How we tested
All of the robot vacuums in this review have been tested by me in my own 1,500 square foot apartment. In 2024 so far, I’ve had my hands on the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roomba Combo j5+, Roomba Combo j9+, Narwal Freo X Ultra, Shark RV 2300S, Shark Detect Pro, Yeedi M12 Pro+, and Roborock Qrevo Master.
How we assess a robot vacuum’s performance
I’ve directly compared these bots’ cleaning capabilities on multiple types of flooring (as well as how they stack up against popular cordless vacuums from brands like Dyson and Shark). When conducting hands-on tests of robot vacuums, each robot vacuum is put through a series of standardized cleaning tests aiming to cover the main combinations of debris and floor type that could pop up in the average home. This includes seeing how effectively each vacuum removes more in-the-moment messes like freshly spilled food crumbs, as well as more stubborn debris like pet hair that has been embedded into the fibers over an extended amount of time.
For small spaces specifically, the robot vacuum’s size is considered a little more heavily, both in terms of dimensions of the vacuum itself and how much space the vacuum takes up while it’s charging. The shortest robot vacuums are near or slightly under three inches tall while others are upwards of five inches, most of which are able to fit under a couch or a low-hanging bed frame. Most non-self-emptying docks aren’t bigger than a shoe and can be squeezed inconspicuously into a tight corner or under furniture to maximize your space (assuming that there’s sufficient space out front for the robot vac to return). Self-emptying docks have gotten quite compact over the years, though, so while I’ve ruled out any models that would simply be too big in a small home, I make sure to include some self-emptying options with modest footprints — you shouldn’t have to rule out the convenience of automatic emptying just because your space is cozy.
Noise level is also considered. The drone of a vacuum feels a lot louder in close quarters. If you’re concerned with keeping kids, roommates, or neighbors on the other side of a thin wall undisturbed, you’ll want a robot vac that’s been hyped for its sound level. Keep in mind that auto-empty docks create the most noise of the whole process, though some have a shorter, quieter whoosh than others.