Now, in general, robot vacuums tend to do best with as few obstacles as possible, even with the advanced navigational systems that many machines have these days.

Oscillating, spinning, or vibrating mop pads clean better than bots that just drag a wet rag around, but the new self-cleaning roller mops that are beginning to appear are even more effective. Auto-carpet sensing is also important since it prevents the robot from accidentally mopping your rug.

And at just 1.4 pounds, it’s one of the lightest handheld vacs in our tests. The only downside to its small size is the small dustbin, which may have to be emptied more than once if you have a sizable mess. For more choices, see our full handheld vacuum ratings.

Its dual rubber roller brushes and seis,000Pa of suction do a good job, and its flat mop that vibrates is effective at scrubbing your floors.

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.

The mopping is a cut above average, and the space-age looking curvy dock takes care of the mopping maintenance tasks including refilling the bot's onboard tank and washing and drying its mop pads. (You will need to supplement this with the occasional deeper clean, but that's unavoidable.)

We definitely noticed this when testing the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 since our household has both a curious toddler and a cat that complicated things a bit—both were fascinated by the machine when it ran. That said, if toys are left out, this vacuum will

The efficiency of your robotic vacuum depends on suitable floor layouts and consistent scheduling. Optimize its path by tidying cords, low-dangling curtains, and items that could snag brushes.

opt to remove them and pop them into the washing machine for good measure so they weren't just getting dried with grime on them—if an auto-washing base is important for you, another model, the 2-in-1 Robot with NeverTouch Pro Base offers it (the difference is in the "Pro" part of the name).

And as far as extending the time in between upgrades, Emily Rairdin, vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says three to five years is an average lifespan for robot vacuums, so it's reasonable to trade or upgrade every so often.

Alistair is a London-based journalist who has been writing about tech for over a decade. He has tested numerous robovacs over the years for Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners TechRadar, from brands like iRobot, Eufy and Roborock. His favourites match intelligent navigation with smart design.

On test, we were wowed by this robovac's mopping abilities. The mop pads assert downwards pressure as they rotate, leaving our tester's floors shining and spotless. In contrast, the vacuuming was good but not outstanding.

For even cheaper options, head to TechRadar's best budget robot vacuum guide. If you're in the UK, our favorite budget model is the outstanding Xiaomi X20+.

I've had one Roomba in service for about 18 years, with regular maintenance and a couple replacement batteries. It doesn't have advanced features, but it's still going strong in a less-trafficked area of my house.