The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always easy however, robot vacuums help. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair, and more.
Although they're unable to do as good of a job as the regular vacuum however, they've come a long way in recent years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners move around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and area rugs and carpets with low pile. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home, so they know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles like couches, chairs and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to tell your robot to stay clear of rooms you don't wish it to keep clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligent to see and avoid obstructions. This means you can leave it to do a thorough cleaning without having to continually be checking the status of your floorplan, or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a one-stop solution to keep your home spotless. It has great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also function as a surveillance camera.
A less expensive bot that vacuums, mops and can even be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of more expensive models. There are some drawbacks when compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it might not be as effective in removing larger debris such as shoes and socks. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may need to clear the clutter prior to running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and competence. It costs less than $200 and offers strong, consistent suction on both hardwood and carpets with low pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It's not the most advanced however it's a good choice. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or even 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 around your home. Certain models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet mess. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empties the trash bin so that you don't have to.
In our testing, we set up this robot cleaner in a home with a large size and were impressed with how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It's very mobile and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to reach, like under beds and couches. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a time of over two hours. It isn't able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We saw it bumping into things in our tests on occasion and resulted in vase caps falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that, regardless of how smart a robot vacuum may be it isn't going to substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily stained carpets, it will not be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, hair, and pet dander.
Most robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They usually know the moment they're likely to fall down stairs, for instance, and they can also detect areas of clutter and move around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw an accurate floor plan of your house and pinpoint themselves. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid the hassle of going 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 empty its bin after it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models even have a window that lets you see when the bin has to be empty. This is a fantastic option for anyone with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app for your phone, or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. If you set the right settings, you can program your robot to clean on a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of your house.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. They can be saved to the robot's app so you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even remember read more furniture layout and transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.
Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire homes by themselves and also keeping detailed records about the previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app on your smartphone or tablet. Many can also connect to your smart speaker, so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers great performance at a reasonable cost. It can clean both floors and sweep pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other robots we've reviewed however, it does what does efficiently.
The wheels that resemble a tank on this model permit it to glide right over the high transitions between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that trip up other robots. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning when it's power-depleted. It's a bit more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we've tested, but it blends powerful suction with simple controls to provide a fantastic value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical 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 helpful for robots that need to clean up and you have pets or small children that could interfere.
Many models also come with an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean according to an established schedule, making them ideal for people who just want to set and forget.
Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan your home and detect obstacles. They can detect things such as power cords, stairs, and furniture, and can even discern between different kinds of floors. This can help them avoid such hazards which is particularly useful in homes with a lot of rugs and other floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Some robots are more basic in their object detection abilities however they can still get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example, has the appearance of WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a high-end bot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs easily. 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 instead of the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.
This model is pricier than other mid-range models, but it can do everything you need from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and build a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It does not have the same room-scanning and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or s8.