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Best robot vacuum cleaners 2026: spotless floors whatever your budget
Louise puts everyday products to the test, cutting through the hype to show what delivers in real life.
The best robot vacuum cleaner should take the hard work out of keeping your floors spotless.
We’ve tested popular robot vacuums from Dyson, Eufy, Samsung and Shark to see how they handle everything from food debris to pet hair, plus how easy they are to use.
The latest models can even mop your floors, so we put them to the test on sticky spills.
Robot vacuum cleaners are a pricey purchase, ranging from around £200 to more than £1,000. Three models stood out and earned our Best Buy recommendation. We also have two Great Value picks for good performance at a lower price.
Read on to discover our top-rated models and whether a robot vacuum is the right choice for your home.
How our tests find you the best
We've tested 14 robot vacs
No one wants to babysit their vacuum. We tested top brands and the latest features to find those that actually clean, without adding to your work.
Suction
We pit each robot against crushed cereal and real cat hair. The best suck up everything in their path and the worst leave dirt piles in their wake.
Obstacles
We put trailing wires, a rug, lamp base and table legs in the way of all the robot vacuum cleaners, mimicking the trickiest home layouts.
We also test...
Floor coverage, cleaning in corners, climbing ledges, noise and more.
The robot vacuum cleaners we tested
The 10 most popular robot vacuum cleaners, along with the biggest brands, are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the robot vacuum cleaner test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Robot vacuum cleaner | Price | Score | Vacuuming food debris* | Vacuuming pet hair** | Obstacles | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Digital access at £5 per month for your first 3 months, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 90% | |||||
| 82% | ||||||
| 80% | ||||||
| 79% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 73% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 70% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableGet Digital access at £5 per month for your first 3 months, cancel at any time.
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Dates tested: May 2026 and October 2024. Page last checked: October 2026. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available. We've tested 15 robot vacuum cleaners in total, but the table shows our top picks only.
Our robot vacuum test programme was updated in 2026, so scores and star ratings for models tested before then cannot be directly compared with our latest test results. See How we test robot vacuum cleaners (below) for more details.
*Average score for vacuuming crushed cereal on carpet and hard floor. **Vacuuming pet hair on carpet.
A selection of the robot vacuum cleaners we tested is listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best robot vacuum cleaners from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Beko VRR60314VW Robot Vacuum
Available from Amazon (£129) and Currys (£129)
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Charging station, mopping tool, mopping cloth, cleaning brush, side brush x 2, spare filter
Dimensions Vacuum: 8 x 33cm (H x W), charging station: 9 x 15 x 15cm (H x W x L), internal bin: 500ml, water tank: 300ml
Need to know 150 minutes claimed run time, six hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with HomeDirect app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Spare filter, brush bar, charging station
Dimensions Vacuum: 9 x 33 x 32cm (H x W x L), charging station: 17 x 10 x 27cm (H x W x L), internal bin: 500ml
Need to know 65 minutes claimed run time, 2 hours 45 minutes claimed charge time, controlled with MyDyson app
Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai Wet and Dry Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Wet Roller, brush bar, side sweepers x 2, charging cable
Dimensions Vacuum: 11 x 37 x 37 cm (H x W x L), charging station: 45 x 44 x 51 mm (H x W x L), dust tank: 3 litres, internal bin: 500ml, water tank: 2.3 litres
Need to know 200 minutes claimed run time, 3 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with MyDyson app
Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Wet roller, brush bar, side sweepers x 2, charging cable
Dimensions Vacuum: 33 x 33 x 8.5 cm (H x W x L), charging station: 33 x 29 x 46 cm (H x W x L), dust tank: 3.1 litres, internal bin: 250ml, water tank: 2.3 litres
Need to know 200 minutes claimed run time, 3 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with Eufy Clean app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum & Mop
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Wet roller, side brushes x 2, cleaning tool, hard floor cleaner, charging cable, filter, dust bag
Dimensions Vacuum: 33 x 35 x 9.7 (H x W x L), charging station: 38 x 46 x 67 (H x W x L), dust tank: 2.5 litres, internal bin: 250ml, water tank: 3 litres
Need to know 216 minutes claimed run time, 4 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with Eufy Clean app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
For more tried-and-tested dust-busting models, see our reviews of the best vacuum cleaners, best cordless vacuum cleaners and best handheld vacuum cleaners
Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI+ Vacuum Cleaner
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Washing plates, mop pads, side brush, pre-motor filter, mop pad holders, dust bag
Dimensions Vacuum:10 x 36 x 37 (H x W x L), charging station: 55 x 4 x 51 (H x W x L), dust tank: 2.5 litres, internal bin: 250ml, water tank: 4 litres
Need to know 180 minutes claimed run time, 5 hours claimed charge time, controlled with SmartThings app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2800ZEUKWH
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Charging station, side brush x 1, spare filter, mop pads, anti-odour cartridge
Dimensions Vacuum: 10 x 33 x 33mm (H x W x L), charging station: 54 x 36 x 44 cm (H x W x L), dust tank: 2 litres, internal bin: 300ml, water tank: 1.7 litres
Need to know 110 minutes claimed run time, 4 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with SharkClean app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2620WAUK
Most recently tested October 2024
Accessories Charging and self-empty station, side brush x 2, washable mopping pad x 2
Dimensions Vacuum: 9 x 34cm (H x W), charging station: 32 x 12 x 33cm (H x W x L), internal bin: 230ml, water tank: 400ml
Need to know 110 minutes claimed run time, 6 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with SharkClean app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
Xiaomi Robot Vacuum 5
Most recently tested May 2026
Accessories Charging station, main brush, side brush, filter
Dimensions Vacuum: 9 x 35 x 35 cm (H x W x L), charging station: 57 x 36 x 26 cmm (H x W x L), dust tank: 4 litres, internal bin: 350ml, water tank: 2.5 litres
Need to know 140 minutes claimed run time, 6 hours claimed charge time, mop function, controlled with Mi Home app, requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network
More robot vacuum cleaners from our tests
Here are the rest of the robot vacuum cleaners we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.
| Robot vacuum cleaner | Price | Score | Vacuuming food debris* | Vacuuming pet hair** | Obstacles | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eufy Clean X8 Pro with Self-Empty Station | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017660 | |||||
| Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017666 | |||||
| Hoover HG2 Hydro Pro Turbo Slim Robot Vacuum Cleaner | Argos(£299), Hoover(£229.99), Currys (£319) | |||||
| iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum | iRobot(£899) | |||||
| Karcher RCV 5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017670 |
Dates tested: May 2026 and October 2024. Page last checked: October 2026. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Our robot vacuum test programme was updated in 2026, so scores and star ratings for models tested before then cannot be directly compared with our latest test results. See How we test (below) for more details.
*Average score for vacuuming crushed cereal on carpet and hard floor. **Vacuuming pet hair tested on carpet.
How we test robot vacuum cleaners
Many free-to-access websites review robot vacuums using just one tester, basing scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive robot vacuums free of charge, directly from manufacturers.
Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on measurements and ratings, and brands cannot buy their way into our testing. We select the most searched-for robot vacuums, and we pay for every single one we test.
We also regularly revisit the robot vacuum cleaners on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.
We’re not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. As a not-for-profit organisation, we have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to, so we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else.
Read our full statement of editorial independence.
Performance: how well does it clean?
We test how effective each robot vacuum is at vacuuming crushed cereal on carpet and hard floor. We sprinkle a set amount, then weigh how much is vacuumed into the dust container to assess suction for each model.
The same test is carried out to see if each vacuum cleaner can suck up cat hair embedded in carpet.
For models that have a mop, we use sticky jam and honey to see how effective this function is.
Navigation: how well does it move around your home?
We set up a small living room space with a lamp base, trailing wire, rug and side table to rate how well each robot vacuum deals with obstacles.
We sprinkle lentils in our living room testing space and track the movement of each robot vacuum cleaner on camera to assess how much floor space they cover.
To see if the robot vacuums can reach tricky spots, we scatter crushed cereal 10cm away from the edge of a wall and in corners.
If you have raised thresholds in your home, you'll want your robot vacuum to climb them so it can vacuum as much floor space as possible. We pit each robot vacuum against a 10mm step, increasing it by 2mm each time. The best can climb just over 2cm, while the worst can only just make it over 1cm.
Noise and ease of use: how easy is it to set up and how noisy is it?
We also rate how easy each robot vacuum is to set up out of the box, connect with any app, and get cleaning in your home. We also measure the noise it makes with a decibel meter.
In 2026, we updated our testing programme to better reflect your home. We now use crushed cereal instead of replica dust to replicate real-life debris, and lentils instead of flour to prevent vacuum cleaner blockages.
Our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, as well as the majority of the models reviewed, have been assessed using this new methodology. Our reviews state which year the product was tested.
How we choose robot vacuum cleaners
To make sure our reviews are 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. Instead, we invest almost £10,000 every year buying robot vacuum cleaners directly from major retailers.
We've tested 15 robot vacuums and we cater to a range of budgets, from less than £200 to over £1,000. Everything from basic, no-frills machines to all-singing, all-dancing models will make their way through our test lab in any given year.
This means we can showcase premium Best Buy models alongside Great Value machines that punch above their price tag.
Louise Sayers, Which? senior researcher, says:
'We want our tests to cover the robot vacuum cleaners people are actually considering, so I look beyond just the big-name flagship models.
As well as big names like Dyson and Shark, I choose from popular brands such as Eufi, Beko and iRobot, while keeping an eye on new launches, what’s trending, what people are searching for and the ranges stocked by major UK retailers.
I also test across different prices, sizes and features, so our recommendations provide something useful for different homes and budgets.'
Our robot vacuum cleaner expert
Senior researcher & writer, Louise Sayers: Louise designs and conducts technical laboratory tests and turns them into in-depth, unbiased product reviews to separate the impressive robot vacuums from the duds. She cuts through marketing claims and confusing jargon to ensure you invest in a robot vacuum that actually delivers on its promises.
Are robot vacuums worth it?
Some robot vacuums cost more than £1,000, so you'll want to be sure they'll leave your home free of dust without you lifting a finger. Unfortunately, our experience with robot vacuum cleaners suggests that, unless you choose carefully, you're likely to be underwhelmed.
Do they actually clean carpets?
Even the best robot vacuum cleaners can't match a standard vac for cleaning power on carpets.
Only a handful of the vacuums we tested did a decent job of sucking up food debris on carpet, while a few more were effective on hard floors. Join Which? to find out which models impressed.
While they can keep floors looking spick and span, they aren't a total replacement for a standard vacuum cleaner. Unless you live in the most minimalist of apartments, you'll still need to give your house a thorough going over with a manual vac every so often.
Considering deep-cleaning your carpets? We've tested popular carpet cleaners from Bissell, Rug Doctor and Vax
Can they cope with corners?
The round, bulky shape of most robot vacuums means they often struggle with corners and crevices.
Most come with brushes, which should sweep large bits of dirt and debris out from corners. For fine dirt or pet hair that's really embedded into corners, you'll be far better off with the nozzle attachment on a standard vacuum cleaner.
Join Which? to find out which robot vacuum cleaners were best at getting into corners.
Will they get stuck on obstacles?
Most models use an app to map your home, allowing you to add no-go zones, virtual barriers, floor types and furniture. It may take some trial and error to fine-tune your map, but doing so can help minimise interruptions.
If you have a particularly cluttered home, you may find your robot vacuum spends less time cleaning than you do freeing it from obstacles.
Do they work as a mop?
Some robot vacuum cleaners can mop your floors, too. However, when we test them against jam and honey stains, we often found they spread the mess and left components needing a thorough clean.
We'd only recommend using your robot vacuum to mop light spills and stains. Anything really messy isn’t worth the extra faff.
Find out which manual floor mops glided through our cleaning tests
Are they more effort than they're worth?
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort, but they can be temperamental. Setting it up is the first hurdle; most robots only work on 2.4GHz wi-fi, meaning you may need to dive into your router settings just to get the machine online.
They're most useful in uncluttered, hard-floor homes where they can run daily. If you have thick carpets, floor clutter or a complex layout, the babysitting they require can quickly outweigh the time they save.
Unless you're prepared to spend some time with an instruction manual, you may want to consider one of the best vacuum cleaners or best cordless vacuum cleaners instead.
If you still want to make the switch, stick to our Best Buys. The gap between the best and the rest is huge, and a mediocre model will probably become a source of frustration and constantly need rescuing from under the sofa. Join Which? to find out which robot vacuum cleaners impressed.
What are the best features to look for when buying a robot vacuum?
The right features for you will depend on your home's size and floor types, but based on our testing, these are the most important features to consider.
Sensor technology Basic robots use infrared sensors and will simply change direction when they bump into an obstacle. More advanced models use a combination of cameras, sensors and 'virtual walls' to map their surroundings. While AI technology is now being heavily marketed, reliable navigation and mapping remain the most important factors for consistent cleaning.
App connectivity Most robot vacuums are controlled through an app, allowing you to set schedules, create no-go zones and view cleaning maps. A good app can make a big difference to day-to-day usability.
Cleaning modes Most models offer modes such as auto, spot and boost cleaning. Focus on overall cleaning performance rather than the number of modes, as most people will rely on 'auto' mode much of the time.
Brush type Side brushes help sweep debris away from edges and corners and into the vacuum's path. They can improve cleaning performance, although they sometimes flick larger crumbs away rather than collecting them.
Mop function Some robot vacuums can mop hard floors using detachable mop pads. They're useful for light stains but generally aren't a substitute for a traditional mop.
Battery life Most robot vacuums automatically return to their dock when they need charging. Long battery life matters most in larger homes, but it's only useful if the robot can navigate efficiently.
Dust capacity Robot vacuums have smaller bins than standard vacuums. Many newer models have self-emptying docks that reduce how often you'll need to empty them, although these take up additional floor space.