The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Keeping your floors clean isn't always easy, but robot vacuums help. The best robot vacuums can pick up tracked-in dirt and pet hair, crumbs, and much more.
While they're still unable to perform as well of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner, they've come a long way in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners employ navigation tools like lasers and sensors to navigate through your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets and area rugs with low piles. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home to know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to instruct your robot to avoid rooms you don't wish it to be able to keep.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, use onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. It can then be left to do a thorough job without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's an all-in-one solution for keeping your home clean. It has a great suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It is self-emptying and can also be used as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a less expensive robot that vacuums, mops and is also a robotic trashcan is a great option for homes that don't have the need for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages compared to the Roomba j7 and S8. It uses a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, so it may not be as effective at removing larger debris such as socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so you may need to get rid of clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who prioritize simplicity and competence. It costs less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction both on hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles. It's not very advanced however, it's effective. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can impact the ability of a robot vacuum navigate through your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet mess. iRobot Roomba J7 is among the most impressive examples of intelligent technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also has a stylish base that automatically emptys the trash bin so that you don't need to.
During our tests the robot, we set the cleaner up in a huge home and were amazed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleaned up floors without getting bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places that most stand-up vacs cannot can, like under beds and sofas. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a time of over two hours. It's not able to set up no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We observed it bumping into things in our tests on occasion, resulting in some vases falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum may be but it can't replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine for removing crumbs, pet dander, and hair.
Sensor systems are integrated into many robot vacuums to help them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They usually know when they're about to fall down stairs for instance, and also recognize cluttered areas and maneuver around them. If you're not careful, your robot cleaner could be stuck on a cord, shoe or another object.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that permit them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and locate themselves. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid wasting time going over the same areas. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bin when it is full is a wonderful convenience. Some models come with windows that allow you to know when the bin is due to be empty. This is a fantastic feature for those with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine can be operated with an app, a remote on your smartphone or voice commands. They come with a variety of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance tips. You can program your robot to clean on a weekly or regularly, using the right settings. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.
Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's app so you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even keep track of the furniture's layout and transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.
The best smart vacuums can help you save time by automatically mapping and cleaning entire homes and keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app for your tablet or smartphone. Most can also connect to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robotic that delivers great performance at a reasonable price. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other messes. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does well.
The wheels that resemble a tank that this model has allow it to roll across the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that can cause problems for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't have to be empty manually and it can charge itself and resume cleaning if it runs out power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums that we've tested however it has powerful suction with simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical remote or an app on your phone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This click here is useful for families with small pets or children that could hinder your cleaning, or if you're too tired to manage the robot manually.
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 taking in food particles, and pet hair. These robots can be programmed to clean on a regular schedule and is perfect for those who want to set it and forget it.
Some of the higher-end models come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstacles within your home. These models can detect things like furniture, stairs power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This helps robots avoid hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and flooring which are difficult for robots navigate.
Some robots come with less basic ability to detect objects but they are able to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is a model that resembles WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It has a powerful suction that can take care of dirt and debris on medium-pile flooring and carpet. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to get tangled in stray shoes and cords, and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic rather than bristles in traditional form for better cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other models in the middle-end, but it does everything you would expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. However, it doesn't have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.