Leah Stodart's picks for the best robot vacuums after testing 30+ models

Leah Stodart, Mashable senior shopping reporter, published an updated guide to the best robot vacuums for early 2026 after testing more than 30 models at home. The guide, updated Jan. 7, 2026, flags new CES 2026 announcements from Roborock, Dreame, and Narwal that she plans to test when they’re released.

Stodart tests robots in her own apartment across rugs, tile, and hardwood, tracking suction and scrubbing efficacy, pet hair pickup, automatic-empty and self-washing mop performance, smart mapping and small-obstacle avoidance, and overall user experience — with cost efficiency as a final deciding factor.

Her current top recommendation is the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller, which she calls a heavy-duty pick with 30,000 Pa of suction, a self-rinsing roller mop, livestream pet camera, and the ability to scale thresholds up to 3.15 inches. Other highlighted models include the slim Roborock Saros 10R (about three inches tall, 20,000 Pa) for edge cleaning; the Eufy E20 3-in-1 for its robot-plus-stick combo and 8,000 Pa suction; the 3i G10+ as a sub-$500 option with 18,000 Pa, dust-compacting bin and small-obstacle avoidance; Roborock’s Q10 S5+ near the $500 range with 10,000 Pa; and the Eufy X10 Pro Omni with 8,000 Pa, AI obstacle avoidance and self-washing/drying mops.

Stodart also notes a major market development: iRobot filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 15 and was acquired by Roomba manufacturer Picea, and she recommends deprioritizing Roombas in searches given that uncertainty.

Key Topics

Tech, Irobot