The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple but robot vacuums can help. The best robot vacuums can clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs and more.
While they can't perform the same way as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they've improved a lot in the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners use instruments for navigation like lasers and sensors to navigate around your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most sophisticated robots can map your house, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of your way. You can also use your smartphone app to create no-go zones that tell your robot not to enter rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to see and avoid obstacles. This means that you can leave the robot to perform an effective cleaning without having to continuously check the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine vacuuming and mopping, so it's a complete solution for keeping your home clean. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.
A less expensive bot that mops, vacuums and can be used as a robot trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the more advanced features of more expensive models. However, it does have some disadvantages compared to the Roomba j7 and S8. It has one brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it might not be as efficient at picking up larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so you may need to clear away clutter before running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's priced at less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction on hardwood as well as low-pile carpets, while avoiding tangles. It's not a lot of technology however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands. It can be set up to run a program, or create zones that are not allowed to be used using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the robot's ability to navigate around your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, kids' toys and pet messes. The iRobot Roomba J7 is among the most impressive examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the dustbin automatically so you don't need to.
During testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a huge house and were impressed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleaned up floors without getting bogged down. It is extremely maneuverable and is able to reach places that most stand-up vacs cannot reach, such as couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. It's not able to create no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We observed it bumping into things at times during our tests and resulted in vessels falling over.
It is important to keep in mind that no matter how smart a robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets that have been heavily soiled. It won't reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, pet dander, and hair.
Most robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for example and can also identify messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not vigilant the robo-cleaner may be stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require help.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that permit them to make an precise floor plan of your house and also locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've already cleaned and avoid spending time cleaning the same areas. This allows them to continue where they left off, in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that will automatically empty its bin after it is full is a great convenience. Some models even have a window to let you know when the bin needs to be empty. This is a great feature for those who have pets or children, who are likely to create a lot more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled by the use of a remote, an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They offer a range of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. If you set the right settings, you can program your robot to clean at a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program the robot to mark out and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot app to easily navigate through your home. Some of these systems can even keep track of furniture placement and note transitions from hard floors to carpet.
The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app on your smartphone or tablet. Many of them can be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an inexpensive, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers good performance for the money. It can clean both floors and sweep up pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not quite as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed but it does the job well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to roll over obstacles such as tangled cords and high transitions in between rooms. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be emptying manually, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tried, however it has powerful suction and simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote control or an app that runs on smartphones. Certain robot vacuums can be operated by voice commands via smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option if you have small children or pets who could interfere with your cleaning routine, or if you're too tired to control the robot by hand.
Most models also include an automatic mode that operates without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app, and it will start sucking up dirt, food particles, and pet hair. These robots can also be programmed to clean up on a regular basis which is great for those who wish to program it to forget about it.
Some of the higher-end models include a sophisticated feature which uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstructions in your home. These models can identify things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different types of flooring. This can help robots stay clear of hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and other flooring coverings that are robot mop difficult for robots navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection however they still manage to complete the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is a model that resembles a wifi router but offers the performance of a high-end bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris from hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile effortlessly. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles, as well as plastic, offers an efficient cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other mid-range robots but it can do everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming robots. It can create and map a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't have the same room scanning and obstacles-avoiding features like the j7 or s8.