The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple but robot vacuums can help. The most effective robot vacuums pick up tracked-in dirt and crumbs, pet hair, and much more.
And while they still can't do the same job as the regular vacuum however, they've come a long way in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigation tools such as lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners navigate around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors such as wood, tile and laminate and low-pile carpets and area rugs. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home to know where they've been, and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as sofas, chairs, and bookshelves. You can also use the smartphone app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot not to enter rooms you don't want it to clean.
Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to see and avoid obstructions. This means you can let it to do an efficient cleaning without having to continually 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 combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's an all-in-one solution to keep your home tidy. It's got great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and functions as an automated trashcan is a great option for homes that do not require for more advanced features. There are some drawbacks in comparison to Roomba S8 and J7. It's got a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it may not be as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It doesn't 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's ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile rugs, while avoiding tangles. It's not very advanced however it's a good choice. It also works with voice commands, so you can run it on schedule or create zones that aren't allowed to be entered through the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between the robot's ability to navigate around your home. Certain models on our list contain sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for children and pet spills. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best robot vacuum mop for hardwood floors examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empty the garbage bin, so you don't have to.
During testing we set up this robot cleaner in a home with a large size and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's incredibly maneuverable and can get to places that most stand-up vacs cannot can, like couches and under beds. It also has a great suction, a huge 500 ml dustbin and an over two-hour runtime. It isn't able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition isn't exactly reliable. We saw it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion, resulting in some vase caps falling over.
It's important to keep in mind that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum might be but it can't replace your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily soiled carpets, it won't get into every crevice and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access spaces. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine for getting rid of hair, and pet dander.
Sensors are integrated into many robot vacuums to help them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can tell the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance and also detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not cautious the robo-cleaner may be stuck on a cord or shoe and require help.
Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to create an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've cleaned before and avoid wasting time going over the same spots. This lets them resume where they left off, should they need to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it's full is a huge convenience. Certain models come with an indicator that allows you to observe when the bin needs to empty. This is a fantastic feature for those with pets or children who tend to make more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control or an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They also have a variety of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. Using the right settings, you can program your robot to clean at a regular time, or on an annual basis. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras as well as smart 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 placement and transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.
The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your tablet or smartphone. Many can also connect to your smart speaker, so you can control them using voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that provides good performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors as well as low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as other robots that we've reviewed but it does its job very well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to roll over obstacles such as tangled cords and high transitions within rooms. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and can recharge itself and continue cleaning when it runs out power. It's more expensive compared to other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction and simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a physical remote or an app on your smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This can be helpful when you have children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning or if you're exhausted to control the robot by hand.
Many models have an automatic mode which works without your input. You can start the robot by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean up on a regular basis, which is ideal for those who wish to make it easy to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can detect things like stairs, furniture power cords, and even different types of flooring. This helps them avoid such hazards, which is especially useful in larger homes that have lots of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection, but still manage to get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a premium bot. It has excellent suction and can handle dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs easily. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles as well as plastic, gives a thorough cleaning.
This model is more expensive than the other models in the middle-end but it has everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can map and create a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't feature obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the j7 or S8.