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Combo models might also have mops that can kick out from the side of the vacuum to get closer to the sides of rooms.

We'll also look at how the robot tackles the issue of switching between vacuuming and mopping – will it reliably detect floor type, and pick up its mop pad when moving from hard floor onto carpet, for example?

The dock is also very compact for a self-empty model. The interior space is mostly given over to a larger-than-normal dust bag, which means you won't be bothered by the tiny onboard bin.

While the app is intuitive, and the mapping good, there is a major issue for anyone with an open plan living space. Namely, you can't separate it into different zones. It won't be a problem for everyone, but if you live in an open plan home, you'll probably want to opt for a different brand.

Big-brand robovacs that are a couple of years old can often deliver the best value for money, with very few sacrifices in performance. And sales events like the Black Friday deals generally come through with strong discounts in this category too.

You want a vacuum to clean your car. Handheld vacuums come corded or cordless and are easy to take outside to clean car floors and seating.

✅ You don't have much space: The SwitchBot is very tiny, and can get into tight spaces that others can't. The dock is also compact for a self-empty option.

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market.  When she’s not writing about the Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes.

We recommend this attachment if you prefer a canister and have deep pile carpets in, say, just the bedrooms. Otherwise, you’ll use a long flat attachment or brush that can be used on bare floors and low, flat rugs.

GH Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards thanks to its sensors and artificial intelligence that select the best power mode. These AI features spike the price of this model, but we think its well worth it for effectively cleaning multiple floor and carpet types throughout a home.

Rodriguez updated this story with notes from other Lab analysts’ extensive testing and research notes.

It also recharges itself, detects and avoids stairs and self-empties. Some dirt lingered in the canister but if the occasional empty is all the work required of us, we won't complain!

One liked its speed, especially on hardwood floors, saying, “It honestly did all of the work and I barely had to fuss with a wet mop head or dry it off."