There’s definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you’re not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, why not outsource that tedious task to one of the best robot vacuums?

The Mashable shopping team has put dozens of robot vacuum cleaners to the test in our own homes, and now we’re here to help you find the right bot for yours.

Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?

Though Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they aren’t the only good robot vacuums.

iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it’s no surprise that much of the general public forgets that “Roomba” isn’t simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum.

But Roombas officially aren’t in a league of their own anymore: You can’t even Google “Roomba” without a question involving Shark robot vacuums popping up, and other brands like Roborock and Eufy have entered the chat with a fury. And we’re here to put some respect on their names.

We’re regularly testing robot vacuums at multiple price points and keeping a list of the top performers based on criteria like smart mapping, obstacle navigation, pet hair pickup, self emptying, suction power, and the bot’s brushroll system. The theme of robot vacuum releases at CES 2024 and the surrounding slew of robovacs released this year also cement mopping capabilities as a standard feature — so on top of various dry vacuuming tests, we’re simultaneously keeping tabs on scrubbing efficacy to find the best robot vacuum and mop.

Our evaluation goes down in our own homes on carpet, rugs, tile, and hardwood floors, complete with a watchful eye on how seamlessly each robot vacuum handles a change in floor type mid-cleaning.

We’ve managed to narrow your shopping list to six top options. Here are the top robot vacuums for every home and budget in the first half of 2024:

• The 4 best robot vacuums for apartments, condos, and other small spaces (2024)
• The 6 best robot vacuum and mop combos in 2024