The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.
And while they still can't do as good of a job as a regular vacuum, they've come a long way in recent years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as low-pile area rugs and carpets. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home to know where they've been, and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also use your smartphone app to create zones that prohibit your robot not to enter rooms you don't want it to clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, make use of an onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. You can then leave it to perform the job without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robotic device that combines mopping with vacuuming. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home clean. It has a great suction and 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 cheaper robot that mops, vacuums and can also be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the more advanced features of the more expensive models. However, it has some limitations in comparison to Roomba S8 and j7. For instance, it uses only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others, so it might not be as effective in cleaning up larger particles like shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so it is possible that you will need to eliminate the clutter prior to running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy-to-use, reliable robot for those who value simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200 and provides consistent, strong suction for hardwood as well as carpets that are low-pile and avoids tangles with rug threads. It doesn't have any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between the robot's ability to navigate around your home. Some models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for children and pet mess. The iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empty the dustbin so you don't have to.
During our tests, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large house and were awed by the speed and efficiency with which it was able to clean floors without becoming bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and can reach places most standup vacs never go, including under beds and sofas. It also has excellent suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour runtime. It's not able to create no-go zones and its object recognition isn't exactly reliable. We observed it bumping into things at times best self-emptying robot vacuum during our tests and resulted in vases falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum might be it will not replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other areas that are difficult to reach. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, and pet dander.
Sensors are integrated into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and also detect messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could be stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to create a floor plan of your home and locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've cleaned before and avoid wasting time going over the same spots. It also lets them resume where they left off in case they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is a wonderful convenience. Some models have an indicator that allows you to observe when the bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for people who have pets or children, who can create lots of mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is operated with an app, a remote from your phone, or through voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. You can program your robot to clean your house on a weekly or regular basis using the correct settings. 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 allows them to create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's app so you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture arrangement and record transitions from hard floors to carpet.
Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire houses automatically and keeping detailed records of the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access the records using an app for your smartphone or tablet. The majority of them can be connected to your smart speaker, so that you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides excellent performance at a low price. It can clean both floors and sweep pet hair and other debris from low-pile and hardwood rugs. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed but it does its job very well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to go over obstacles like cords that get caught up and high transitions between rooms. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't have to be empty manually, and it can recharge and continue cleaning when it's not able to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it blends powerful suction with straightforward controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled by a physical remote or an app on your phone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This can be helpful if you have small pets or children who might interfere with your cleaning, or if you're too exhausted to manage the robot manually.
Most models have an automatic mode that works without your input. You can start the robot by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them ideal for people who just need to make a plan and forget.
Some of the higher-end models have a feature which uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect the presence of obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things like stairs, power cords as well as furniture, and they can also identify different types of flooring. This can help to avoid the dangers 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 however they can still get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is a model that resembles a wifi router but offers the performance of a premium robot. It is extremely suction-driven and handles dirt and debris from hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile easily. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles, as well as plastic, gives an effective cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other mid-range robots but it can do everything you require from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can map out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones that you can stay clear of. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or s8.