The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best robot vacuums are able to pick up tracked-in dirt and pet hair, crumbs and much more.

Although they're unable to do as good of a job as a regular vacuum, 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

Robot vacuum cleaners employ instruments for navigation like lasers and sensors to navigate through your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from floors made of hard materials, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home to know where they've been and how to avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves. You can also use your smartphone's app to set up zones that prohibit your robot not to enter rooms that you don't want to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of an onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligent to see and avoid obstructions. Then, you can allow it to perform the job without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a great suction, and it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a security camera.

A less expensive robot that vacuums, mops and can even be used as a trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't require the advanced features of higher-end models. However, it has some disadvantages compared to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective at collecting larger objects like shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you may need to clear clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple reliable robot for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It costs less than $200 and provides consistent, strong suction on hardwood and carpets that are low-pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It's not the most advanced however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on a schedule or set up zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between a robot vacuum's ability to navigate around your home. Some models on our list contain sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet messes. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also features a chic clean base that fills the garbage bin automatically so you don't need to.

During testing the robotic cleaner up in a big house and were awed by how quickly and efficiently it was able to clean floors without becoming bogged down. It's very mobile and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to, such as under couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, great suction and a time of over two hours. However, it lacks the ability to create no-go zones within the app and its detection of objects is somewhat erratic and we did see it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).

It's important to remember that no matter how clever the robot vacuum might appear but it can't replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily stained carpets, it will not be able to reach every corner, and it won't reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. But for keeping your best robot vacuum for carpet floors clear of crumbs, pet hair and other dander, it can be an ideal addition to your cleaning routine.

Most robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate through obstacles and steps. They can sense when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and can also identify messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not cautious the robo-cleaner may become stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.

Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned and avoid spending time cleaning the same areas. It also lets them resume the same place they left off, should they need to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is a wonderful convenience. Some models also have a window so you can see the time when the bin must be empty. This is a great feature for those with children or pets who tend to make lots of mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine can be operated with a remote, an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling. You can program your robot to clean your house on a weekly or regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of your home.

The most advanced robot vacuums we have tested are equipped with sensors and cameras, which allow them to build maps for your home. They can be saved to 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 the transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.

The best smart vacuums can save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning entire homes and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app for your phone or tablet. The majority of them can be connected 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 offers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors as well as carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed but it does what it does very well.

The tank-like wheels on this model allow it to roll across the high transitions between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that trip up other robots. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be empty manually, and can recharge itself and resume cleaning if it's running out of power. 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 can be controlled via a remote control or an app for a smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is a great option when your robot has to be cleaned and you have pets or small children who could be disruptive.

Most models also include an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean regularly and is perfect for those who wish to set it and forget it.

Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to detect and scan the presence of obstacles in your home. These models can recognize things like stairs, furniture power cords, and even different types of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes with lots of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they still do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It has excellent suction and can handle dirt and debris on hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile effortlessly. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to get stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles as well as plastic, gives an efficient cleaning.

The model is more expensive than the other models in the middle-end, but it does everything you want from mop and vacuum robots. It can create a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. It doesn't feature the ability to scan rooms or avoid obstacles like the j7 and S8.