The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair and more.
While they can't perform like the regular vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize navigation tools like lasers and sensors to navigate around your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile, and laminate, and carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots map your home, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid hitting obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might want to keep out of your way. You can also use your smartphone's app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping abilities like the Roomba J7, utilize an onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. Then, you can allow it to complete the task without having to keep an eye on the condition of your floor plan, or manually move obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robotic that does vacuuming and mopping, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a powerful suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a useful self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.
A cheaper robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the advanced features of more expensive models. However, it has some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba J7 and S8. For instance, it uses only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective in collecting larger objects such as shoes and socks. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so you might need to clear away clutter before running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and provides consistent, strong suction on both hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not the most advanced, but it works well. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or even set up no-go zones via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect a robot vacuum's ability to navigate your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet messes. The iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also comes with a sleek clean base that empties the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
During testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large house and were awed by how quickly and efficiently it was able to clean floors without getting sluggish. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach places that most standup vacuums cannot, such as under couches and under beds. It also has excellent suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour runtime. It lacks the option to create no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We noticed it bumping into things on occasion during our tests and resulted in vessels falling over.
It's important to remember that no matter how clever the robot vacuum might appear but it can't replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-access areas. But for keeping your floors free of pet hair, crumbs, dander and other debris it could be an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.
Most robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for example and also detect messy spaces and maneuver around them. Nevertheless, if you're not vigilant your robot-cleaner could be stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require help.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that permit them to make an accurate floor plan of your house and also locate themselves. This lets them 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 vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its bin of dust when it's full is a huge convenience. Some models also have a window to let you know the time when the bin must be emptied. This is a great feature for people who have children or pets, who tend to make lots of mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums allow you to select whether the machine is controlled by a remote control or an app for your phone, or via voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. Using the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a regular time or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to mark out and clean specific areas of your home.
The most intelligent robot vacuums we have tested are equipped with sensors and cameras which enable them to create maps for your home. You can save these maps to the robot's app to quickly navigate through your home. Some of these systems will even remember furniture arrangement and the transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
The most efficient smart vacuums save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning entire houses and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. Most can also connect to your smart speaker, so you can control them using voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an inexpensive, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It can clean both floors and sweep up pet hair and other messes from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not quite as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed, but it does its job very well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to glide over obstacles such as cords that get caught up and high transitions between rooms. It also comes with a large dust bin that doesn't have to be empty manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning if it's power-depleted. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tested however it combines powerful suction with straightforward controls to deliver a great value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical remote or an app on your phone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This can be helpful if you have small children or pets who could hinder your cleaning session or if you're tired to control the robot by hand.
Most models also include an automatic mode that functions without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app and it will begin taking in food crumbs, and pet hair. The robots can also be programmed to clean up on a regular basis, which is ideal for those who wish to make it easy to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. They can detect things such as power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and can even identify different types of floors. This can help robots stay clear of dangers. This is especially helpful in large homes that have lots of rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are less sophisticated in their object detection abilities, but they still get the job done. The best robot vacuum and mop TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is a model that resembles an internet router, but has the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It has a powerful suction and can clean dirt and debris from medium-pile flooring and carpet. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to get stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles as well as plastic, gives an efficient cleaning.
This model is more expensive than the other models that are in the middle of the range however, it can do everything you would expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and create a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it does not have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 or S8.