The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair, and 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 more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to navigate your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials such as tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home to know where they've been and how to avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs, and bookshelves. 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 that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to detect and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to do a thorough job without having to constantly monitor the state of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines vacuuming and mopping, so it's a complete solution for keeping your home clean. It's got great suction and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a cheaper robot that vacuums, mop and is also an automated trashcan is a great option for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some limitations in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. For one, it has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have and it may not be as effective at picking up larger debris such as shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple, reliable robot for those who value simplicity and efficiency. It costs less than $200 and offers consistent, solid suction on both hardwood and low-pile carpets, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It's not the most advanced however it's a good choice. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on a schedule or set up zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect a robot vacuum's ability to navigate your home. Certain models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots like cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also has a stylish clean base that emptys the trash bin automatically so that you don't need to.
In our testing, we set up the robotic cleaner in a huge home and were amazed by how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places that stand-up vacuums are unable to can, like under beds and sofas. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a runtime of over two hours. It's not able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We saw it hitting objects on occasion during our tests, resulting in some vessels falling over.
It's important to note that despite how smart the robot vacuum might appear, it won't completely replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily stained carpets, it will not reach into every crevice, and it won't reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. It's a great addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, hair, pet dander and other hair.
The majority of robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can sense the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance and can also identify cluttered spaces and move around them. Nevertheless, if you're not cautious, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or shoe and need some help.
Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to design a floor plan of your house and locate themselves within it. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid wasting time going over the same areas. It also allows them to resume where they left off if they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that can automatically empty its bin after it is full is a wonderful convenience. Some models also have a window so you can see when the bin has to be emptied. This is a fantastic feature for those with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you select which model can be controlled with an app, a remote on your smartphone or voice commands. They also have a variety of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance suggestions. Using the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a regular time or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.
The most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested come with cameras and smart sensors, which enable them to create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's app, so you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even keep track of furniture placement and note transitions from hard floors to carpet.
The best roborock vacuum and mop smart vacuums can save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. Most of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so you can control them using voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers outstanding performance for a reasonable cost. It can clean both floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from low-pile and hardwood rugs. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed however, it does what does very well.
The model's tanks-like wheels allow it to roll over obstacles like tangled cords and high transitions in between rooms. It has a huge bin that does not need to be emptying manually and is able to recharge itself and restart cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tested however it has powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled by a physical remote or an app on your smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful if your robot needs to clean up and you have pets or small children who might interfere.
Many models have an automatic mode which works without input. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app, and it will start taking in food particles, and pet hair. They can be programmed to clean according to the schedule, which makes them ideal for people who want to set and forget.
Certain models that are more expensive come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstacles within your home. They can detect things like stairs, power cords and furniture, and can even distinguish between different types of floors. This helps them avoid these hazards which is particularly useful in homes with a lot of rugs and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Some robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they still do the job. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a WiFi hub, but boasts a lot of the performance of a top bot. It is extremely suction-driven and is able to remove dirt and debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs effortlessly. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to become stuck in stray shoes or cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic, rather than bristles in traditional form for an even more thorough cleaning.
This model is pricier than other mid-range models, however, it is able to do everything you need from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can create an cleaning schedule and design one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance as the j7 and s8.