The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Keeping your floors clean isn't always simple but robot vacuums can help. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair, and more.
Although they're not the same way as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the past few years. They're more sophisticated, more powerful, and (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to navigate around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots map your home, so they can recall where they've been and avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can make use of your smartphone app to create no-go zones that tell your robot to stay out of rooms it doesn't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping abilities like the Roomba J7, utilize an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to perform the job without having to continuously monitor the condition of your floor plan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robotic that does mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a surveillance camera.
A less expensive bot that mops, vacuums and can even be used as a robot trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the more advanced features of higher-end models. However, it does have some disadvantages compared to the Roomba J7 and S8. It has only one brush, not dual roller brushes, so it might not be as efficient at picking up larger debris such as socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and offers consistent, solid suction on both hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not a lot of technology, but it works well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can run it on a schedule or set up no-go zones using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Some models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for children and pet mess. iRobot Roomba J7 is among the most impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also comes with a sleek clean base that emptys the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot reach, like under couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to set no-go zones within the app and its object detection is somewhat erratic which means that we saw it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase).
It is important to keep in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum is it won't replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily dirty carpets, it can't be able to reach every corner, and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. However, to keep your floors free of crumbs, pet hair, dander and other debris it's a good addition to your routine of cleaning.
Sensor systems are built into many robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They usually know when they're about to fall down a staircase for instance, and detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robo-cleaner may be stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that permit them to draw an precise floor plan of your home and pinpoint themselves. They can then identify which areas they have cleaned, and reduce time by not having to clean the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that can automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models also have a window so you can see the time when the bin must be emptied. This is an excellent feature for those with pets or children who tend to make more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled by a remote or an app check here for your phone, or via voice commands. They have a number of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling tips. With the correct settings, you can program your robot to clean at a set time or on a weekly basis. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of your house.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested are equipped 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 easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems will even remember furniture arrangement and the transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.
The best smart vacuums can help you save time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app on your tablet or phone. The majority of them can be connected to your smart speaker, so you can control them using voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other messes. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed but it does the job well.
The rubber-like wheels that this model has allow it to move right over the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled device cords that trip up other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't have to be empty manually and it can charge itself and continue cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it blends powerful suction with simple controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote control or an app on a smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are controlled by voice commands via smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or small children who could be disruptive.
Most models have an automatic mode which works without your input. The robot can be started by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who prefer to program it to forget about it.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can identify things such as power cords, stairs and furniture, and can even distinguish between different types of floors. This can help them avoid these hazards which is especially helpful in larger homes with lots of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Some robots come with less basic object detection capabilities but they are able to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean and easy-to-use appearance of a wifi hub but offers the capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It is extremely suction-driven and handles dirt and debris from hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile with ease. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to get caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic, rather than a traditional bristle brush for a more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other models that are in the middle of the range, but it does everything you'd expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can create the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. However, it doesn't have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 or S8.