The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair, and more.
While they can't perform as well as a regular vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize tools for navigation, such as sensors and lasers to navigate through your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets and area rugs with low piles. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home so they know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles such as sofas, chairs and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas using your smartphone to alert your robot to avoid rooms that you don't want to keep clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can let it to do an efficient cleaning without having to continually check the status of your floorplan or manually move obstacles out of the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's a complete solution for keeping your home clean. It's got great suction, and it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.
A less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can even be used as a robot trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a excellent choice for homes that don't need the more advanced features of the more expensive models. However, it has some limitations in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It's got one brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it isn't 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's ideal for those who value simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200, and provides consistent, strong suction on both hardwood and carpets that are low-pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It doesn't come with any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on a schedule or set up zones that aren't allowed to be entered through the app.
Object Detection
The use of object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Certain models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet messes. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most amazing examples of smart technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empty the garbage bin, so you don't need to.
In our testing, we set up this robot cleaner in a home with a large size and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places most standup vacs never go, including under beds and sofas. It also has a great suction, a massive 500 ml dustbin and an over two-hour running time. It isn't able to create no-go zones, and its recognition of objects is a bit iffy. We saw it bumping into things at times during our tests which resulted in vases falling over.
It's important to remember that despite how smart a robot vacuum might be, it won't completely replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It won't be able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-reach areas. But for keeping your floors clean of crumbs, pet hair, dander and other debris it's an ideal addition to your routine of cleaning.
The majority of robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can usually sense the moment they're likely to fall down a staircase for instance, and also detect areas of clutter and maneuver around them. Nevertheless, if you're not careful, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or stray shoe and need some help.
Some smarter robot vacuums have the ability to map, which allows them to create an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. They can then identify which areas they have already cleaned and save time by not having to go over the same areas. This allows them to continue the same place they left off in the event that 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 a wonderful convenience. Some models even have windows so you can see when the bin has to be empty. This is a great option for anyone with pets or children who make more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app on your smartphone, or by voice commands. They offer a range of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. You can program your robot to clean your house on every week or on a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of the house.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot's app and use them to navigate around your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture arrangement and record transitions from hard floors to carpet.
Smart vacuums help you save time by mapping and cleaning entire homes in a timely manner and keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app that you can install on your tablet or phone. Most can also connect to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that provides good performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other messes. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does very well.
The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to glide across the high transitions between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords which can cause a problem for other robots. It has a large bin that does not need to be emptying manually and is able to recharge itself and restart cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's more expensive compared to other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical remote or an app on your phone. Some also connect to smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful for families with click here small pets or children who might get in the way of your cleaning or if you're tired to operate the robot manually.
Many models have an automatic mode that operates without your input. The robot can be started by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean according to a schedule, making them ideal for people who just want to make a plan and forget.
Certain models that are more expensive include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to detect and scan the presence of obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things like furniture, stairs, power cords and even different types of flooring. This can help robots avoid hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects however they still manage to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a wifi hub but offers the performance of a top-notch bot. It is extremely suction-driven and is able to remove dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors effortlessly. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to get tangled in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic, rather than bristles in traditional form for an even more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end however, it can do everything you want from a robot vacuum and mop. It can draw out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. It doesn't have the same room-scanning and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or the s8.