Most are equipped with smaller brushes that extend past the circumference of the vacuum, and the purpose of these is to reach dirt that's settled against baseboards or in awkward places.

We even have a separate machine to clean the carpets between test runs so one result won't influence the next.

The impressive suction pulled huge volumes of hair from carpet, and handled hard floors extremely well too. We had no issues with the hair clogging the self-empty mechanism, and a larger-than-usual dock dustbin also means you won't need to replace the dust bags too frequently.

Forget those clunky old models from years ago, which would wander around aimlessly, sucking up anything and everything in their way. The latest models can map out your home and design intelligent cleaning paths and schedules.

There are no other X10 models in the Eufy range, so you can't choose, for example, a version without mopping or with a more basic dock. There is a more advanced option: the Eufy Omni S1 Pro which adds improved obstacle avoidance, automatic detergent dispensing, and swaps the spinning mop pads for a roller that's fed by a constant supply of fresh water. It's significantly more expensive, though.

The market ranges from ultra-simple to extremely capable, with price tags to match, so it's important to pick the right one for your needs. I'm here to help with that.

The mopping less impressive, but still good enough to be a useful addition (for really good mopping you'll need to stump up a bit more). Other benefits include voice assistant support, and a very neat and compact base station.

In our Lab tests: Robot vacuums are getting better, smarter and more self-sufficient all the time, and iRobot's Roomba remains one of the top performers in our GH Cleaning Lab tests. This Roomba S9+ picked up 99% of the dry oatmeal, sand, small screws and other debris we spread on hard floors.

❌ You're on a budget: There are plenty of cheaper bots that'll do a good enough job for many people's needs.

Today's top-specced robovacs can generate upwards of 10,000Pa of suction. That's rare Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners though, and you're generally looking at machines that sit in the four-figure price bracket to get that kind of power.

This robot vacuum and mop is a real overachiever – it self-empties, self-cleans and self-refills its water tank. Of course, you’ll need to look after the docking station maintenance, but that will be a lot less frequent than dealing with the vacuum itself.

Many of today's best robot vacuums are pretty pricey, but if you're on a tighter budget, check out the Narwal Freo X Plus. Where it really shines is its vacuuming performance. It packs 7,800Pa of suction, which is more in line with what I'd expect in a much pricier model than one on the cusp between budget and mid-range.

The app is easy to use and functions well. Our reviewer was also very impressed with the mapping – the X10 accurately mapped their apartment on its first exploratory outing – as well as the navigation and obstacle avoidance.

And this design from Eufy definitely falls into that category. It’s the first one to have a dual water tank within the robot, which means it collects dirty water and cleans the mop as it goes.