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.
Although they're not as well as the regular 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 tools for navigation, such as lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home, so they know where they've been, and can avoid hitting obstacles such as chairs, sofas and bookshelves. You can also use the smartphone app to set up 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, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to avoid obstacles and see them. This means you can leave the robot to perform an effective cleaning without having to continuously monitor the state of your floorplan, or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robotic device that combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home clean. It has a powerful suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a useful self-emptying feature, and can be used as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and is also an automated trashcan is a great choice for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages compared to the Roomba J7 and S8. For one, it has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others, so it might not be as effective at picking up larger debris like shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you might need to get rid of the clutter prior to running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200 and provides consistent, strong suction for hardwood as well as carpets that are low-pile, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It's not a lot of technology 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 zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum navigate your home. Some models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the most impressive examples of this type of smart technology in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empty the garbage bin, so you don't need to.
During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a large home and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach areas that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to be, such as under couches and under beds. It also has a great suction, a massive 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour running time. It lacks the option to set up no-go zones, and its object recognition isn't exactly reliable. We saw it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion and resulted in vessels falling over.
It's important to keep it in mind that no matter how smart a robot vacuum may be it isn't going to substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily stained carpets, it will not reach into every crevice, and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach spaces. But for keeping your floors clear of pet hair, crumbs and other dander it could be a good addition to your routine of cleaning.
Sensor systems are integrated into the majority of robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They usually know the moment when they're going to fall down the stairs for instance, and they detect areas that are cluttered and maneuver around them. If you're not careful, your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that permit them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. This lets them resume the same place they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its dust bin when it's full is a great benefit. Certain models come with windows that allow you to know when the bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for people who have children or pets who are likely to create much more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to select whether the machine is controlled via a remote control, an app on your smartphone, or by voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. Using the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a set time or on a weekly basis. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of the house.
The most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with sensors and cameras which allow them to create maps for your home. You can save these maps to the robot app to easily navigate around your home. Some of these systems even keep track of the furniture's layout and transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.
The best smart vacuums can save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire homes and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. Many can also connect 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 delivers excellent performance for the price. It can clean both floors and sweep pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed but it does what it does well.
The tank-like wheels that this model has allow it to glide right over the high transitions between rooms as well as obstacles such as tangled cords for devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be empty manually and it can charge itself and continue cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tried but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app on your smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is a great option if your robot needs to be cleaned and you have pets or small children who could be disruptive.
Most models have an automatic mode which works without input. You can start the robot by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean according to the schedule, which makes them perfect for those who just need to set and forget.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can detect things like furniture, stairs power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This can help them avoid such hazards which is particularly useful in larger homes that have lots of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection but they are able to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a premium bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs easily. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to get stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles, as well as plastic, provides a thorough cleaning.
This model is more expensive than the other models in the mid-range however, it can do everything you'd expect from a robot mop robotic cleaner and mop and vacuum. It can draw out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones that you can stay clear of. However, it does not have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.