The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair, and more.

Although they're not the same way as the regular vacuum cleaner, they have come a long ways in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners use instruments for navigation such as lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as low-pile area rugs and carpets. The most advanced robots map your home, so that they can remember where they have been and avoid hitting obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might want to keep out of your way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to instruct your robot to stay clear of rooms that you don't want to keep clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, use the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. This means you can leave the robot to perform an efficient cleaning without having to continually be checking the status of your floorplan or manually move obstacles out of the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines vacuuming and mopping, so it's a complete solution for keeping your home clean. It has a fantastic suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It is self-emptying and is also able to be used as a security camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mop and functions as an automated trashcan is a great option for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has some limitations in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it might not be as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance so it is possible that you will need to eliminate clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy-to-use, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and proficiency. It costs less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles. It doesn't come with any advanced features, however it does its job well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or create no-go zones using the app.

Object Detection

The use of object-avoidance technology can impact the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Some of the models we've reviewed contain sensors (or even cameras) that help your robo-cleaner avoid common traps for robots such as cords, toys for kids and pet spills. iRobot Roomba j7, one of the most amazing examples of smart technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also comes with a sleek clean base that fills the dustbin automatically so you don't need to.

We tested the robotic cleaner in a large home and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without getting sluggish. It's incredibly maneuverable and can get to places that stand-up vacuums are unable to reach, such as couches and under beds. It also has great suction, a massive 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour runtime. It isn't able to create no-go zones and its recognition of objects is a bit hit-or-miss. We observed it crashing into objects at times during our tests and resulted in vases falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum is, it will not substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily stained carpets, it will not be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach areas. However, if you want to keep your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs and other particles it could be a good addition to your cleaning routine.

Sensors are integrated into most robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell the moment when they're going to fall down a staircase, for instance, and detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not careful the robo-cleaner may be stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require assistance.

Some of the more advanced robot vacuums have the ability to map, which allows them to design a floor plan of your house and locate themselves within it. They can then know what areas they have cleaned and save time by not having to go over the same spots. It also lets them continue where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically emptys its bin when it is full is a great convenience. Certain models come with an indicator that allows you to see when the dust bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for those who have children or pets who tend to make a lot more mess than adults.

The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine can be operated with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. You can program your robot to clean on an annual or a regular basis using the correct settings. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.

Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. These maps 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 even keep track of furniture placement and even note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

Smart vacuums save time by mapping and cleaning entire houses in a timely manner and keeping detailed records about the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access these records through an app for your tablet or phone. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker so that you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers good 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 that we've reviewed, however it does its job well.

The tank-like wheels on this model permit it to glide across the high transitions between rooms and obstacles like tangled cords from devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually, and it's also able to recharge and resume cleaning when it's not able to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to give you a great value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote control or an app on a 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 is a great option if you have small pets or children who might interfere with your cleaning session, or if you're too tired to control the robot by hand.

Most models also include an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean according to a schedule, making them ideal check here for people who need to make a plan and forget.

Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. They can detect things such as power cords, stairs, and furniture, and even identify different types of flooring. This can help them avoid these hazards, which is especially useful in homes with a lot of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.

Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but still manage to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a high-end robot. It is extremely suction-driven and is able to remove dirt and debris on carpets and hardwood floors with ease. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles and plastic, provides an effective cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other robots in the mid-range however, it can do everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can create and map a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it does not have the ability to scan rooms or avoid obstacles like the S8 or j7.