The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair and more.
While they're still unable to do the same job as a regular vacuum, they've come a long way in recent years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Using navigation tools like lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners work their way around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their bins from hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and also area rugs and carpets with low pile. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home so they know where they've been and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as sofas, chairs and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to tell your robot to stay clear of rooms you don't wish it to keep clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to avoid obstacles and see them. It can then be left to perform the job without having to constantly monitor the condition of your floor plan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which combines mopping with vacuuming. It's the perfect solution to keep your home spotless. It has a great suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a surveillance camera.
A less expensive bot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of the more expensive models. However, it has some disadvantages compared to the Roomba J7 and S8. It's got one brush instead of dual roller brushes, so it isn't as effective in removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It also doesn't have any AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may 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 efficiency. It's less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It's not very advanced however, it's effective. It is also compatible with voice commands. You can set it up on a schedule, or create zones that are not allowed to be used using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Some of the models we've reviewed contain sensors (or even cameras) that help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, kids' toys and pet spills. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
During our tests the robotic cleaner up in a huge home and were amazed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleaned up floors without getting sluggish. It is extremely maneuverable and is able to reach places most standup vacs never reach, such as couches and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a running time of more than two hours. It's not able to set up no-go zones and its recognition of objects is a bit iffy. We saw it crashing into objects at times during our tests which resulted in vase caps falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that despite how smart a robot vacuum might be it will not replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It can't reach the ceiling or other areas that are difficult to reach. It's a great addition to your routine cleaning to remove hair, pet dander and other hair.
Sensor systems are built into most robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can 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 careful your robot cleaner could become stuck on a shoe, cord, or other object.
Some of the more advanced robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to design an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've already cleaned and avoid spending time cleaning the same areas. It also lets them resume where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its bins of dust once it's full is a great benefit. Some models come with an indicator that allows you to observe when the bin has to be empty. This feature is great for those who have children or pets, who can create 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 smartphone, or by voice commands. They come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. You can program your robot to clean your house on a weekly or regular basis using the correct settings. You can also program the robot to mark out and clean specific areas of your home.
The most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with sensors and cameras, which allow them to build maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's application so that you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture placement and transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire homes and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app for your phone or tablet. Many can also connect to your smart speaker so you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robotic that delivers great performance at a reasonable price. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as sophisticated as other robots that we've reviewed but it does the job well.
The tank-like wheels on this model allow it to move right over the high gaps between rooms and obstacles like tangled cords from devices that can cause problems for other robots. It has a large bin that does not need to be empty manually and is able to recharge itself and continue cleaning when it runs out power. It's a bit more costly than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested however it combines powerful suction with straightforward controls to deliver a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This is useful if your robot needs to clean up and you have pets or children that could interfere.
The majority of models come with an automatic mode that works without input. The robot can be started by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean up on a regular basis which is great for those who prefer to make it easy to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models have a feature that uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstacles within your home. These models can identify things like furniture, stairs power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This helps robots avoid hazards. This is particularly useful in large homes that have lots of carpeting and flooring that are difficult top rated robot vacuum for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but still manage to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is a model that resembles an internet router, but has the performance of a premium robot. It is extremely suction-driven and can handle dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors with ease. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles, as well as plastic, gives an effective cleaning.
This model is pricier than other mid-range robots however, it is able to do everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can map and create a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it doesn't have the ability to scan rooms or avoid obstacles like the S8 or j7.