The best robot vacuum is the Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop, because it's great at picking up everything from pet hair to larger debris, is able to avoid pets, and operates quietly, too.

Oscillating, spinning, or vibrating mop pads clean better than bots that just drag a wet rag around, but the new self-cleaning roller mops that are beginning to appear are even more effective. Automóvel-carpet sensing is also important since it prevents the robot from accidentally mopping your rug.

Remember that in general robot vacuums are designed for regular, light cleaning rather than deep cleans.

This pint-sized but powerful robovac is perfect for small homes – and it just dropped to less than half price

Not all robovacs can handle the Em excesso challenge posed by lots of pet hair, but one that really impressed on this front was the Dreame L40 Ultra. This bot was put through its paces in a home filled with furry, four-legged friends, and really rose to the occasion.

This model also avoids obstacles really well, including chocolate pudding we placed in its path to mimic a dog accident. Even when other robot vacuums were getting stuck in the chocolate mess, the ILife V3s Pro Robot Vacuum sailed past it. We also like its low profile (just 3 inches), which allows it to go under beds or couches more easily than taller models, and we’ve even seen it pick up dog hair that had collected under the bed.

I’ve not tested this on the Roborock, but my experience with the SwitchBot S10 with the same feature leads me to recommend this option if you can swing it.

Previously in this slot we had the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni, which offers hot water mopping that's great at tackling greasy spillages. There are some compromises you'll need to make with this model, but it's often on sale and significantly cheaper than this Eureka model.

This unique feature functions like a built-in air freshener, bringing your aroma of choice to wherever it runs.  When in use, we found the T9+ to be quiet and subtle. Thanks to its TrueDetect 3D technology, it even steered around

If you have shedding pets and carpet, look for models with higher suction power (5,000Pa or ideally more), and a boost/extra suction mode option. Models with rubbery brushrolls are also typically good at gripping hair.

With the self-charging feature, this vacuum automatically returns to its dock when the battery needs replenishing. If your cleaning tasks go beyond simple vacuuming, the dual-action of the MAMNV T7S is designed to keep hard floors spotless while reducing manual mopping.

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.

If you have a mix of carpeted rooms and hardwood floors with high-pile rugs, the Dreame is the best robot vacuum for you

If you have a mix of carpeted rooms and hardwood floors with high-pile rugs, Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners the Dreame is the best robot vacuum for you.