The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Cleaning your floors isn't always easy, but robot vacuums help. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair and more.

Although they're unable to do as good of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner but they've come quite a way in recent years. They're smarter and more powerful, as well as (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.

Smart Mapping

Utilizing navigational tools like sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners work their way through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors such as laminate, wood, and tile and carpets and area rugs with low pile. The most advanced robots map your home, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you might prefer to keep out of your way. You can also use the smartphone app to create no-go zones that tell your robot to stay out of rooms you don't want it to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping abilities, 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 state of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a one-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature, and can be used as an alarm camera.

A less expensive robot that mops, vacuums and can also be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the advanced features of more expensive models. However, it does have some disadvantages compared to the Roomba j7 and S8. For one, it has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others, so it might not be as effective in picking up larger debris such as shoes and socks. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and competence. It costs less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction both on hardwood and low-pile rug while avoiding tangles. It's not very advanced however, it's effective. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum navigate your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) which help your robo-cleaner avoid common traps for robots such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. The iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the dustbin automatically 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 thoroughly floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach areas that most standup vacuums cannot reach, like under couches and under beds. It also has a great suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour running time. It's not able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We observed it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion and resulted in vessels falling over.

It is important to keep in mind that no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your upright or canister vacuum. It won't be able to clean heavily soiled carpets. It can't reach the ceiling or other areas that are difficult to reach. However, if you want to keep your floors clean of crumbs, pet hair and other particles, it can be an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.

Sensor systems are more info built into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can sense the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for example, and can also recognize areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robo-cleaner may get stuck on a shoe, cord or any other object.

Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to design an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. They can then identify which areas they have cleaned and save time by not having to go over the same areas. It also lets them continue where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that automatically emptys its bin when it is full is a wonderful convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to observe when the bin has to be empty. This feature is great for people who have children or pets, who are likely to create much more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control or an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, such as scheduling and maintenance suggestions. If you set the right settings, you can program your robot to clean on a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of the house.

The most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with sensors and cameras which enable them to create maps of your home. These maps can be saved to the robot's application so that you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture placement and even note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

Smart vacuums can save you time by cleaning entire homes in a timely manner and keeping detailed records of the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access these records using an app that you can install on your tablet or phone. They can also be connected to your smart speaker, so you can control them via voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers outstanding performance for a reasonable cost. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed, however, it does what does very well.

This model's tank-like wheels allow it to glide over obstacles such as cords that get caught up and high transitions in between rooms. It has a large bin that does not need to be manually emptied and it can charge itself and continue cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tested however it combines powerful suction and simple controls to provide a fantastic value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Some robot vacuums can be operated by voice commands via smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option for families with small children or pets who could interfere with your cleaning session, or if you're too tired to operate the robot manually.

Many models have an automatic mode that operates without input. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin taking in food particles, and pet hair. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them ideal for people who want to make a plan and forget.

Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can identify things such as power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and can even identify different types of flooring. This can help them avoid these hazards, which is especially useful in homes with a lot of rugs and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots are less sophisticated in their ability to detect objects however, they still do the job. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek and easy-to-use appearance of a WiFi hub, but boasts a lot of the performance of a top-notch bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris from carpets and hardwood floors effortlessly. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to get stuck in stray shoes or cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes 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 has everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can map and build a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It does not have the same room scanning and obstacle avoidance as the j7 or s8.