The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always easy but robot vacuums can make it easier. The best robot vacuums are able to clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and more.
Although they're not the same way as a regular vacuum cleaner, they have come a long ways in the last few years. They're more intelligent and more powerful, as well as (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners navigate around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like laminate, wood and tile and low-pile carpets and area rugs. The most sophisticated robots map your home, so they can recall where they've been and avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go areas using your smartphone to alert your robot to stay clear of rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can let the robot to perform an efficient 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 mopping and vacuuming, which means it's a one-stop solution to keep your home clean. It has a great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.
A less expensive robot that mops, vacuums and can also be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the more advanced features of higher-end models. There are some drawbacks in comparison to the Roomba S8 and J7. For one, it has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other which means it won't be as effective in cleaning up larger particles such as shoes and socks. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so it could be necessary to get rid of clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200 and provides consistent, strong suction for hardwood as well as low-pile carpets and avoids tangles with rug threads. It doesn't come with any fancy features, but it does its job well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on a schedule or set up no-go zones using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Certain models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a sleek clean base that empties the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
In our testing the robotic cleaner up in a large home and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently it cleared floors without getting bogged down. It is extremely maneuverable and can get to places that stand-up vacuums are unable to go, including under beds and sofas. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a running time of more than two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to create no-go zones in the app and its object detection is a little hit-or-miss, meaning we saw it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).
It's important to note that despite how smart a robot vacuum might be it will not replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It won't be able to clean heavily soiled carpets. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-reach areas. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine for getting rid of hair, pet dander and other hair.
Most robot vacuums come with sensors that allow them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can tell the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for example, and can also recognize areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your house and locate themselves. They can then identify which areas they have cleaned, and reduce time by not having to clean the same spots. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its bin after it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models come with windows that allow you to see when the dust bin needs to empty. This feature is great for those with pets or children, who can create a lot more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled via a remote control, an app for your smartphone, or by voice commands. They offer a range of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. With the correct settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of your house.
Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. These maps can be saved to the robot's application so that you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even remember the furniture placement and transitions between hard floors and carpet.
The most effective smart vacuums will save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app for your tablet or smartphone. 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 delivers 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 quite as sophisticated as the other robots we've reviewed but it does the job well.
This model's tank-like wheels allow it to roll over obstacles such as cords that are tangled and high transitions between rooms. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to deliver an excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote control 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 run them using voice commands. This can be helpful when you have children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning or if you're exhausted to control the robot by hand.
The majority of models have an automatic mode that works without 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 also be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who prefer to program it to forget about it.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can recognize things like furniture, stairs power cords, even website different kinds of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes that have lots of rugs and other 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. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean elegant, easy-to-use design of a wifi hub but boasts a lot of the capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It has a strong suction and can handle dirt and debris on medium pile flooring and carpet. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to get tangled in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic rather than bristles in traditional form for a more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than the other models in the mid-range however, it can do everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can create and map a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't feature room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.