Robot vacuums have improved tenfold since they were first introduced, both in terms of navigation and pickup. And while the gap between these devices and upright models is indeed closing, there is still admittedly a gap.

The Samsung JetBot AI+ is packed full of features to say the least, and it's one of the most attractive robot vacuums to grace my floors. This intelligent and gentle cleaner almost acts as a security camera as much as a robot vacuum cleaner.

The market ranges from ultra-simple to extremely capable, with price tags to match, so it's important to pick the right one for your needs. I'm here to help with that.

✔️ Cord or cordless: Decide whether you want a vacuum with a cord, which can limit how far you can vacuum until you need to find another outlet, or if you prefer cordless, which has a battery life you'll need to monitor.

This bot was previously our top pick for hard floors, thanks to hot water mopping that's more than a match for greasy spillages.

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It's super convenient not to have to dump out contents after every run especially if you're upgrading from a typical on-board dustbin. The Shark IQ excelled at all of our tests, even picking up kitty litter on the carpet which other models (like our previous pick for this category, the Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners Roomba i3+) scored low marks in.

If you just want something that's shallow in profile for getting beneath furniture, look for a robovac without a raised central puck. This puck is generally used for robot vacuum navigation, but there are options that use different approaches – including all Roomba models, and some of Roborock's newest bots like the Qrevo Slim and Roborock Saros 10R (both of which we rate very highly).

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 no trouble at all cleaning a dried-on sugary drink and sticky sauce, automatically choosing the right amount of water for the job.

At an overall cleaning score of 95 percent, this robot vacuum deep-cleans hard floors and carpet. We found that its side brush was really effective in sweeping debris forward and into the vacuum's bin.

However, it won't be perfect for everyone, so read on for a range of options for different needs and budgets. And if you want to supplement your robovac with a manual model for stairs and deep cleans, head to TechRadar's best cordless vacuum cleaner guide.

Like most stick vacuums, this Dyson converts to a hand vacuum, though at over 6 pounds, it's heavier than others we've tested, and all this fancy technology comes at a bit of a steep price.

The T30s did very well on our cleaning tests, earning an average score of 93%; while that isn't tops among the best robot vacuums, that's still very good.

Robot vacuums have a series of brushes on the underside of the machine that work together to collect dirt and dust that they come in contact with. The dirt is then sucked into the dust cup, which is fitted into the vacuum's body.