The Best Robot Vacuum 2023
Cleaning your floors isn't always simple however, robot vacuums help. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair and more.
And while they still can't do as good of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner but they've come quite a way over the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.
Smart Mapping
Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners work their way around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and carpets and area rugs with low pile. Robots that are the most advanced map your home, so they know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones using your smartphone to alert your robot to stay clear of rooms you don't wish it to keep clean.
Robots with advanced mapping abilities, such as the Roomba J7, use the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. This means you can let it alone to get an efficient cleaning without having to continuously 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 can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's a complete solution to keep your home clean. It has great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as security cameras.
Roborock Q Revo, a less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and functions as a robotic trashcan is a great choice for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages when compared to Roomba S8 and j7. It's got one brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it might not be as effective at removing larger debris such as shoes and socks. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, which means you might need to get rid of clutter before running.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200, and offers consistent, solid suction for hardwood as well as carpets with low pile, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It's not the most advanced however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands, which means you can run it on schedule or even set up zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.
Object Detection
The use of object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum navigate around your home. Certain models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish clean base that emptys the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.
During our tests, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large home and were amazed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleared floors without getting sluggish. It has impressive maneuverability and is able to reach places that stand-up vacuums are unable to go, including couches and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to create no-go zones within the app and its detection of objects is a bit hit-or-miss and we did see it occasionally bump into objects during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vase).
It is important to keep in mind that no matter how smart the robot vacuum is, it will not replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily dirty carpets, it can't reach into every crevice, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. It's a great addition to your routine cleaning for removing crumbs, hair, pet dander and other hair.
Most robot vacuums have sensors that allow them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can tell when they are 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 get stuck on a shoe, cord or any other object.
Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and pinpoint themselves. They can then identify which areas they've already cleaned and reduce 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 vacuum cleaner that automatically empty its bins of dust once it gets full is an incredible convenience. Some models even have a window to let you know the time when the bin must be emptied. This is a fantastic feature for those with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
The majority of robot vacuums let you choose which model can be controlled by an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, such as scheduling and maintenance suggestions. You can program your robot to clean on an annual or a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of your home.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot app to easily navigate around your home. Some of these systems will even remember furniture arrangement and the transitions between hard flooring and carpet.
Smart vacuums can save you time by cleaning entire homes automatically and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. Many of them can be connected to your smart speaker, so you can control them with voice commands.
TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers excellent performance at a low cost. It can clean both floors and sweep pet hair and other messes from low-pile and hardwood rugs. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed, but it does its job very well.
The wheels that resemble a tank that this model has allow it to roll across the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that can cause problems for other robots. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't require to be emptying manually, and it can recharge and continue cleaning when it's power-depleted. It's a bit more costly than the other robotic vacuums we've tested, but it blends 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 on your phone. Some also connect to smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is helpful when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or small children who might interfere.
Many models have an automatic mode that operates without input. The robot can be started by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean regularly which is great for those who prefer to set it and forget it.
Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes 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 them avoid these hazards which is particularly useful in larger homes with lots of rugs and other floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.
Some robots come with less basic ability to detect objects, but still manage to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek and easy-to-use appearance of a WiFi hub but offers the performance of a top-notch bot. It has a powerful suction that can take care of dirt and debris from medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to be caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush uses bristles and plastic, rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.
The model is more expensive than other robots in the mid-range, best affordable robot vacuum but it does everything you want from mop and vacuum robots. It can draw out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones that you can stay clear of. It doesn't have the same room-scanning feature and obstacle avoidance as the j7 and the s8.