The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair and more.
While they're still unable to perform as well of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner, they've come a long way over the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners work their way around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. Robots that are the most advanced map your home to know where they've been, and can avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas using your smartphone to alert your robot to avoid areas you don't want it to be able to keep.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, utilize processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can leave it alone to get an efficient cleaning without having to constantly monitor the state of your floorplan, or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that can combine vacuuming and mopping, so it's a one-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction, and it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also be used as a security camera.
A cheaper robot that mops, vacuums and can even be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the more advanced features of the more expensive models. There are some drawbacks when compared to the Roomba S8 and J7. It has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other and it may not be as effective in 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 clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who value simplicity and competence. It's less than $200 and offers consistent, solid suction on hardwood and carpets that are low-pile, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It's not the most advanced however, it's effective. It is also compatible with voice commands. It can be set up 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. Some of the models we've reviewed contain sensors (or even cameras) which help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for kids and pet messes. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically empty the dustbin so you don't need to.
During testing we set up this robot cleaner in a large home and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and is able to reach places that most stand-up vacs cannot can, like couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a running time of more than two hours. However, it lacks the ability to set zones that are not allowed to be used and its detection of objects is a little hit-or-miss, meaning we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vases).
It's important to keep in mind that despite how smart 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's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach areas. It's a great addition to your regular cleaning routine for removing crumbs, hair, and pet dander.
The majority of robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for example and also detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not vigilant your robot-cleaner could be stuck on a cord or shoe and require help.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that permit them to draw an accurate floor plan of your home and locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid spending time cleaning the same spots. This allows them to continue the same place they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empty its dust bin when it's full is an incredible benefit. Some models have a window that allows you to observe when the bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for anyone who has pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote or an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, such as maintenance and scheduling suggestions. You can program your robot to clean your house on every week or on a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program the robot to mark out and clean specific areas of your home.
The most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested come with cameras and smart sensors, which allow them to build maps for 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 from hard floors to carpet.
The best smart vacuums can help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of whole homes, and also keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker so that you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers great performance at a reasonable price. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, as well as remove pet hair and other messes. It's not quite as sophisticated as other get more info robots that we've reviewed, but it does its job well.
The rubber-like wheels on this model permit it to roll across the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled cords from devices that can cause problems for other robots. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and it can recharge and continue cleaning when it's power-depleted. It's a bit more costly than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it blends powerful suction with simple controls to deliver a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app on your smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This is useful when you have children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning, or if you're too tired to control the robot by hand.
Many models also come with an automatic mode that functions without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app and it will begin sucking up dirt, food hair, and crumbs. These robots can be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who want to program it to forget about it.
Some of the higher-end models have a feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstructions in your home. These models can recognize things such as power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and even distinguish between different types of floors. This helps them avoid these hazards, which is especially useful in homes with a lot of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection but they are able to get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance, has the appearance of a wifi router but offers the performance of a high-end robot. It has a strong suction and can clean dirt and debris on medium-pile flooring and carpet. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to be caught in stray shoes and cords, and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic rather than a traditional bristle brush for an even more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end, but it does everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and create a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't have the same room scanning and obstacle avoidance like the j7 or s8.