The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best robot vacuums are able to pick up tracked-in dirt and crumbs, pet hair, and much more.
While they can't perform as well as the regular vacuum cleaner, they've improved a lot in the last few years. They're more sophisticated, more powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigation tools such as lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners move through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their bins from hard floors such as laminate, wood, and tile and also low-pile carpets and area rugs. The most advanced robots map your home, so they can keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may want to keep out of your way. You can also use the smartphone app to create zones that prohibit your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to avoid obstacles and see them. This means you can let the robot to perform an effective cleaning without having to continually be checking the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home spotless. It's got great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature, and can be used as a security camera.
A less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the advanced features of more expensive models. It does have some disadvantages when compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it may not be as effective in removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of obstructions before you run.
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 for hardwood as well as low-pile carpets and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It doesn't have any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or even set up zones that are not allowed to enter using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technologies can impact the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots like cords, toys for children and pet messes. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish clean base that emptys the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
In our testing the robot, we set the cleaner up in a huge house and were awed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleaned up floors without getting bogged down. It's very mobile and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to be, such as under beds and couches. It also has a great suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two hours of runtime. It isn't able to create no-go zones, and its recognition of objects isn't exactly reliable. We saw it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion, resulting in some vases falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that no matter how smart the robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets that have been heavily soiled. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-reach areas. However, if you want to keep your floors free of crumbs, pet hair and other particles, it can be an ideal addition to your cleaning routine.
Sensors are integrated into many robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for example and also detect messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to make an accurate floor plan of your home and locate themselves. They can then know what areas they have already cleaned and can save time by not having to clean the same spots. It also lets them continue where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bin when it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models even have a window so you can see when the bin has to be empty. This is a great option for anyone with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine can be controlled with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They also have a variety of digital features, such as maintenance and scheduling suggestions. You can program your robot to clean on a weekly or regularly, using the right settings. You can also floor vacuum robot program it to mark and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot's app and use them to navigate through your home. Some of these systems can even keep track of furniture arrangement and record the transitions between hard floors and carpet.
Smart vacuums help you save time by cleaning entire homes by themselves and also keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app for your tablet or phone. The majority of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so that you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robotic that delivers outstanding performance for a reasonable cost. It is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not quite as sophisticated as other robots that we've reviewed but it does the job well.
The model's tanks-like wheels allow it to glide over obstacles like tangled cords and high transitions between rooms. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be manually emptied, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Some robot vacuums can be controlled via voice commands through smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful for families with small children or pets who could interfere with your cleaning session, or if you're too tired to operate the robot manually.
Most models have an automatic mode that operates without your input. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin sucking up food, dirt, hair, and crumbs. These robots can also be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who want to set it and forget it.
Some of the higher-end models have a feature which uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect the presence of obstacles within your home. They can detect things like power cords, stairs and furniture, and can even discern between different kinds of floors. This can help robots stay clear of hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and flooring that are difficult for robots navigate.
Other robots have more basic abilities for object detection but they are able to complete the task. 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 bot. It has a powerful suction that can take care of dirt and debris from medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to get stuck in stray shoes or cords, and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide a more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other models in the mid-range, but it does everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can map and create a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't have the same room-scanning and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or s8.