The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Keeping your floors clean isn't always easy however, robot vacuums make it easier. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.

Although they're not the same way as the regular vacuum cleaner, they've made significant progress in the last few years. They're more sophisticated and powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.

Smart Mapping

Using navigation tools like sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners work their way around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. The most advanced robots can map your home to help them remember where they have 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 your smartphone app to create no-go zones that tell your robot not to enter rooms it doesn't want to clean.

Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, use processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to perform the job without having to constantly monitor the condition of your floor plan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robotic device that combines mopping with vacuuming. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home spotless. It's got great suction and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a surveillance camera.

A less expensive bot that vacuums, mop and can also be used as a trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of the more expensive models. However, it has a few disadvantages when compared to Roomba j7 and S8. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it might not be as efficient at picking up larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, which means it is possible that you will need to eliminate obstructions before you run.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who prefer simplicity and proficiency. It costs less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction on hardwood and low-pile rugs while avoiding knots. It doesn't have any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It's also compatible with voice commands, which means you can set it up on a schedule or set up zones that aren't allowed to be entered using the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can affect the robot's ability to navigate your home. Certain models on our list contain sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet spills. iRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this type of Smart Robot Floor Mop technology in action. It also comes with a stylish base that automatically empty the dustbin so you don't need to.

In our testing, we set up the robotic cleaner in a home with a large size and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot be, such as under beds and couches. It has a 500 ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. It lacks the option to set up no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We saw it hitting objects on occasion during our tests which resulted in vessels falling over.

It's important to remember that no matter how clever a robot vacuum may be but it can't replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It can't deal with heavily soiled carpets, it won't be able to reach every corner, and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach spaces. It can be an effective addition to your regular cleaning routine to remove hair, pet dander and vacuum mop other hair.

Most robot vacuums come with sensors that aid them to navigate through obstacles and steps. They can tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for example and can also identify areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful, your robot cleaner could get stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.

Some of the more advanced robot vacuums have the ability to map, which allows them to create an outline of your home and locate themselves within it. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. It also lets them resume the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its bin of dust when it's full is an incredible convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to know when the bin is due to be empty. This is a great option for anyone with pets or children who tend to make more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled by a remote or an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They also have a variety of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. You can program your robot to clean your house on a weekly or regular basis using the correct settings. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of your home.

The most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with cameras and smart sensors, which allow them to 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 layout and transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.

The best value robot vacuum smart vacuums can help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app on your tablet or smartphone. Many of them can be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that delivers good performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as other robots that we've reviewed, but it does its job very well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to roll across the high transitions between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords which can cause a problem for other robots. It also comes with a large dust bin that doesn't require to be emptied manually, and it's able to recharge and continue cleaning when it runs out of power. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction with straightforward controls to give you a good value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Some robot vacuums can be controlled by voice commands via smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option if you have small children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning session or if you're tired to control the robot by hand.

The majority of models have an automatic mode that functions without input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app, and it will start taking in food particles, and pet hair. The robots can also be programmed to clean on a regular schedule which is great for those who wish to set it and forget it.

Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can detect things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different types of flooring. This helps them avoid such hazards which is especially helpful in homes with a lot of carpets and flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots come with less basic abilities for object detection however they still manage to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is a model that resembles WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a high-end robot. It has excellent suction and can handle dirt and debris from carpets and hardwood floors with ease. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles, as well as plastic, provides an effective cleaning.

This model is more expensive than the other models in the mid-range but it has everything you'd expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can create and map a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't offer the same room scanning and obstacle avoidance as the j7 and s8.