Types

Robotic vacuums have evolved into specialized models beyond basic floor vacuuming. Here are the main types available:

Floor Vacuums - The most common and affordable type designed for dry vacuuming of hard floors and carpets. They use brushes and suction to pick up dirt, debris and pet hair. Most models in this category have navigation sensors, self-recharging and WiFi connectivity.

Mopping Robots - These advanced models have water tanks to simultaneously vacuum and mop hard floors. They use rotating mop pads to clean and dry the floors. Great for kitchens and bathrooms prone to spills. Do not use it on carpets.

Dual Function Robots - As the name suggests, these robots vacuum and mop floors in a single cleaning session. They save the time of running separate vacuuming and mopping cycles. Convenient for homes with different floor types.

Handhelds - Compact handheld versions convenient for quick daily cleanups. Mainly for hard floors and area rugs. Lack the advanced navigation and battery life of full-sized robotic vacuums.

Robotic vacuum technology continues to advance rapidly. We now have window cleaning robots, UV sanitizing robots, smart mapping with room selectivity and more. Read our detailed reviews to find the right robotic vacuum type for your needs and budget.

The majority of robotic vacuums sold today are floor cleaning models. They are the most affordable and provide thorough vacuuming of carpets and hard floors. WiFi-connected models like Roomba, Deebot and Shark IQ allow app control and smart home integration.

Advanced floor vacuums utilize “Visual Mapping” with cameras and lasers to map multi-room and multi-level homes. This provides systematic and efficient cleaning. Models with Carpet Boost auto-adjust for deeper cleaning of carpets. Edge brushes improve cleaning along baseboards and walls.

Consider floor vacuums if you have a mix of flooring with carpets and hard floors. The brushes and suction power are ideal for debris pickup. Make sure the model is suitable for your floor type. This versatile vacuum type works for most homeowners.

Robotic mops are specialty vacuums focused on washing and drying hard surface floors like tile, vinyl, wood and laminate. They use spinning microfiber mop pads to clean up spills and stuck-on grime that regular vacuums cannot handle.

Built-in water tanks and onboard mopping systems make these robots function like automatic floor cleaners. They save you the effort of bucket mopping. Some models have vacuum functionality in addition to mopping.

Robotic mops are ideal if you have non-carpeted flooring like kitchens and bathrooms where spills frequently occur. They provide light scrubbing and drying for daily upkeep. The lack of brushes makes them unsuitable for carpets.

Consider a robotic mop if you want automation for hard floor maintenance between deeper mopping sessions. They complement (not fully replace) bucket and string mops.