially affordable option that doesn't skimp on features, offering lidar navigation and a self-emptying base station for a midrange price. In our lab testing, it actually punched above its weight class on hardwood floors, removing an impressive 92.7% of sand -- a score that rivals some of our top picks, including the Yeedi M14 Plus. Our testers also appreciated the petite, lightweight base station, noting it was "easily transportable" compared to the bulky docks typical of this category.

However, the MS1 Max falls short of a recommendation due to what our lab team described as "atrocious" pet hair performance; hair became hopelessly tangled around the main brush and was scattered around the room rather than collected. It also struggled significantly on softer surfaces, managing only 44.06% pickup on low-pile carpet and a dismal 4.35% on midpile. Furthermore, its navigation smarts didn't hold up in our hazard tests; the robot failed to avoid a single object in our six-item gauntlet, running over everything from cords to simulated pet waste.

• April 2025: We added newly tested robot vacuum and mop recommendations to the list: the Yeedi C12 Plus, Dreame X50 Ultra, Eufy 3-in-1 E20, Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro and Yeedi M12 Pro Plus. We eliminated our test for black rice because every robot vacuum was hitting nearly 100%. Instead, we've re-weighted our scoring, using only sand on three different test surfaces.
• June 2025: Reworked product entries of all the robot vacuums we recommend to provide additional guidance on why we recommend them and who shouldn't buy them. We also added other robot vacuums we tested and some new infographics that compare robot vacuums.
• July 2025: Added the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo as our new pick under $500, the Roborock Saros Z70 as the best splurge, and the Dreame X40 as the most consistent. We also updated the section on other robot vacuums we tested with new products and results.
• August 2025: Added new test results for the Deebot X9 Pro Omni and T80 Omni. Added an explanation of how we test average runtime.
• September 2025: Added a new section covering developments in the robot vacuum industry and details on new robovacs currently being tested in the lab.
• October 2025: Added a section for robot vacuums we're currently testing in the lab and updated FAQ answers.
• November 2025: We've made extensive changes to our testing procedures, adding testing for sand and carpet pickup, navigational heat map, noise levels and object avoidance testing. We have a new batch of robot vacuums recommendations based on this new testing.
• January 2026: Updated robot vacuum testing data with new products and winners. Removed Dreame D10S Ultra, iRobot Combo J7 Plus, Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950, DreameBot D10 Plus, Neato D9, Roborock S5 Max, Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, Electrolux Pure i9 and Lubluelu SL60D because they're out of stock. Made extensive updates to all sections.

We're currently testing a number of robot vacuums in the lab, across a range of prices and brands. What's notable here is that we're seeing flagship features -- like the lift systems that allow the robots to cross obstacles -- come to more affordable models in the lineup. We're seeing this trend with Dreame and Ecovacs, as well as their respective sub-brands, Mova and Yeedi. There are also some lesser-known names, with 3i and Switchbot coming with affordable offerings that incorporate innovative features,

• Switchbot K11 Plus
• Dreame L40s
• 3i G10+
• Mova Z60 Ultra Roller Complete
• Dreame Aqua 10 Ultra Roller: I am currently testing this one at home. It offers a roller map with an impressive 30,000 pascals of suction and ProLeap legs that can climb obstacles up to 3.15 inches.
• Eureka J15 Max Ultra: I am currently testing this one at home.

iRobot is currently fresh out of bankruptcy and being acquired by Picea, a Chinese manufacturer. As a result, you may have some understandable hesitation about buying iRobot products. However, after speaking with Gary Cohen, iRobot's chief executive officer, I feel comfortable continuing to recommend the iRobot devices that tested well.

"[Consumers] don't need to worry because the app in the cloud will support all legacy products, " said Cohen in an interview with CNET. "We have even been making app upgrades, you know, software upgrades, so if we find that there's a bug or if consumers say, 'Hey, this feature is really missing in these entry-level products,' we'll consider whether we do a firmware upgrade. We've continued to upgrade the legacy products with app upgrades, and we'll do that on new products that just launched as well."

The Roomba 205 cleaning hard flooring.

iRobot

"The app is alive, the products are alive, warranty service is alive," said Cohen. "We're still building accessories for all the products that we've made and launched, and we're already producing our 2026 roadmap."

Cohen didn't specify what new products from iRobot are in the pipeline, but he did tell me that, "Picea has the capability and the desire, and we have the capability and desire to broaden and to get into other categories."

Cohen said he still sees iRobot as an American company, as the Labs team is staying at its Bedford, Mass., headquarters. He also assured me that for those concerned about data privacy, "We use Amazon Cloud Services, and our servers are in the US, and we have full security encryption on all of our interface, both in the US and all markets."

1. The Roborock Saros Rover can use its chicken legs to climb stairs.

Ajay Kumar/CNET

Exciting things are happening in the robot vacuum industry. For the first time ever we saw the first robot vacuums with true legs, with the Roborock Saros Rover that was able to hop, jump, dance and climb up stairs. It's one of the most maneuverable robot vacuums I've ever seen, and it left me impressed by its ability to navigate a space and avoid obstacles. This earned it our Best Smart Home Tech category award for the Official Best of CES 2026 Awards.

The Robotin R2 can wash and dry your carpet.

Ajay Kumar/CNET

An equally impressive technology came from the Robotin R2, a startup that's created the first carpet washing robot vacuum in the world. It can wash and dry your carpet in about three hours. It's also modular, with replaceable components that may give it different capabilities in the future.

The Pilot 70 is Mova's concept for a drone that can carry a robot vacuum up the stairs.

Ajay Kumar/CNET

From Mova came a proof of concept -- a drone that can pick up and carry a robot vacuum, called the Pilot 70. I watched a demonstration, but it's hard to imagine it being practical for most people. The company also has its own take on a stair-climbing shell, the Zeus 60, which we expect to come to market eventually.

Narwal also showcased its new Flow 2, a capable flagship robot vacuum that the company says has vastly improved object avoidance by combining onboard and cloud-based AI processing. We're looking forward to testing it in the lab.

Narwal says the Flow 2 can even tag valuables and assign it the highest avoidance priority.

Ajay Kumar/CNET

Budget

Before you do anything else, make sure you're clear about how much you want to spend on your new vacuum. Robot vacuum models can cost anywhere from $200 to nearly $2,000, so it's important to set a budget to prevent overspending. We recommend deciding which features (such as self-emptying bins, built-in mopping capabilities or advanced AI image recognition for elite-level obstacle avoidance) fit your needs and researching what your budget can get you. That way, you know what you're looking for and can ensure you're getting the best value. 

Navigation and obstacle detection 

Many robot vacuum models have sensors to navigate around your home or apartment, but how effectively do the sensors perform? The ability of a robot vac to detect objects in its path can mean the difference between returning home to a clean house and a situation where the robot is trapped on cords or an area rug. 

Certain models including the Dreame L40 and Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro have powerful obstacle detection capabilities and navigate your home with efficiency. Many new and upcoming robovacs also incorporate AI object recognition, enabling them to intelligently identify objects and learn about new ones over time. This is true of the Dreame X50 Ultra and Roborock Saros Z70 and Ecovacs' T50 Pro Omni, among others.

Pets 

Is there anything worse than your vacuum roller brush getting all tangled up and clogged by a heap of pet hair? Luckily, many manufacturers make robot vacuums that are suited for cleaning up after pets. Models such as the Dreame X50 Ultra and the Yeedi S16 Plus are adept at sucking up pet hair on carpet and hardwood flooring as well as detecting (and avoiding) pet waste. Several of the models on this list have high-efficiency filters to help eliminate allergens from pet hair and dander, which can help with allergies, too. One of the best new innovations is self-detangling brush rollers designed to avoid getting clogged by pet hair.

Noise level

We measure the noise level of each robot vacuum using LAeq, which represents the average noise over time, with an adjustment for human hearing. The data above reflects average noise levels in decibels, recorded throughout the entire test while the unit is operating. A lower score indicates a quieter vacuum, which is generally preferable. However, noise doesn’t weigh heavily in our scoring at this time, as all the robot vacuums fall within a similar range to the human ear. In the future, we may start to consider these values in our scoring if we begin to see dramatic differences between robot vacuum noise levels.

Each robot vacuum we consider for recommendation gets put through its paces in our test lab in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to test floors where we run our controlled pickup tests, we monitor each robot vacuum in a special test room filled with mock furniture to gauge how well it navigates around common obstacles. Past that, we check each robot vacuum's ability to gobble up pet hair without getting clogged or leaving loose strands behind, we consider mopping capabilities and check how well it navigates fake dog messes.

Let's dive a little deeper into the main considerations, starting with our performance tests from the CNET Lab team.

Robot vacuum pickup power

When it comes to vacuuming prowess, we want to know how effective each robot is against common crumbs and other debris, and also how it fares against much smaller particles like dust, dirt and sand. To find out, we use sand as an analog for finer particles.

In each case, we scatter a measured amount across three test floors: low-pile carpet, midpile carpet and hardwood floors. Low-pile carpet is shorter, less plush carpet with shorter fibers, so typically robot vacuums have an easier time picking up from it (though not always). Midpile is softer and more plush, with taller fibers. It tends to be more challenging for robot vacuums (though again, not always). After the cleaning, we weigh each of the floor panels to calculate the percentage of debris the robot vacuum was able to pick up. From there, we repeat each run four more times for a total of five tests, then we average the results.

We spread a measured amount of sand in the taped areas for each of the flooring types.

Ajay Kumar/CNET

Robot vacuum navigation skills

Your robot vacuum will only clean your home as thoroughly as it's capable of navigating it. The ideal cleaner will make easy work of finding its way from room to room and automatically avoiding obstacles along the way. All of this makes for proper, low-maintenance automated cleaning.

To test navigation efficiency, we record the robot vacuum in our test room with an overhead camera and use a video analysis software to assign the robot vacuum an average coverage percentage based on the total portion of the accessible room it's observed to visit during three standard test runs. The generated heat map is then analyzed to produce the result. The test room includes dummy furniture, low-hanging furniture and different flooring types (tile, hardwood and carpet).

The heat map can be interpreted as follows:

• Blue/Cyan: Very few passes -- light coverage.
• Green: Occasional passes -- low to moderate coverage.
• Yellow/Orange: Frequent passes -- high coverage.
• Red: Hottest zones -- the top slice of activity where the robot lingered, turned or adjusted its path.

Below is an example from the Mova V50 Ultra, our best overall. It offers superb area coverage, and it navigated in an organized and efficient manner, second only to the Dreame X50 Ultra, also pictured below.

Mova V50 heat map coverage.

CNET Labs/Schylar Breitenstein

X50 Ultra heat map.

CNET Labs/Schylar Breitenstein

In contrast, one of our worst-scoring robot vacuums in this category was the Eufy E28, with numerous missed spots -- especially around edges and corners -- and light coverage in the outer parts of the room.

Eufy E28 heat map.

CNET Labs/Schylar Breitenstein

In large part, it comes down to the tech at play. Over the years, we've consistently noted that robot vacuums that use laser-guided lidar navigation tend to be good at mapping their environment and finding their way around. Meanwhile, 3D-mapping cameras with object recognition smarts can give robot vacuums the extra ability to identify and adapt to obstacles in their path.

Object avoidance

We test object avoidance at the very end of our procedure, using six distinct common items placed in the environment to see if the robot vacuum is able to recognize and avoid them. These items include 360-degree pet waste, 180-degree pet waste, 90-degree pet waste, a lamp, a pet toy and a sock.

We test pet waste in different spots of the room, giving the robot different amounts of room to maneuver.

CNET Labs/Schylar Breitenstein

For the pet waste classifications, we distinguish between the trials based on the angle of the barriers around the fake pet waste, which limits the possible approaches from the vacuum. That means:

• The 90-degree trial is in the corner of the room, usually preventing the vacuum from accessing that portion of the room if it successfully avoids the obstacle.
• The 180-degree trial is along a wall, allowing more options to clean around it.
• The 360-degree trial is in the middle of the room and should be easy for the vacuum to clean around.

The more objects avoided, the better.

Here are the robot vacuums we tested with our new testing methodology that didn't earn a spot on our main best list. Some of them may still be worth buying, depending on your needs.

The X40 Ultra is an older, but still capable robot vacuum from Dreame if you can't find the D10S Ultra in stock.

Switchbot with Auto-Fill Station: The Switchbot S20 comes in two models, one with a regular mopping and self-emptying base station and another with a water refill station that can hook up to a water connection similar to a dishwasher. Both will run you $800, making it relatively affordable next to other robovacs we've tested. We tested both models, though we weren't able to fully complete lab testing the water hookup feature. In terms of performance, it's the second-worst robot vacuum we've tested, scoring 21.90% on hardwood, 42.9% on low-pile carpet, and 10.72% on midpile carpet for an average of 25.17%. It does a bit better in navigation, covering 79.3% of the test room, putting it just behind the Mova V50. It excels at obstacle avoidance, successfully avoiding five of six obstacles. Unfortunately, weak performance keeps it from earning a recommendation.

SwitchBot S20 without Auto-Fill Station: The standard SwitchBot S20 proved to be a more capable cleaner than its pricier Auto-Refill sibling, significantly outperforming it in raw debris removal. It achieved a 31.88% sand pickup rate on midpile carpet -- the third-highest score in its test batch -- and managed 66.42% on hardwood floors. It also has accurate carpet detection that correctly ramps up suction when transitioning from hard floors to rugs, a feature that doesn't always work reliably on competitors in this price range.

However, the S20 misses our main list because its cleaning scores are still "extremely underwhelming" compared to the category average, particularly on hard floors where most competitors score above 80%. Furthermore, while the Auto-Refill version was a navigation star, the standard S20 failed completely in our hazard tests, avoiding zero out of six obstacles and running over everything from socks to simulated pet waste. Our lab team also discovered that despite its anti-tangle features, the brush roll "got tangled while during sand pickup tests," a rarity that suggests pet hair would pose a significant problem.

The Narwal Flow comes in two models: one with an optional water refill and drainage system (right) and one with a regular tank (left).

Narwal/Zooey Liao/CNET

Narwal Flow: The $1,500 Narwal Flow is similar to the cheaper SwitchBot S20, with two models that include an auto-refilling base station. Where they differ is in performance. The Flow does better, scoring 93.43% on hardwood, 46.09% on low-pile carpet, but much worse on midpile at 8.12%. In navigation, it falls in the middle of the pack at 77.11%. It fares quite poorly at obstacle avoidance, failing to avoid all tested obstacles. This, together with the low midpile carpet performance, serves to keep it off our list.

Narwal Freo Z10: The Narwal Freo Z10 positions itself as a premium cleaner with a price tag over $1,000, but its performance in our lab didn't live up. While it handled pet hair effectively, its raw cleaning power was the worst we saw during our entire testing cycle. It achieved a poor 33.58% sand pickup on hardwood floors, where top competitors consistently score above 90%. And it scored a practically non-existent 3.48% on midpile carpet. With a total average pickup score of just 24.72%, it trailed every other robot we tested.

Navigation was equally frustrating. Despite its advertised "millimeter-precise" avoidance, it only successfully dodged three out of six obstacles in our gauntlet. Worse, our lab team observed significant reliability issues, noting that the robot "consistently fell off the ledge" during mock mop testing. The performance gap between the Freo Z10 and market leaders like the Dreame X50 Ultra is massive. As our lab technician, Schylar Breitenstein, bluntly concluded after reviewing the data, "This product would be better used as a frisbee than a robot vacuum."

The Freo

Narwal/CNET

Narwal Freo Pro: A more affordable alternative to the brand's flagship models, our lab team appreciated the inclusion of handles on the base station for easy transport. However, the usability stops there. In our lab testing, the Freo Pro delivered the lowest average cleaning score we have seen to date, managing a total sand pickup rate of just 20.17% across all flooring types. Its performance on hardwood was particularly disappointing, at 37.33%, a score that trails even budget-friendly options.

We excluded the Freo Pro from our main list due to its baffling navigation logic on soft surfaces. Our lab tests revealed that the robot frequently identified our midpile carpet as an obstacle rather than a surface to clean, skipping it entirely in four out of five runs. This resulted in a 2.32% pickup score on midpile rugs. Additionally, despite marketing claims of precise avoidance, it only avoided two out of six hazards in our obstacle gauntlet. Compared to the thorough cleaning of the Mova V50, the Freo Pro simply doesn't make the cut.

Eureka J15 Ultra: This robot will run you about $999 at full price, cheaper than the Dreame X50 Ultra and Mova V50 Ultra, and even less when it's on sale. But in terms of performance, it didn't live up to our expectations. While it scored our highest low-pile carpet pickup score at 60.58%, it picked up just 1.74% on midpile, oddly giving it our lowest score for that category. It also only picked up 60.58% from hardwood, giving it an average of 40.97%. Navigation was decent at 76.47% coverage in our test room, but the object avoidance was a complete failure, with the J15 Ultra unable to avoid all six of our test objects. We're planning on testing the newer J15 Max Ultra as well.

The J15 Max Ultra comes with a all-in-one-base station and self-emptying dock. 

Eureka

3i P10 Ultra: The P10 Ultra markets itself with high-end features such as AI recognition and LED night vision, but its lab performance failed to justify its premium price tag. In our controlled cleaning tests, it achieved a middling 73.72% sand pickup rate on hardwood floors and struggled significantly on soft surfaces, managing just 16.23% on midpile carpet. Our lab team noted that the robot "had a consistently hard time passing the midpile carpet" and lacked the dirt detection smarts to slow down for deeper cleaning, instead racing over debris at the same pace regardless of the mess.

We excluded the P10 Ultra from our top picks due to significant navigational flaws and what our tester described as "terrible" pet hair performance on carpets. Despite claiming advanced AI avoidance, the robot failed to avoid a single object in our six-item gauntlet, running over everything from simulated pet waste to lamp cords. It also struggled with basic logistical tasks, with our lab technician noting that it "repeatedly ran over its own base station cord" and had difficulty successfully docking to charge. Compared to the refined navigation of the Dreame X50 Ultra, the P10 Ultra feels unpolished.

Here's a quick rundown of the rest of the robot vacuums we've tested in past years using older methodology, some of which are still worthy of consideration for certain shoppers.

Dreame

• Dreametech DreameBot L10S Ultra: A souped-up Dreametech model that typically costs around $500, the DreameBot L10S Ultra features a king-size three-liter self-emptying bin and self-filling water tanks, allowing it to complete multiple mopping runs before needing a refill. It was only a so-so performer in our cleaning tests, regularly outperformed by its smaller sibling, the top-rated DreameBot D10 Plus. That model doesn't have the self-filling water tank, but at several hundred dollars less than the L10S Ultra, it's a much better buy.
• Dreame L40 Ultra: The L40 Ultra is a capable robot vacuum that performed well at picking up sand from hardwood floor (95%) as well as low-pile (63%) and midpile (62%) carpet. Navigation was also impressive, with tight corners and no missed spots. However, at $1,499 at full price, it's one of the more expensive robot vacuums on the market, so we don't recommend it unless you can find it on sale for under $500.
• Dreametech DreameBot D10S Plus: A newer, slightly fancier version of our top-recommended DreameBot D10 Plus, the DreameBot D10S Plus added in a slightly larger bin that won't need to be emptied quite as much, a slight bump in suction power and a sleek, black-bodied design -- all for about a hundred bucks more than the regular D10 Plus. It was a bit better on thin, low-pile carpet than that top-rated cleaner, but not quite as good on hardwood floors or midpile carpet, which was somewhat surprising. Unless the bigger bin is of particular interest, we think you're better off saving some money and sticking with the D10 Plus. 

Ecovacs

• Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: Retailing for $1,500 (though typically available for significantly less), this is the fanciest and most expensive Deebot we've danced within our test lab. It vacuums, mops, empties its own bin, refills its own water reservoir and has all the rest of the bells and whistles you'd expect from such a costly cleaner. It wasn't a leader in any of our tests, which is disappointing at this price, but it never faltered too badly, either. The pickup percentages on hardwood floors were all decent, and its performance was passable on the carpet, too, with more than 50% of the sand sucked up in both our low- and midpile tests.
• Ecovacs Deebot 500: The Deebot 500 is a basic but competent robot vacuum that offers app controls and voice compatibility with Alexa and Google. It wasn't a strong performer in our carpet tests and is priced too high to count as a budget pick.
• Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni: The N30 Omni is a capable robot vacuum and mop, but it doesn't stand out in performance. It scored decently in our sand removal test from hardwood (58.8%) and OK at low-pile (46.5%) and midpile (50.4%). At $800, there are robovacs with better performance in this price range.
• Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro Omni: The T50 Max Pro Omni is another robot vacuum and mop combo targeted toward the higher end of the market. It certainly looks like it, with a premium-felling design and beautiful rose-gold accents on the robot vacuum. It's loaded with features, including a self-emptying dock that can detangle its brushes, advanced navigation and obstacle avoidance and auto-refill for mopping. Performance was generally good, averaging 61% for sand removal from our three test surfaces. It did the best on hardwood, removing 76.5% of sand and more than 50% from both types of carpet. However, navigation left something to be desired, with numerous missed spots in our testing room, especially when navigating our table. Robot vacuums with these features are also increasingly common, and at the $999 price, competition is stiff, which keeps it from earning a spot on our list.
• Ecovacs Deebot T80 Omni: The $1,000 T80 Omni is another capable robot vacuum and mop from Ecovacs that offers solid performance. It scored 62.75% in our sand pickup test on hardwood, a respectable score, though not as high as some others we've seen. It also did quite well on carpet, scoring 65.12% on low-pile and 64.34% on midpile. It took about 21.36 minutes on average to clean our test room, which is relatively standard for the robots we've tested. What keeps it off our main list is that while performance is solid and the T70 Omni is loaded with premium features, including an all-in-one base station, a self-cleaning and drying mop, advanced navigation and threshold crossing, it was outperformed by Ecovacs' own T30S Combo.
• Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo: distinguishes itself by integrating a cordless stick vacuum directly into the robot’s base station, a feature our lab found to be far more than just a gimmick. In our previous testing cycle, it delivered strong cleaning results, removing 85% of sand from hardwood floors and maintaining consistent power on soft surfaces with 64.44% pickup on low-pile and 66.67% on midpile carpet. It hasn't been subject to our updated 2026 testing protocols, which include rigorous heat mapping and standardized obstacle avoidance gauntlets. Currently priced at $450 on Amazon, it'll very likely return to our main list after a new round of testing.

Eufy

• Eufy 11S Max: The Eufy 11S Max is a robot vacuum that might have earned our budget pick if its performance had held up. However, while this slim robovac does well at sucking up sand from hardwood (71%), it struggled with both low-pile (21%) and midpile (27%) carpet. It's $249 at full price, but it may become a more palatable option on sale ($140 as of this writing).
• Eufy Omni S1 Pro: We were mixed on the S1 Pro. On one hand, our tester loved its fast and efficient cleaning, strong mopping, capable mapping, good navigation and a useful self-sterilizing base. However, in lab testing, it didn't quite live up to expectations. While it did excellently on removing sand from hardwood floors, getting 81.5%, it fell short on carpet at 37.8% for low-pile and 38.5% for midpile.
• Eufy Robovac 25C: For those on an extremely tight budget, the Eufy RoboVac 25C offers surprising cleaning capability for under $150, removing a respectable 78.9% of sand from hardwood and averaging over 50% on carpets. However, it fails to make our top recommendations because it lacks modern navigation; instead of efficiently mapping your home, it navigates by bumping into objects like a "slow-motion ping-pong ball," resulting in an excessive 91-minute cleaning time just to clean our single test room.
• Eufy E20 3-in-1: This robot vacuum distinguishes itself with a unique design that integrates a detachable cordless stick and handheld vacuum directly into the robot's body, a feature our lab tech Schylar Breitenstein praised for its versatility and space-saving convenience. It offers respectable performance on hardwood floors, removing 72% of sand in our tests, and provides incredible value when found on sale for around $350. However, the E20 is relegated to our honorable mentions due to its lackluster performance on soft surfaces and "mixed" navigation capabilities. In our testing, it struggled significantly on carpet, achieving only a 41% pickup rate on both low- and midpile rugs. Its navigation path notably missed spots around furniture legs.

Eureka

• Eurkea E10S: The Eureka 10S is a capable midrange robot vacuum and mop with lidar navigation. It picked up 64.5%% of sand from hardwood, 45.2% from low-pile carpet and 40.7% from midpile. Navigation was also generally quite good, with few missed spots. At $450, there are better-performing robot vacuums for the price, like the ones from Yeedi; however, if you can get the 10S on sale for closer to $300, it's a good option in the midrange.
• Eureka J15 Pro Ultra: This high-end robot vacuum and mop from Eureka didn't live up to expectations. It underperformed on hardwood floors, scoring just 22% on sand pickup. It did alright on carpet, at 50% on low-pile and 49% on midpile, but for a vacuum that costs $1,000, this is a disappointing performance.
• Eureka J20: The J20 is another flagship robot vacuum and mop from Eureka that didn't wow us. It did well enough in picking up sand from hardwood, scoring 66.7%, but it feels notably short on carpet, at 24.4% for low-pile and 31.9% for midpile. Despite some nice features like the self-emptying dock, mop washing, hot air drying and 3D obstacle avoidance, you get a better robot vacuum and mop for the $1,000 price.

iRobot

• iRobot Roomba 694: This budget-priced Roomba does a decent job cleaning carpets and hardwood floors. In terms of performance, it's extremely close to the Eufy RoboVac 25C, so if that model isn't available, give this Roomba a look as an alternative budget pick.
• iRobot Roomba i3 Plus: At $350 or less, this is an entry-level option among self-emptying Roombas, so if you just want something from iRobot that empties its own bin for as little cash as possible, give it a look. It was a middle-of-the-pack performer in all of our cleaning tests, never disappointing us but never really wowing us, either.
• iRobot Roomba i7 Plus: This is another entry-level Roomba with self-emptying smarts, and you can currently get it for roughly $600 on Amazon. In our carpet tests, it wasn't able to suck up much more than 25% of sand, which suggests some limitations to its cleaning power.
• iRobot Roomba J7 Plus: The Roomba J7 Plus is another Roomba vacuum that earned a place on our list for strong performance and AI-powered poop detection capabilities. However, this is a feature that's becoming increasingly common on newer models that are making impressive strides in obstacle detection and avoidance. It also lacks mopping capability, another expected feature. Supplies appear to be dwindling outside of a few retailers.
• iRobot Roomba S9 Plus: The Roomba S9 Plus used to be our pick for pet owners and plush carpets. It excelled in our old testing procedures, picking up 71% of sand on midpile carpet. However, it lacks mopping functionality, an increasingly common feature on robot vacuums across price ranges. Its availability is dwindling, too.
• iRobot Roomba S10 Max Combo: The S10 Max Combo is iRobot's highest-end robot vacuum. It costs $1,400 at full price, though you can sometimes find it on sale for less than $1,000. As the name suggests, it can both vacuum and mop, comes with a self-emptying dock, and washes its mopping pad after every use. It had excellent hardwood performance in our testing, picking up 96.5% of sand, and better-than-average performance on carpet, with 67.5% on low-pile and 58.7% on midpile. Navigation was generally comprehensive, but it could struggle with tighter turns around some table legs, leaving some missed spots. Unless you can get it on sale, there are other robot vacuums with better performance and similar features for the price.

Narwal

• Narwal Freo X Ultra: The Freo X Ultra is a premium robot vacuum and mop combo with all the bells and whistles you'd expect. It has lidar navigation, auto mop drying and washing, a self-emptying base station and a brush that's resistant to tangling with pet hair. Performance is decent, but doesn't particularly stand out. It does well on hardwood, removing nearly 76% of sand, but falls short on carpet, removing 41.5% from low-pile and 36.3% from midpile. For $900, there are better options from Shark, Ecovacs and others.

Neato

• Neato D10: One of the latest D-shaped cleaners from Neato, the D10 promises powerful suction and room-by-room navigation smarts via the Neato app. It was a relatively strong performer in our tests, but we didn't see enough of an edge over the D8 or the D9 to justify the extra expense.

Roborock

• Roborock S8 is a top midrange robot vacuum with excellent performance and intelligent navigation. It excels at cleaning various floor types, and it includes a built-in mopping pad for added versatility. While lacking a self-emptying bin, its strong performance makes it an excellent choice for homes with diverse flooring.
• Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a premium robot vacuum with exceptional cleaning power and intelligent features. It effectively cleans various floor types with powerful suction and an advanced mopping system. Obstacle recognition and lidar navigation ensure efficient cleaning throughout your home.
• Roborock Saros 10: The Saros 10 is a capable robot vacuum, but its $1,599 price makes it hard to recommend compared with more affordable options that offer similar performance. It did well in our testing, scoring 86%, picking up sand off hardwood floors, putting it on par with our best overall pick, the Ecovacs T30S Combo. With more plush midpile carpet, it did reasonably well at 49%, but fared lower than average with lower-fiber carpet, at 35%. The dustbin was also small, but we were impressed by the navigation and the fact that the Saros 10 didn't require much mapping to clean. It also comes with all the premium bells and whistles, including mopping functionality, intelligent dirt detection, self-detangling main brush, hot water mopping and dock self-cleaning. If you can get it closer to $1,000, it's a great option.
• Roborock Saros 10R: It's hard to keep all of Roborock's lineup straight since both the 10 and 10R have similar features and capabilities, but they have different base stations and use different types of mops and brushes. With the 10R, you get another high-end robot vacuum that offers strong performance on all the flooring we tested it on. It scored 89% removing sand from hardwood and 64% from low-pile carpet. It also did great on midpile, with 58% removed. Naturally, it can mop and vacuum, boasts an all-in-one dock that can self-empty, has tangle-avoiding brushes and great obstacle detection and avoidance. The sticking point ends up being the price, like the Saros 10: It'll run you $1,600 at full price, but if you can get it on sale for closer to $1,000, it offers better performance on carpet than the Saros 10 and is on par with our best overall, the T30S Combo, for hard flooring.

Samsung

• Samsung JetBot AI Plus: You already saw it fail our poop avoidance test, and that wasn't the only place where Samsung's JetBot AI Plus came up short, with pickup percentages that ranked near the bottom in all of our cleaning tests. At $650, this tech-rich robot vacuum just isn't worth it.

Shark

• Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1: The PowerDetect is Shark's high-end model, priced between $600 and $1,000. It does an excellent job of picking up rice, and it's better than average (higher than 50%) when it comes to picking up sand from low- and midpile carpets. However, its hefty weight and middling carpet performance usually mean there are better options on the market at a lower price, including the Roomba Combo J7 Plus.
• Shark IQ RV1001AE: A self-emptying cleaner, the Shark IQ RV1001AE is worth a look as an affordable option that empties its own bin. It gathered a respectable 84% of sand from hardwood floors in our cleaning tests but failed to pick up more than 35% of the stuff in any of our carpet tests, which isn't as strong as some of our top recommendations.
• Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro: This robot distinguishes itself with a chassis lift system that allows it to climb over thresholds up to 1.5 inches high, solving a common navigation headache for homes with uneven flooring. In our previous testing cycle, it proved to be a powerful cleaner, removing nearly 96% of sand from hardwood floors and maintaining consistent performance on soft surfaces with 54.5% pickup on low-pile and 53% on midpile carpet. It also features comprehensive 3D mapping and a fully automated base station that handles self-emptying and mop washing. However, it's an older model and we haven't subjected it to our newer tests yet.

Yeedi

• Yeedi Cube: An offshoot of EcoVacs, the Yeedi Cube is a self-emptying floor cleaner with a built-in mopping mode. The "cube" in question is the docking bay, which looks like a little robot vacuum garage, up into which it empties its bin. It was a middle-of-the-pack performer on hardwood floors, and rather lackluster on both of our test carpets, which makes this pick pretty passable.
• Yeedi C12 Plus: The Yeedi C12 Plus is a solid midrange robot vacuum and mop that offers strong, across-the-board performance for a reasonable price. It was our former pick for best midpriced robot vacuum before being supplanted by the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. It picked up 78.65% of sand from a hardwood floor and managed 45% from low-pile and 57% from midpile carpet. It easily picked up pet hair from hardwood floors, but it took more than one pass to get it off the carpet. On the plus side, the brushes didn't tangle. Navigation was generally quite good in our light-path test, with the C12 Plus keeping tight corners around a complicated table setup and generally not missing any spots. It's also no slouch on features with support for multilevel mapping and the ability to climb thresholds up to 0.8 inches, similar to the Dreame X50 Ultra and Shark NeverTouch. It comes with an all-in-one docking station that supports a self-emptying dustbin that can last for seven weeks. It lacks an auto-refill water tank, though, so you'll need to refill the 220ml water tank on the robot directly. At $479, it offers similar functionality to more expensive robot vacuums like the T30S Combo and SharkPowerDetect at less than half the price. Currently, it's on sale for $270, which is impressive value for a robot vacuum. While the C12 Plus can mop, it doesn't have an auto-refill water tank in its base station, so you'll need to refill it manually. The dust canister is also bagless, which we typically don't like since dust gets everywhere when you empty it. For these features, we like Yeedi's higher-end model, the M12 Pro Plus.
• Yeedi S14 Plus: The S14 Plus is Yeedi's newest, top-range robot vacuum and mop combo. It has a lot going for it, with strong performance on hardwood floors (82.4%) and very good performance on carpet (58% low-pile and 59.7% midpile). It's also loaded with features, including an auto-empty and self-drying dock, a 3D sensor for navigation and self-detangling brush rollers. However, at $1,400 at full price, you can get even better performance from the Yeedi M12 Pro Plus, which is our recommended robot vacuum for both vacuuming and mopping on hardwood floors. It's also less than half the price.
• Yeedi M12 Pro Plus: This robot vacuum remains a standout value option, particularly if you can snag it at its frequent sale price of around $340. In our previous testing cycle, it delivered the highest hardwood sand pickup score we had seen at that time (96.5%), outperforming significantly more expensive models. It features a fully loaded base station with self-emptying, auto-refilling and hot air drying capabilities. It handles pet hair exceptionally well on both hard floors and carpets. However, it sits in our honorable mentions because it hasn't yet been subjected to our updated 2026 testing protocols. While its midpile carpet performance (64%) was strong, its low-pile pickup (54.6%) trails behind the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. If you have predominantly hard floors and want premium features on a budget, this is still a steal, but for mixed flooring, newer models offer more consistent power.

Other brands we've tested

• Greenworks GRV-5011: This $658 laser-guided floor cleaner performs well on hardwood floors. Couple that with the built-in mopping functionality, and it might be worthy of consideration for homes with hard floors. Performance on low- and midpile carpet was less than stellar, though, averaging toward the bottom of the pack in both cases.
• IonVac Smart Clean 2000: One of dozens of cheap, no-name robot vacuums available from Amazon and other online retailers, the IonVac Smart Clean 2000 was near-competent in our cleaning tests, but always just a little below average. Nothing about it stands out enough for us to recommend it.
• Lynkbey M20 Pro: A newcomer to our tests, Lynkbey's flagship cleaner is a self-emptying, mop-wielding powerhouse that seeks to take on Roborock. It was a top-three finisher in our hardwood floor tests, and an above-average finisher on low- and midpile carpets, although I'd note that it couldn't quite suck up 50% of the sand in either test, which is a slight red flag for performance. Still, it's a likeable upgrade pick, especially if you can catch it on sale for less than the full $1,150 asking price.
• Ultenic MC1: This robot vacuum is from a little-known brand, but it was our previous pick for midrange robotics. It did well on our old lab tests, picking up nearly 75% of sand. It also offers features such as a self-emptying dock and mopping system, which is impressive for a robot vacuum. However, it's currently only available on Ultenic's storefront and lacks suction power compared to newer models.
• AirRobo P20: This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the more affordable options we've tested. At $499 MSRP and frequent discounts and sales, you'll rarely get mopping and vacuuming functionality at this price. However, as a vacuum, it doesn't excel, removing just 48% of sand from hardwood floors and struggling on low-pile (22%) and midpile (18.4%) carpet.

Robot vacuum brushes have improved at resisting hair tangles, but every now and then, they still need a little help.

Chris Wedel/CNET

We like to think our robot vacuums are completely self-reliant and, to some extent, that's increasingly true. Many robot vacuums have self-emptying docks, auto-refill water tanks and self-detangling brush rollers. However, hair can still get tangled around the brush and sensors can get dirty. Performing regular maintenance on your robot vacuum will help it continue to perform well for years to come.

Some of the routine cleaning that needs done for your robot vacuum is daily, while other stuff can be done weekly or even monthly.

• Daily: Emptying the bin, checking wheels for stuck debris
• Weekly: Cleaning brush rolls and wheels
• Monthly: Charging contacts and cliff sensors; removing and deep-cleaning the brushes

We've dedicated a complete breakdown of the different parts of your robot vacuum that need some regular maintenance. Most of these tasks take only a few minutes, but they pay off with a much cleaner home.

However, some of the latest robovacs -- like those from from Narwal -- have multi-function base stations that automatically handle tasks such as emptying the dustbin and refilling the water tank. With maintenance intervals of up to 120 days, you can look forward to spending far less time on upkeep in the future.

For more information on FAQs, see how to properly care for your robot vacuum and how a robot vacuum stacks up versus a cordless vacuum. 

Correction, Jan. 9, 2026: An earlier version of this article misidentified the lab results for one of the robot vacuum models. We have updated it to reflect the correct model name, which is the Mova V50.

How well a robot vacuum cleans your home depends on many factors. Floors cluttered with obstacles like wires, charging cords, toys, shoes and clothing can stop them in their tracks. The less overall clutter, the better a robot will operate. Some robot vacuum models clean tile, wood flooring and different types of carpet better than others, too.

Until recently, the answer was no, but that's changed since IFA 2025, when the Eufy Marswalker and Dreame Cyber X were showcased with the ability to climb a flight of stairs. Right now, they're just proof of concept, but Eufy has confirmed the technology is coming to market, likely in 2026, and the Omni S2 will be compatible with the Marswalker.
In the meantime, many robot vacuums can cross thresholds by using a lift system to cross gaps between rooms up to 2 inches and above. Dreame's X50 Ultra was an early example, but it's been joined by other offerings from Dreame, such as the Aqua 10 Ultra Roller, as well as the Roborock Saros 10 and 10R , and newer models from Mova and Yeedi.

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. The Roborock Saros Z70, the recipient of our Best of CES Award, comes with a mechanical task arm that allows it to pick up and move objects it finds lying around the room. We put it to the test and found that the sorting was hit and miss, but it's been improving over time. We've also seen a similar tech on Dreame's Cyber 10 Ultra, which was showcased at IFA 2025.

Many robovacs now have mopping features, including many on our best list, like the Mova V50 Ultra Complete and Dreame X50 Ultra. And you can even find more affordable robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba DustCompactor 205, that can mop.

We like the Yeedi S16 Plus for pet hair pickup. It sucked up the most pet hair of all the robot vacuums we tested in our latest batch.

The iRobot Rooma DustCompactor 205 and Dreame X50 Ultra are our top picks for hardwood floors, with 99.27% and 98.45% sand pickup, respectively.

The best robot vacuum for carpet is the Mova V50, which scored 60.29% on low-pile carpet and 47.54% on midpile. Those were the highest scores in the category.

Shark and iRobot (maker of the Roomba) are two top rivals in the robot vacuum market, and choosing between their products will ultimately come down to price. Shark robovacs tend to cost a bit less, but if you don't have a strict budget in mind for your robovac purchase, go with one of CNET's choices for best overall robovac: the Roomba Combo J7 Plus. For Shark, we like the full-featured Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro for its good navigation and cleaning performance, though it's on the more expensive end. For a more detailed analysis of the two brands, CNET experts have put together a comprehensive comparison.