The best vacuums weve tested at home, from robots to Dyson stick vacs
When it comes to selecting the perfect vacuum cleaner, the decision is highly subjective, influenced primarily by personal preferences and cleaning habits. For many, the choice boils down to whether they would rather engage in the manual task of vacuuming or delegate it to a robot vacuum. The author, an experienced cat owner, shares insights on this dilemma, emphasizing that a vacuum should not only be effective but also convenient to use. A cumbersome upright vacuum that’s difficult to maneuver or a robot vacuum that frequently gets stuck can deter anyone from keeping their home clean. This highlights the importance of considering the usability and reliability of different vacuum models before making a purchase.
November is an opportune time for vacuum shopping, especially with Black Friday deals around the corner. The article points out that premium models, like Dyson vacuums and advanced robot vacuum and mop combos, often see significant discounts during this shopping season. The author has curated a list of the best vacuums of 2025, based on extensive testing of both robot and stick vacuums in their own home. They suggest that if you’re torn between an upright and a robot vacuum, it’s wise to assess your primary needs: do you prefer automation with minimal effort, or do you prioritize thorough cleaning even if it requires more manual work? While robot vacuums have made strides in technology—boasting features like smart mapping and obstacle avoidance—they can still be frustrating at times, reminding users that they are not substitutes for human intuition.
The author also hints at upcoming vacuum tests, including models like the Shark Stratos 2-in-1 NeverTouch and the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra, which will further refine their recommendations for pet owners. Ultimately, whether you lean towards a traditional vacuum or a robotic helper, the key takeaway is to choose a model that fits your lifestyle and cleaning preferences, ensuring that your investment leads to a cleaner home without the hassle.
The best vacuum cleaner setup is subjective, heavily hinging on how badly you want to do the vacuuming yourself or if you’d rather have a
reliable robot vacuum cleaner
vacuum for you.
SEE ALSO:
As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera
If your vacuum is a pain to clean with, you won’t feel like using it at all — whether it’s an upright vacuum that’s too clunky to get out of the closet or a robot vacuum that gets stuck more often than not. Regardless of the type of vacuum you choose, there’s still a ton of nuance between brands and models in both of those categories. Your best bet is to get some recommendations from someone who uses both every day (like me).
Black Friday vacuum deals are going to pop off
You’re lucky to be doing your vacuum shopping in November — vacuum cleaner deals are a pillar of Black Friday. If you were previously ruling out a
more premium Dyson vacuum
or a
robot vacuum and mop combo
with self-washing mopping pads, this might be your chance to grab one at a less scary price. In fact, every single robot and cordless vacuum in this guide has already been on sale at some point in 2025. They’re bound to beat their own sale prices this month.
After several years of pitting the
top robot and stick vacuums against each other
in my own home, I’ve pulled a few of each to create Mashable’s ultimate mashup of all of the best vacuum cleaners of 2025.
Should I get an upright or robot vacuum?
I could argue for both sides. Ideally, I’d recommend shopping strategically and splitting your budget between one of each type of vacuum. But if you’re only choosing one,
consider what your main priority for this new vacuum is
. Is your ideal vacuum cleaner one that automates the most steps to give you as little work as possible, or is it one that does the absolute most meticulous job, even if you still have to do the work?
Trusting a robot vacuum to do this chore comes with the fine print that the robot vacuum is probably going to piss you off sometimes. Autonomy-related features like smart mapping, small obstacle avoidance, automatic floor type recognition, and debris level sensors have gotten quite perceptive over the past few years. But even the
smartest robot vacuums I’ve tested
are still inanimate objects, not humans with real brains.
The obvious downside of an upright vacuum is that you have to have enough free time to use it, and be OK with spending some of that free time off the couch. Granted, the
better the cordless vacuum is at cleaning
, the less you’ll have to get it out, and the less of a pain it’ll be to whip around. But at the end of the day, if you detest getting your vacuum out, you probably won’t vacuum too often — and that defeats the purpose of spending your money on a nice, new vacuum in the first place.
Vacuums I’m testing soon
The next vacuums slated for at-home testing are the
Shark Stratos 2-in-1 NeverTouch
, the
Roborock H60 Hub Ultra
, and eventually, the
Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai
. I’ll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for pet owners accordingly.
