The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.
And while they still can't perform as well of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner, they've come a long way over the last 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 around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. The most sophisticated robots can map your house, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves that you might want to keep out of your way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to instruct your robot to stay clear of rooms you don't wish it to be able to keep.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to avoid obstacles and see them. You can then leave it to perform the job without having to keep an eye on the condition of your floor plan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which combines mopping with vacuuming. It's the perfect solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It can self-empty and is also able to be used as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and functions as a robotic trashcan is a great choice for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba J7 and S8. It has a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have which means it won't be as effective in cleaning up larger particles like socks and shoes. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, which means it is possible that you will need to eliminate clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple, reliable robot for those who value simplicity and efficiency. 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's not the most advanced however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands. It can be set to run on a schedule or create zones that are not allowed to be used using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum navigate through your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common traps for robots like cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of technology in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empty the trash bin so that you don't have to.
During testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large home and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently it cleaned up floors without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to reach, like under couches and under beds. It has a 500ml dustbin, excellent suction and a runtime of over two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to create no-go zones in the app and its object detection is a bit hit-or-miss and we did see it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in a few tipped vases).
It's important to keep it in mind that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum is it isn't going to substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily stained carpets, it will not be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access spaces. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, and pet dander.
Most robot vacuums come with sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell when they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and also recognize cluttered areas and move around them. If you're not careful your robo-cleaner may become stuck on a shoe, cord, or other object.
Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. They can then identify which areas they've already cleaned, and reduce time by not having to clean the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that can automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is a wonderful convenience. Certain models come with a window that allows you to know when the bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for anyone who has pets or children who create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled via a remote control, an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They offer a range 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 it to map and clean certain areas of your house.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's application so that 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.
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 for your tablet or phone. Most of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so that you can control them using voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides great performance at a reasonable cost. It is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as advanced as the other robots we've reviewed, however it does its job very well.
The wheels that resemble a tank on this model allow it to roll right over the high transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled device cords that can cause problems for other robots. It also comes with a large dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning when it's power-depleted. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction and simple controls to give you a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app on your smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing best affordable robot vacuum you to run them using voice commands. This is a great option if you have small pets or children that could hinder your cleaning routine 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 within the app and it will begin taking in food particles, and pet hair. They can also be programmed to clean up on a regular basis, which is ideal for those who prefer to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can identify things like stairs, power cords and furniture, and even identify different types of floors. This helps robots avoid hazards. This is especially useful in homes with large areas of carpeting and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their object detection capabilities, but still manage to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean 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 is able to remove dirt and debris from hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile with ease. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to be caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.
This model is pricier than other mid-range robots, but it does everything you need from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create and map a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It does not have the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance like the j7 or s8.