The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best robot vacuums can remove dirt, pet hair, crumbs and much more.
Although they're not the same way as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they have improved a lot in the past few years. They're more sophisticated and powerful, and (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigation tools such as lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners move around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like laminate, wood and tile and low-pile carpets and area rugs. The most advanced robots can map your home to help them recall where they've been and avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves that you might want to keep out of your way. You can also use your smartphone's app to set up zones that prohibit your robot not to enter rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to avoid obstacles and see them. You can then leave it to complete the task without having to continuously monitor the condition of your floor plan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's an all-in-one solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature and can be used as security cameras.
Roborock Q Revo, a less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can be used as a trashcan that is robotic is a great option for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba j7 and S8. It has only one brush, not dual roller brushes, so it might not be as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and efficiency. It costs less than $200 and offers consistent, solid suction on both hardwood and carpets that are low-pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It doesn't have any advanced features, however it does its job well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or create no-go zones through the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technologies can impact the ability of a robot vacuum navigate around your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet spills. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically empty the dustbin so you don't have to.
In our testing, we set up this robot cleaner in a home with a large size and were amazed by how quickly and thoroughly floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It is extremely maneuverable and can get to places that stand-up vacuums are unable to go, including under sofas and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a time of over two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to create no-go zones within the app and its object detection is a bit hit-or-miss and we did see it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).
It's important to remember that no matter how clever the robot vacuum might appear, it won't completely replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily stained carpets, it will not reach into every crevice, and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine for getting rid of hair, and pet dander.
Sensor systems are built into most robot vacuums to help them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They are able to tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and also detect cluttered spaces and move around them. If you're not careful, your robot-cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to design a floor plan website of your home and locate themselves within it. This lets them know what areas they've already cleaned and avoid wasting time going over the same spots. This allows them to resume the same place they left off in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it's full is an incredible convenience. Some models also have a window that lets you see the time when the bin must be empty. This is a great option for anyone with pets or children who create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose which model can be controlled by the use of a remote, an app from your phone, or through voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, such as maintenance and scheduling. With the correct settings, you can set 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 the house.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's application so that you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture layout and transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your tablet or phone. The majority of them can be linked 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 provides excellent performance for the price. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does efficiently.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to go over obstacles such as cords that are tangled and high transitions within rooms. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied manually, and it's able to recharge and resume cleaning if it's not able to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tested but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to give you a good value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums can be controlled using a remote or an app on your phone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This can be helpful if you have small pets or children who might interfere with your cleaning routine, or if you're too exhausted to manage the robot manually.
Many models have an automatic mode that works without your input. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app, and it will start sucking up food, dirt, hair, and crumbs. They can be programmed to clean on a regular schedule which is great for those who prefer to program it to forget about it.
Some of the higher-end models include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different types of flooring. This helps them avoid such hazards which is particularly useful in larger homes that have lots of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their object detection capabilities, but still manage 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 has the performance of a top robot. It has excellent suction and can handle dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors effortlessly. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles, as well as plastic, offers a thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than the other models in the mid-range, but it does everything you want from a robot mop and vacuum. It can map and create a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't have the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance as the j7 and s8.