The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair, and more.
Although they're not as well as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they've improved a lot in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners employ instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate through your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials, like wood, tile, and laminate, and carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home so they know where they've been and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to instruct your robot to avoid rooms you don't wish it to be able to keep.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, utilize an onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. It can then be left to complete the task without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which combines mopping with vacuuming. It's the perfect solution to keep your home tidy. It has great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.
A less expensive bot that vacuums, mops and can even be used as a trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a excellent choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of the more expensive models. It does have some disadvantages when compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses only one brush, not dual roller brushes, which means it isn't as effective at removing larger debris such as shoes and socks. Also, it doesn't include AI obstacle avoidance, so you may need to get rid of clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy-to-use reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile rugs and avoids tangles. It's not the most advanced however it's a good choice. It also works with voice commands, so you can run it on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Certain models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet messes. iRobot Roomba J7 is among the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also features a chic clean base that emptys the trash bin automatically so that you don't have to.
We tested this robotic cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It is very maneuverable and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to, such as under beds and couches. It also has a great suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two hours of runtime. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to set no-go zones within the app and its detection of objects is a little hit-or-miss which means that we saw it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase).
It's important to keep in mind that, regardless of how intelligent the robot vacuum is, it will not replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It won't be able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. However, to keep your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs and other dander, it can be an ideal addition to your routine of cleaning.
The majority of robot vacuums have sensors that allow them to navigate through obstacles and steps. They can usually sense when they're about to fall down a staircase, for instance, and they also detect areas of clutter and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that permit them to draw an precise floor plan of your home and locate themselves. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid wasting time going over the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off, if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empties its dust bin when it gets full is a great benefit. Some models even have windows that lets you see when the bin needs to be emptied. This feature is great for those with children or pets, who can create lots of mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you choose which model can be controlled by the use of a remote, an app on your phone or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance tips. You can program your robot to clean on an annual or a regular basis using the correct settings. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps in robot vacuum deals the robot's app and use them to navigate around your home. Some of these systems will even remember the furniture placement and transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.
Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire homes in a timely manner and keeping detailed records about the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your tablet or smartphone. They can also be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers great performance at a reasonable cost. It can clean hardwood floors and low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other messes. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does very well.
The rubber-like wheels on this model permit it to roll across the high transitions between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually and it can charge itself and resume cleaning if it runs out power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tested but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are operated by voice commands using smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or children that could interfere.
Most models have an automatic mode that works without input. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin sucking up dirt, food particles, and pet hair. These robots can be programmed to clean up on a regular basis which is great for those who wish to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can recognize things like furniture, stairs, power cords and even different kinds of flooring. This helps them avoid these hazards which is especially helpful in larger homes that have lots of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Other robots have more basic ability to detect objects but they are able to complete the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a premium bot. It is extremely suction-driven and can handle dirt and debris on hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile with ease. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to be tangled in stray shoes and cords, and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic rather than bristles in traditional form for better cleaning.
This model is more expensive than other robots that are in the middle of the range but it has everything you would expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can map and create a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't feature obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the j7 or S8.