The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always easy but robot vacuums can help. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.
Although they're not the same way as a regular vacuum cleaner, they've come a long ways in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.
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 hard floors such as tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home to know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to tell your robot to stay clear of areas you don't want it to clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to detect and avoid obstacles. This means you can let it to do an effective cleaning without having to continually monitor the state of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines vacuuming and mopping, so it's a complete solution to keep your home tidy. It has a fantastic suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a security camera.
A less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can also be used as a trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't need the advanced features of more expensive models. However, it has a few disadvantages when compared to Roomba S8 and j7. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it might not be as effective at removing larger objects like shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so it is possible that you will need to eliminate clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction both on hardwood and low-pile carpets, while avoiding knots. It doesn't include any fancy features, but it does its job well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up zones that aren't allowed to be entered via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can impact the ability of a robot vacuum navigate your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for kids and pet mess. IRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of technology in action. It also comes with a sleek clean base that fills the dustbin automatically so you don't need to.
We tested the robotic cleaner in a huge home and were awed by how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot reach, like under couches and under beds. It has a 500ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. It isn't able to create no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We noticed it crashing into objects on occasion during our tests and resulted in vase caps falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum might be but it can't replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. It's a great addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, pet dander and other 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. Nevertheless, if you're not cautious your robot-cleaner could be stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require help.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. This allows them to know which areas they've cleaned before and avoid spending time cleaning the same areas. It also lets them resume where they left off in case they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it gets full is an incredible convenience. Some models also have a window that lets you see when more info the bin needs to be emptied. This feature is great for those with pets or children, who are likely to create a lot 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 phone, or via voice commands. They also have a variety of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. You can program your robot to clean your house 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 come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps within the robot's app to quickly navigate through your home. Some of these systems will even keep track of the furniture's arrangement and the transitions between hard floors and carpet.
The most effective smart vacuums will help you save time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app on your smartphone or tablet. Most of them can be linked to your smart speaker so that you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It is able to clean 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 very well.
This model's tank-like wheels allow it to go over obstacles such as cords that are tangled and high transitions in between rooms. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of power. It's a bit more costly than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it blends powerful suction with straightforward controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled via a remote control or an app that runs on smartphones. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful if you have small pets or children who might get in the way of your cleaning session, or if you're too tired to manage the robot manually.
Many models also come with 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 be programmed to clean according to a schedule, making them perfect for those who need to set and forget.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to scan your home and detect obstacles. These models can recognize things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different types of flooring. This can help robots avoid hazards. This is particularly useful in large homes that have lots of carpeting and flooring which are difficult for robots navigate.
Other robots are less sophisticated in their object detection abilities however they can are still able to do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance, has the appearance of WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a premium robot. It has a strong suction and can handle dirt and debris from medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to be caught in stray shoes and cords, and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic instead of a traditional bristle brush for an even more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other robots in the mid-range, but it does everything you'd expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can create the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacle-avoiding capabilities like the j7 or the s8.