The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best robot vacuums can remove dirt, pet hair, crumbs and much more.

While they can't perform like a regular vacuum cleaner, they have come a long ways in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Utilizing navigation tools such as sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners navigate through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs and dirt into their bins from hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and also low-pile carpets and area rugs. The most advanced robots can map your house, so that they can remember where they have been and avoid hitting obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to tell your robot vacuum cleaner for carpet to avoid areas you don't want it to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping abilities like the Roomba J7, make use of an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to do a thorough job without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robotic device that combine vacuuming and mopping. It's the perfect solution to keep your home tidy. It has great suction and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also be used as a surveillance camera.

A less expensive bot that vacuums, mop and can even be used as a trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of higher-end models. It does have some disadvantages when compared to the Roomba S8 and J7. For instance, it uses a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have and it may not be as effective at cleaning up larger particles such as shoes and socks. It does not have 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 for those who value simplicity and competence. It's priced at less than $200 and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets while avoiding tangles. It's not the most advanced, but it works well. It is also compatible with voice commands. It can be set up on a schedule, or create zones of no-go zones with the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can affect the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Certain models on our list include sensors (or even cameras) that help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, kids' toys and pet mess. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this kind of smart technology in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically emptys the trash bin so that you don't need to.

In our testing the robot, we set the cleaner up in a big house and were awed by how quickly and efficiently it cleared floors without getting bogged down. It is very maneuverable and can reach places that stand-up vacuums can't be, such as under beds and couches. It also has great suction, a huge 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour runtime. It isn't 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 vases falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that no matter how clever a robot vacuum may be it will not replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily stained carpets, it will not get into every crevice and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach areas. It's an excellent addition to your regular cleaning routine to remove hair, pet dander and other hair.

Sensor systems are integrated into most robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can sense when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and can also identify areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not vigilant, your robo-cleaner might be stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require assistance.

Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that allow them to create a floor plan of your home and then locate themselves within it. This lets them know what areas they've already cleaned and Best Robot vacuum avoid wasting time going over the same spots. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that can automatically empty its bin after it is full is a great convenience. Certain models come with a window that allows you to see when the dust bin is due to be empty. This is a fantastic feature for those with pets or children who make more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine is controlled with the use of a remote, an app from your phone, or through voice commands. They come with a variety of digital features including scheduling and maintenance tips. With the correct settings, you can program your robot to clean on a regular time or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.

The most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with cameras and smart sensors, which enable them to create maps for 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 note transitions from hard floors to carpet.

The best smart vacuums can help you save 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 for your tablet or smartphone. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker so that you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers great performance at a reasonable cost. It can clean both floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed but it does the job well.

The rubber-like wheels that this model has allow it to glide right over the high gaps between rooms and obstacles like tangled cords from devices that trip up other robots. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be manually emptied, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it runs out power. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to deliver a great value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are controlled by voice commands via smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home. This can be helpful when you have pets or children that could hinder your cleaning session or if you're exhausted to operate the robot manually.

Many models also come with an automatic mode that functions 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 want to make it easy to set it and forget it.

Some of the higher-end 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 identify things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different kinds of flooring. This helps them avoid such hazards 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 object detection abilities however they can still do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is a model that resembles an internet router, but has the performance of a top-of-the-line robot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs effortlessly. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to be stuck in stray shoes or cords and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic instead of a traditional bristle brush for better cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other robots that are in the middle of the range, but it does everything you would expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map out the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. It does not have the same room-scanning feature and obstacle-avoiding capabilities as the j7 or the s8.