The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The most effective robot vacuums clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and more.
And while they still can't do as good of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner, they've come a long way over the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners navigate through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home, so they know where they've been and how to avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves. You can also use the smartphone app to set up zones that prohibit your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping abilities like the Roomba J7, use onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. Then, you can allow it to do a thorough job without having to keep an eye on the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, which means it's an all-in-one solution for keeping your home tidy. It has great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature that can be used as a security camera.
A less expensive bot that mops, vacuums and can also be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a excellent choice for homes that don't require the more sophisticated features of the more expensive models. However, it does have some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba j7 and S8. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it may not be as effective in removing larger objects like socks and shoes. Also, it doesn't include AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may need to get rid of any clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who value simplicity and competence. It's priced at less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood as well as low-pile rug while avoiding knots. It's not very advanced, but it works well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on a schedule or set up zones that aren't allowed to be entered using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technologies can affect the ability of a robot vacuum navigate your home. Certain models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of intelligent technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also comes with a sleek clean base that fills the trash bin automatically so that you don't have to.
We tested this robot cleaner in a large home and were impressed with how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It has impressive maneuverability and can reach 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 runtime of over two hours. However, it lacks the ability to create no-go zones in the app and its object detection is a bit hit-or-miss which means that we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vases).
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's not able to deal with heavy dirty carpets, it can't reach into every crevice, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. It's a great addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, hair, and pet dander.
Most robot vacuums come with sensors that allow them to navigate through obstacles and steps. They can usually sense when they're about to fall down stairs, for instance, and they can also detect areas of clutter and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe or another object.
Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to design a floor plan of your home and then locate themselves within it. They will then be able to identify the areas they've already cleaned and reduce time by not having to clean the same areas. It also lets them resume the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its bins of dust once it is full is a great convenience. Some models come with an indicator that allows you to see when the dust bin has to be empty. This is a great feature for people who have children or pets who can create a lot more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you choose which model can be controlled with the use of a remote, an app on read more your phone or via voice commands. They also have a variety of digital features, such as maintenance and scheduling. With the correct settings, you can schedule your robot to clean on a regular time or on a weekly basis. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of your house.
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 to quickly navigate around your home. Some of these systems can even keep track of furniture arrangement and record transitions from hard floors to carpet.
The most effective smart vacuums will save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app for your tablet or smartphone. They can also be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that delivers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other robots we've reviewed but it does what it does well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to glide over obstacles like cords that are tangled and high transitions in between rooms. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied manually, and it's able to recharge and resume cleaning when it's not able to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested however it combines powerful suction with simple controls to give you a good value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app for a smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful when you have children or pets who could hinder your cleaning routine or if you're tired to control the robot by hand.
The majority of models have an automatic mode that functions without input from you. The robot can be started by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them perfect for those who simply want to set and forget.
Some of the more expensive models include a sophisticated feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect the presence of obstacles in your home. These models can identify things like stairs, power cords, and furniture, and can even discern between different kinds of floors. This can help them avoid such hazards, which is especially useful in larger homes with lots of rugs and other floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects however they can still get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek and easy-to-use appearance of a wifi hub but offers the performance of a top-notch robot. It is extremely suction-driven and can handle dirt and debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs with ease. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to get caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide a more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other models that are in the middle of the range but it has everything you want from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance as the j7 or s8.