The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best robot vacuums can clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and much more.
While they can't perform as well as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they have come a long ways in the last few years. They're smarter and powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners employ navigation tools like lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from floors made of hard materials such as tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets with a low pile. The most sophisticated robots can map your home so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to tell your robot to avoid areas you don't want it to be able to keep.
Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to avoid obstacles and see them. It can then be left to do a thorough job without having to continuously monitor the state of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robotic that does mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home clean. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a security camera.
A cheaper robot that mops, vacuums and can even be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a excellent choice for homes that don't require the advanced features of more expensive models. There are some drawbacks in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, so it might not be as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and competence. It's priced at less than $200, and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles. It doesn't come with any fancy features, but it does the job well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so 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 to navigate your home. Certain models in 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 one of the most impressive examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically empties the garbage bin, so you don't have to.
During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a home with a large size and were amazed by how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It has impressive maneuverability and is able to reach places most standup vacs never reach, such as under beds and sofas. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. It isn't able to create no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We noticed it hitting objects on occasion during our tests and resulted in vases falling over.
It's important to remember that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum might be, it won't completely replace your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily soiled carpets, it won't reach into every crevice, and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine to remove hair, and pet dander.
Sensor vacuum mop robot systems are built into many robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They are able to tell the moment when they're going to fall down the stairs, for instance, and they also detect areas of clutter 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 are equipped with mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw an precise floor plan of your house and locate themselves. They will then be able to identify the areas they have already cleaned and reduce time by not having to clean the same areas. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it's full is a huge benefit. Some models come with a window that allows you to observe when the bin is due to be empty. This is a fantastic feature for anyone who has pets or children who tend to make more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you choose which model can be operated with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. Using the right settings, you can set your robot to clean at a regular time or on an annual basis. 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 are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. You can save these maps within the robot's app and use them to 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 effective smart vacuums will save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app for your tablet or phone. Most of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so that you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that provides high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does well.
This model's tank-like wheels allow it to roll over obstacles like cords that get caught up and high transitions between rooms. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't require to be emptied manually, and it's also able to recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of power. It's a bit more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it blends powerful suction with simple controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This is helpful for robots that need to clean and you have pets or children who could be disruptive.
Many models have an automatic mode that works without input. You can start the robot by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean regularly, which is ideal for those who wish to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models come with 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 types of flooring. This can help to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes with lots of rugs and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects however they still manage to accomplish the task. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a wifi hub but has the capabilities of a top-of-the-line robot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs easily. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles, as well as plastic, provides an efficient cleaning.
It's more expensive than other mid-range models, but it does everything you require from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can create and map a cleaning schedule, has 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.