The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple but robot vacuums can make it easier. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair and more.
Although they're unable to perform as well of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner however, they've come a long way over the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners utilize navigation tools like lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most sophisticated robots can map your house, so that they can recall where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of the 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 abilities like the Roomba J7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligent to avoid and detect obstacles. Then, you can allow it to complete the task without having to constantly monitor the condition of your floor plan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, which means it's a complete solution for keeping your home clean. It has a powerful suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a security camera.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mop and functions as a trashcan that is robotic is a great choice for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba j7 and S8. For one, it has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other and it may not be as effective in cleaning up larger particles like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so you may need to get rid of any clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It costs less than $200, and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile rug and avoids knots. It doesn't have any fancy features, but it does the job well. It's also compatible with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up no-go zones via the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate through your home. Some models on our list contain sensors (or even cameras) which help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for children and pet messes. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also features a chic clean base that emptys the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
In robots that vacuum and mop testing the robotic cleaner up in a large house and were impressed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleaned up floors without getting sluggish. It's incredibly maneuverable and can reach places that stand-up vacuums are unable to can, like under sofas and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a running time of more than two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to set zones that are not allowed to be used and its detection of objects is somewhat erratic and we did see it occasionally bump into objects during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).
It's important to keep it in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum may be it isn't going to replace your upright or canister vacuum. It won't be able to clean heavily soiled carpets. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning to remove pet dander, and hair.
Sensor systems are built into most robot vacuums to help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. 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. If you're not careful your robo-cleaner may be stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.
Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to make an accurate floor plan of your house and also 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 resume where they left off if they need to return to their charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A robot vacuum that automatically empties its bin of dust when it gets full is an incredible benefit. Some models come with a window that allows you to see when the dust bin is due to be empty. This is a great feature for those with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose whether the machine is controlled by the use of a remote, an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a range of digital functions, 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 the house.
Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. They can be saved to the robot's app so you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems will even remember the furniture placement and transitions between hard floors and carpet.
The best smart vacuums can save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire homes and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app that you can install on your tablet or smartphone. Most 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 is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not quite as sophisticated as the other robots we've reviewed, but it does its job well.
This model's tank-like wheels allow it to glide over obstacles such as tangled cords and high transitions within rooms. It comes with a large bin that doesn't have to be emptying manually, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.
Voice Control
Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Some robot vacuums can be controlled by voice commands through smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful if you have small pets or children that could interfere with your cleaning or if you're tired to operate the robot manually.
The majority of models have an automatic mode that operates without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app and it will begin sucking up food, dirt, hair, and crumbs. They can be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who prefer to program it to forget about it.
Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. They can detect things like power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and they can also discern between different kinds of floors. This can help robots stay clear of dangers. This is particularly useful in large homes with lots rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Some robots are more basic in their object detection abilities, but they are still able to do the job. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a WiFi hub but boasts a lot of the performance of a top 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 become caught in stray shoes and cords, and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic rather than bristles in traditional form for better cleaning.
This model is more expensive than other robots that are in the middle of the range however, it can do everything you would expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can create and map a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it doesn't have obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the j7 or S8.