The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple however, robot vacuums help. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair, and more.
And while they still can't do as good of a job as a regular vacuum, they've come a long way in recent years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Using navigation tools like lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners navigate through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. The most advanced robots map your home, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may want to keep out of the way. You can make use of your smartphone app to create no-go zones, which tell your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, utilize an onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. This means that you can leave the robot to perform a thorough cleaning without having to constantly be checking the status of your floorplan, or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robotic device that combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a one-stop solution to keep your home clean. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a surveillance camera.
A cheaper robot that vacuums, mop and can also be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the more sophisticated features of more expensive models. However, it does have some disadvantages compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others, so it might not be as effective in picking up larger debris like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may need to clear away clutter before running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200 and offers strong, consistent suction on both hardwood and carpets that are low-pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It's not very advanced however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands. It can be set to run on a schedule or create zones of no-go zones with the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Certain models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, kids' toys and pet messes. The iRobot Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of smart technology in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically emptys the garbage bin, so you don't have to.
During testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a big house and were impressed by how quickly and thoroughly it was able to clean floors without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot reach, like under beds and couches. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a running time of more than two hours. It isn't able to set up no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We observed it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion and resulted in vases falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that, regardless of how smart a robot vacuum may be, it will not replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-reach areas. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, pet dander and other hair.
Sensor systems are integrated into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can usually sense the moment they're likely to fall down stairs, for instance, and they also recognize cluttered areas and maneuver around them. If you're not careful, your robot-cleaner could be stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.
Some of the more advanced robot vacuums have the ability to map, which allows them to design a floor plan of your home and locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've cleaned before and avoid wasting time going over the same areas. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it's full is a great 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 tend to make more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled by an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They come with a variety of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. You can program your robot to clean on every week or on a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. They can be saved to the robot's app so you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even remember the furniture placement and transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
Smart vacuums save time by mapping and cleaning entire homes in a timely manner and keeping detailed records about the previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app for your tablet or phone. Many can also connect to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an inexpensive, self-emptying robot vacuum that provides excellent performance for the price. It is able to clean floors and sweep pet hair and other debris from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as sophisticated as other robots that we've reviewed, but it does the job well.
The rubber-like wheels that this model has allow it to move right over the transitions between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords 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 continue cleaning when it's power-depleted. 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 provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This can be helpful when you have pets or children who might hinder your cleaning session or if you're tired to control the robot by hand.
Most models also include an automatic mode that works without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app, and it will start taking in food crumbs, and pet hair. These robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them ideal for those who want get more info to set and forget.
Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can recognize things like stairs, furniture power cords, even different types of flooring. This can help robots stay clear of dangers. This is especially useful in large homes with lots rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their object detection abilities, but they still get the job done. 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 robot. It is extremely suction-driven and is able to remove dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors easily. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to become stuck in stray shoes or cords, and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic rather than bristles in traditional form for an even more thorough cleaning.
It's more expensive than other mid-range robots, but it can do everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming robots. It can map and create a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't offer the same room-scanning and obstacles-avoiding features as the j7 and the s8.