The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple, but robot vacuums help. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.
Although they're not like an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they've come a long ways in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners work their way through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like laminate, wood and tile, as well as low-pile carpets and area rugs. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home so they know where they've been and can avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones using your smartphone to alert your robot to avoid rooms you don't wish it to keep clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to avoid obstacles and see them. You can then leave it to complete the task without having to keep an eye on the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that includes vacuuming and mopping. It's a one-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It is self-emptying and can also function as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a cheaper robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as an automated trashcan is a great choice for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. For one, it has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other and it may not be as effective at picking up larger debris like socks and shoes. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, which means it is possible that you will need to eliminate obstructions before you run.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who prefer simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood as well as low-pile carpets, while avoiding knots. It doesn't have any advanced features, however it does its job well. It also works with voice commands. It can be set up on a schedule, or create no-go zones using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the robot's ability to navigate your home. Some models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots like cords, toys for kids and pet mess. The iRobot Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empty the dustbin so you don't need to.
In our testing the robotic cleaner up in a large house and were impressed by how quickly and efficiently it cleaned up floors without becoming bogged down. It is extremely maneuverable and can get to places that most stand-up vacs cannot reach, such as under beds and sofas. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a runtime of over two hours. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to create no-go zones in the app and its object detection is a bit hit-or-miss, meaning we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase).
It's important to remember that despite how smart the robot vacuum might appear but it can't replace your upright or canister 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. However, to keep your floors clean of crumbs, pet hair and other particles it could be a good addition to your cleaning routine.
Most robot vacuums come with sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can usually sense when they're about to fall down a staircase 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 other object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that permit them to make an accurate floor plan of your home and locate themselves. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned and avoid spending time cleaning the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off, in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A floor vacuum robot vacuum cleaner that automatically empty its dust bin when it is full is an incredible convenience. Some models also have a window that lets you see when the bin has to be emptied. This feature is ideal for those who have children or pets, who can create much more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you select which model can be operated with a remote, an app from your phone, or through voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance suggestions. You can program your robot to clean on a weekly or regular basis using the correct settings. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested come 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 can even remember furniture arrangement and record the transitions between hard floors and carpet.
Smart vacuums save time by mapping and cleaning entire houses automatically and keeping detailed records about the 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 via voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers excellent performance for the price. It is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as other robots that we've reviewed, but it does the job well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to go over obstacles such as cords that are tangled and high transitions between rooms. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be manually emptied, and can recharge itself and continue cleaning when it runs out power. It's more expensive compared to other robotic vacuums we've tested but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a remote control or an app that runs on smartphones. Some robot vacuums can be controlled by voice commands using smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or children who could be disruptive.
Many models also come with an automatic mode that operates without any input from you. The robot can be started by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them perfect for those who just need to set and forget.
Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan your home and detect obstacles. These models can identify things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different kinds of flooring. This helps them avoid these hazards, which is especially useful in larger homes that have lots of rugs and other flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Some robots come with less basic object detection capabilities however they still manage to accomplish the task. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a WiFi hub, but has the capabilities of a top-of-the-line robot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors with ease. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles, as well as plastic, provides a thorough cleaning.
This model is more expensive than the other models in the middle-end however, it can do everything you want from mop and vacuum robots. It can map and build a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning feature and obstacles-avoiding features like the j7 or s8.