Straight-line pickup tests on carpet are conducted in an enclosed area with a mix of potting soil, sand and rayon fibers designed to simulate pet hair. After a set cleaning time, the dustbin is weighed to measure the debris collected.

It can also offer alternative cleaning patterns, so you can choose the route you want it to take. At 4.75 inches, it's taller than many other robot vacuums — it could just reach under our kitchen baseboards, but failed to get under the dishwasher, which the majority of others models could clear.

Users with carpets up to 7 millimeters high don’t even need to remove the mopping pads to vacuum, as the robot intelligently detects carpets and lifts the pads to prevent wetting. (The pads also don’t require removal after every use, thanks to the robot’s self-cleaning and drying mechanism when it returns to its dock.)

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The multipurpose cleaning tool can cut and pull the hair around the roller (Make sure the bottom switch is on before charging or working.)

The robot navigated tight spaces and cleaned under kitchen cabinet toe kicks without getting stuck. However, the LIDAR sensor on top makes it too tall to fit under some low-profile furniture. After methodically covering our test floors, the Shark returned to its dock and emptied every speck of debris it collected.

Premium, but decent value given the features and performance. Worth the investment for pet owners who want Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners something for regular use.

IT EMPTIES ITSELF: The bagless, self-emptying base holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris. The bagless base does not require any additional purchase of disposal bags like traditional auto empty robots.

We observe how well they transition from hard floors to carpets, tackle debris along walls and in corners, maneuver under and around furniture and handle obstacles placed in their paths. Additionally, we measure their ability to pick up dry debris and pet hair from both carpets and hard floors. Here are the top-performing models we've tested to fit a range of budgets.

Many models can automatically detect carpet and increase the suction to better pick up embedded dirt and debris. This isn’t a make-or-break feature if your home only has hard flooring or if you plan to set your carpeted areas as pelo-go zones, but it is especially important for robots that also mop.

We suggest scheduling it for when you're out of the house, as this is admittedly a noisy robot vacuum, particularly on hardwood floors; we struggled to have conversations as it cleaned.

If your manufacturer recommends it, you can also periodically rinse your robot's filter, allowing it to dry before re-installing it. Replace it when you notice your robot's suction isn't as good as it used to be or however often is recommended.

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

It’s quick to map out the home and easy to create no-go zones or select specific rooms to clean. This model also comes with a self-emptying base, which makes it low maintenance, but it is just as noisy as other vacuums when it empties.