The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best robot vacuums can clean up dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and much more.
Although they're not as well as a regular vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful, and (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners employ tools for navigation, such as lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials like tile, wood and laminate, as well as low-pile area rugs and carpets. Robots that are the most advanced map your home, so they know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles such as chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to instruct your robot to avoid areas you don't want it to keep clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, use processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to perform the job without having to continuously monitor the status of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that combines mopping with vacuuming. It's the perfect solution to keep your home tidy. It has great suction, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and functions as a robotic trashcan, is a good option for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages compared to the Roomba j7 and S8. For instance, it uses a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others, so it might not be as effective in collecting larger objects such as shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may need to clear the clutter prior to running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles. It doesn't have any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or even set up zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.
Object Detection
The use of object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate through 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 among the best examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically emptys the trash bin so that you don't need to.
During testing we set up this robot cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It is extremely maneuverable and can get to places that most stand-up vacs cannot reach, such as under sofas and under beds. It also has a great suction, a huge 500 ml dustbin and an over two-hour running time. It's not able to create no-go zones and its recognition of objects is a bit iffy. We noticed it bumping into things in our tests on occasion and resulted in vase caps falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum might be it will not replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-access areas. But for keeping your floors clear of crumbs, pet hair and other particles, it can be an ideal addition to your cleaning routine.
Sensor systems are integrated into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and can also identify messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your house and also locate themselves. They can then know what areas they have already cleaned, and reduce time by not having to go over the same spots. It also lets them continue where they left off in case they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that will automatically emptys its bin when it is full is a wonderful convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to see when the dust bin has to be empty. This is a great feature for anyone who has pets or children who create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled by a remote control, an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They offer a range of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling tips. You can program your robot to clean 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 smartest robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and 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 even keep track of the furniture's placement and transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.
The most effective smart vacuums will save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire homes and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app on your phone or tablet. Most can also connect to your smart speaker, so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robotic that delivers excellent performance at a low price. It can clean both floors and sweep pet hair and other debris from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does very efficiently.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to glide over obstacles like tangled cords and high transitions in between rooms. It has a large bin that doesn't have to be manually emptied and it can charge itself and resume cleaning if it runs out power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to deliver an excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a physical vacuum mop robot remote or an app on your smartphone. Some robot vacuums can be operated by voice commands through smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option for families with small pets or children who might hinder your cleaning session or if you're exhausted to manage the robot manually.
Many models also come with an automatic mode that operates without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app, and it will start sucking up food, dirt, particles, and pet hair. The robots can also be programmed to clean up on a regular basis, which is ideal for those who wish to program it to forget about it.
Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can detect things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different kinds of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers, which is especially useful in larger homes with lots of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Some robots come with less basic abilities for object detection however they still manage to complete the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is a model that resembles WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs 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 bristles in traditional form for better cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end, but it does everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create an cleaning schedule and design one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. It doesn't have the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance as the j7 and the s8.