The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair and more.
While they can't perform as well as a regular vacuum cleaner, they've come a long ways in the last few years. They're more sophisticated, more powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners employ tools for navigation, like lasers and sensors to navigate around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots map your home, so they can remember where they have been and avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can also use the smartphone app to set up zones that prohibit your robot not to enter rooms you don't want it to clean.
Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to detect and avoid obstacles. Then, you can allow it to complete the task without having to keep an eye on the state of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a great 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 mops, vacuums and can even be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the more advanced features of the more expensive models. However, it has some limitations in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. For instance, it uses one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective at picking up larger debris like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance, 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 for hardwood as well as carpets that are low-pile and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not very advanced however it's a good choice. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up no-go zones via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can make or break the robot's ability to navigate around your home. Certain models on 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 impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also has a stylish clean base that emptys the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
During our tests the robot, we set the cleaner up in a huge house and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleaned up floors without getting bogged down. It's very mobile and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot, such as under beds and couches. It has a 500ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. It's not able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition isn't exactly reliable. We saw it bumping into things at times during our tests which resulted in vessels falling over.
It's important to remember that despite how smart the robot vacuum might appear, it won't completely replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It won't reach ceilings or other areas that are difficult to reach. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, pet dander and other hair.
Sensor systems are built into many robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for example and also detect messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robo-cleaner may be stuck on a shoe, cord or any other object.
Some of the more advanced robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that allow them to design an outline of your house and locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. This lets them resume where they left off, should they need to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empties its dust bin when it is full is a huge benefit. Some models even have windows so you can see when the bin needs to be emptied. This is a great feature for people who have children or pets who tend to make lots of mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine can be controlled with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They also come with a range of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling. You can program your robot to clean your house on every week or on a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.
The smartest robot vacuums that we've tested are equipped with sensors and cameras, which enable them to create maps of your home. They can be saved to the robot's app, so you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even keep track of the furniture's layout and transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
Smart vacuums help you save time by mapping and cleaning entire homes by themselves and also keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app for your tablet or phone. Many 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 excellent performance for the price. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as the other robots we've reviewed but it does its job very well.
The model's tanks-like wheels allow it to roll over obstacles such as tangled cords and high transitions between rooms. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, however it has powerful suction with simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are controlled via voice commands using smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option for families with small children or pets who could interfere with your cleaning or if you're exhausted to operate the robot manually.
Most models also include an automatic mode that functions without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin sucking up food, dirt, particles, and pet hair. These robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with an established schedule, making them ideal for people who want to make a plan and forget.
Some of the higher-end models include a sophisticated feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect the presence of obstacles within your home. These models can identify things like stairs, furniture power cords, and even different kinds of flooring. This can help robots avoid dangers. This is especially useful in large homes with lots rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects however they can still do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a high-end bot. It has a powerful suction and can clean dirt and debris on medium pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles, as well as plastic, provides an efficient cleaning.
This model is good robot vacuum more expensive than other models in the mid-range, but it does everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and build a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or s8.