The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Keeping your floors clean isn't always easy, but robot vacuums make it easier. The best robot vacuums are able to pick up tracked-in dirt and crumbs, pet hair, and more.
While they can't perform the same way as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they have improved a lot in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as low-pile area rugs and carpets. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home to 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 you don't wish it to be able to keep.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, use the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. This means that you can leave it to do a thorough cleaning without having to continually check the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, which means it's an all-in-one solution for keeping your home clean. It has a powerful suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.
A cheaper robot that vacuums, mop and can be used as a trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't require the more advanced features of more expensive models. There are some drawbacks in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. For instance, it uses one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective at cleaning up larger particles like socks and shoes. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy reliable robot for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction for hardwood as well as low-pile carpets, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It doesn't have any advanced features, however it does its job well. It is also compatible with voice commands. You can set it up to run a program, or create no-go zones using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between the robot's ability to navigate your home. Some models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots like cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot Roomba j7, one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empty the trash bin so that you don't need to.
In our testing, we set up the robotic cleaner in a home with a large size and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It's incredibly maneuverable and is able to reach places most standup vacs never reach, such as under beds and sofas. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a time of over two hours. It's not able to set up no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We saw it bumping into things on occasion during our tests, resulting in some vases falling over.
It's important to note that, no matter how intelligent the robot vacuum might appear, it won't completely replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily soiled carpets, it won't get into every crevice and it won't reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach areas. It can be an effective addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, pet dander, and hair.
Sensors are integrated into most robot vacuums to help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can tell the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for example and can also identify areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not vigilant the robo-cleaner may become stuck on a cord or shoe and need some help.
Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to design an outline of your house and locate themselves within it. They can then know what areas they have already cleaned and can save time by not having to clean the same areas. It also lets them continue where they left off if they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bin when it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models have windows that allow you to see when the dust bin is due to be empty. This feature is great for those with children or pets who can create lots of mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to select whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app on your smartphone, or by voice commands. They come with a variety of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. Using the right settings, you can set your robot to clean on a regular time, or on a weekly basis. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of the house.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that lets them 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 remember the furniture 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 houses and keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. The majority of them can be connected to your smart speaker so that you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that offers excellent performance for the price. It is able to clean floors and sweep pet hair and other debris from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does well.
The model's tanks-like wheels allow it to roll over obstacles such as cords that are tangled and high transitions within rooms. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't have to be empty manually, and it's read more also able to recharge and resume cleaning if it runs out of power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it is able to combine powerful suction and simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote or an app on a smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful when your robot has to be cleaned and you have pets or children who could be disruptive.
Many models also come with an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean according to an established schedule, making them perfect for those who simply need to make a plan and forget.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can recognize things like power cords, stairs, and furniture, and even identify different types of floors. This helps them avoid these hazards, which is especially useful in larger homes that have lots of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots have more basic ability to detect objects, but still manage to get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is similar to WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a premium robot. It has a powerful suction and can handle dirt and debris from medium-pile flooring and carpet. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to get stuck in stray shoes or cords, and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic instead of a traditional bristle brush for an even more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than the other models in the middle-end, but it does everything you'd expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can map and build a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it doesn't have the ability to scan rooms or avoid obstacles like the S8 or j7.