All the models on our list also work with your Google Home or Alexa and are app-controlled, so you can set your vacuum to work even when you’re not at home.

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

Because maneuverability can be different from one consumer to the next, we have consumer testers rate the vacuums’ maneuverability by running them on a bare floor and carpet, around corners and under furniture.

Forget those clunky old models from years ago, which would wander around aimlessly, sucking up anything and everything in their way. The latest models can map out your home and design intelligent cleaning paths and schedules.

These small-scale vacuums are ideal for cleaning up spilt food and keeping on top of dust in between more thorough cleans.

It’s all compatible with the Samsung Smart Things app too, where you can set its routines, get maintenance alerts and even monitor your home via the robot’s built-in camera which testers found streamed clearly. You can control it via voice as well, and it mapped and detected obstacles well.

The Narwal Freo X Ultra is the best robot vacuum for carpet. It's a premium product, (and it's not available in the UK), but delivers the best carpet cleaning performance of any robovac we've tested. On test we found that not only did it suck up finer dust and dirt efficiently, it also scooped up larger debris – namely bits of cereal – just as well.

Dirt sensors help the robots detect which areas of your floor to pay more attention to, while the iRobot J7+ and S9+ take pictures of areas they couldn’t tackle, sending them to the app so you can address them when you next clean.

❌ You're on a budget: There are plenty of cheaper bots that'll do a good enough job for many people's needs.

Today's top-specced robovacs can generate upwards of 10,000Pa of suction. That's rare though, and you're generally looking at machines that sit in the four-figure price bracket to get that kind of power.

Onboard dustbins tend to be small, so if you're dealing with lots of dust or hair then I'd recommend prioritizing a self-empty dock. However, be aware that the more functions you add, the bigger the dock will be – the ones with water tanks can be pretty massive.

In our Lab tests: Dyson stick vacuums are always among the best in our tests for both excellent performance and incredible features, and this V15 Detect is pelo exception.

With some 2-in-1 robovacs, the mopping is a bit of an afterthought, but the Eufy X10 Pro Omni has rotating pads that press down for a more thorough clean on hard floors. On test, it had pelo trouble at all cleaning a dried-on sugary drink and sticky sauce, automatically choosing the right amount of water for the job.

The mopping is also a cut above average. On test, we found the rotating pads very effective – great news Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners if you're regularly dealing with muddy pawprints. The does-it-all dock will take care of refilling the bot's water tank, dispensing cleaning fluid, and cleaning and drying its mop pads, too, meaning minimal hands-on time from you.