The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Keeping your floors clean isn't always easy, but robot vacuums help. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.
And while they still can't do the same job as a traditional vacuum cleaner, they've come a long way over the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners move around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and also carpets and area rugs with low pile. 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 make use of your smartphone app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot not to enter rooms you don't want it to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to see and avoid obstacles. Then, you can allow it to perform the job without having to keep an eye on the state of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which includes vacuuming and mopping. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It is self-emptying and can also be used as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a robotic trashcan is a great option for homes without the need for more advanced features. It does have some disadvantages when compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other and it may not be as effective in cleaning up larger particles like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance, so you may need to get rid of any clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and competence. It's less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction both on hardwood and low-pile carpets, while avoiding knots. It's not the most advanced, but it works well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on schedule or even set up zones that aren't allowed to be entered via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect a robot vacuum's ability to navigate your home. Certain models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for kids and pet messes. iRobot Roomba J7 is among the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empty the garbage bin, so you don't need to.
During our tests, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large house and were impressed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleared floors without getting bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places that most stand-up vacs cannot go, including under beds and sofas. It has a 500ml dustbin, excellent suction and a runtime of over two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to set zones that are not allowed to be used and its object detection is somewhat erratic and we did see it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in a few tipped vase tops).
It's important to keep it 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's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It can't reach the ceiling or other areas that are difficult to reach. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, hair, pet dander and other hair.
Most robot vacuums come with sensor systems that help them navigate through obstacles and steps. They usually know when they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could be stuck on a shoe, cord or any other object.
Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an precise floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid spending time cleaning the same spots. It also allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empties its bin of dust when it is full is a huge convenience. Some models come with windows that allow you to observe when the bin needs to empty. This is an excellent feature for anyone who has pets or children who create more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you select which model can be operated with an app, a remote from your phone, or through voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling. If you set the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean on a regular time, or on an annual basis. You can also program the robot to mark out and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras and sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps within the robot's app to quickly navigate around your home. Some of these systems even keep track of furniture placement and note the transitions between hard floors and carpet.
Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire homes in a timely manner and keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app on your smartphone or tablet. Many of them can be connected to your smart speaker so that you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that delivers excellent performance for the price. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed, however, it does what it does very well.
The rubber-like wheels on this model permit it to glide right over the gaps between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords that can cause problems for other robots. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't require to be emptied manually, and it's able to recharge and resume cleaning when it runs out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled using a remote or an app on your smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is helpful if your robot needs to clean and you have pets or children who might interfere.
Most models also include an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. The robots can also be programmed to clean up on a regular basis, which is ideal for those who want 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 detect things like furniture, stairs power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers which is especially helpful in homes with a lot of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more best robot cleaner basic in their ability to detect objects however they still manage to accomplish the task. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek and easy-to-use appearance of a WiFi hub but offers the performance of a top robot. It has a strong suction and can handle dirt and debris on medium-pile flooring and carpet. 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, offers an efficient cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other mid-range models, but it does everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can create and map a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 and s8.