The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair, and more.

Although they're not like a regular vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners utilize instruments for navigation like lasers and sensors to navigate through your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and robot mop and vacuum for carpet dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home to know where they've been and can avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go areas using your smartphone to alert your robot to stay clear of areas you don't want it to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, make use of an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. It can then be left to complete the task without having to keep an eye on the condition of your floor plan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that includes vacuuming and mopping. It's the perfect 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 function as a surveillance camera.

A less expensive robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't require the more sophisticated features of more expensive models. There are some drawbacks in comparison to Roomba S8 and j7. For one, it has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective in picking up larger debris like shoes and socks. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance so it is possible that you will need to eliminate the clutter prior to running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy reliable robot for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200, and provides consistent, strong suction on both hardwood and carpets that are low-pile and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not a lot of technology however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up no-go zones through 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 allow your robot cleaner to avoid common traps for robots such as cords, toys for children and pet spills. iRobot Roomba J7, one of the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also has a stylish clean base that empties the dustbin automatically so you don't have to.

In our testing, we set up this robotic cleaner in a home with a large size and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach areas that most standup vacuums cannot be, such as under couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, excellent suction and a time of over two hours. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to create no-go zones within the app and its detection of objects is somewhat erratic and we did see it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).

It is important to keep in mind that, regardless of how clever a robot vacuum is, it will not substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean heavily soiled carpets. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. However, if you want to keep your floors clear of pet hair, crumbs, dander and other debris it's an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.

Sensors are integrated into many robot vacuums to help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for instance and also detect cluttered spaces and move around them. If you're not careful your robot-cleaner could get stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.

Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to make an precise floor plan of your house and locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've already cleaned and avoid spending time cleaning the same areas. It also allows them to resume the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically emptys its bin when it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models even have windows so you can see when the bin has to be empty. This feature is great for people who have children or pets who tend to make lots of mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums allow you to choose which model can be operated with an app, a remote from your phone, or through voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling. Using the right settings, you can set your robot to clean on a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to clean specific areas of your house.

The most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with sensors and cameras which enable them to create maps for your home. You can save these maps to the robot's app and use them to navigate through your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture arrangement and the transitions between hard floors and carpet.

The best smart vacuums can save you time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. Most can also connect to your smart speaker, so you can control them via voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does well.

The tank-like wheels that this model has allow 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 comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be empty manually and it can charge itself and restart cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tried however it combines powerful suction with simple controls to deliver a great value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app on your phone. Certain robot vacuum sale vacuums are controlled via voice commands via smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This can be helpful if you have small pets or children that could interfere with your cleaning routine, or if you're too exhausted to operate the robot mop and vacuum for carpet manually.

Many models also come with an automatic mode that works without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them perfect for those who simply want to set and forget.

Certain models that are more expensive come with an advanced feature which uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things such as power cords, stairs and furniture, and even distinguish between different types of floors. This helps them avoid these hazards which is especially helpful in homes with a lot of rugs and other flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects however, they still get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek, fuss-free appearance of a wifi hub but has the capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris from carpets and hardwood floors easily. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to get caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles and plastic, offers a thorough cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other models that are in the middle of the range however, it can do everything you would expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create and map a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't have the same room scanning and obstacle avoidance as the j7 or the s8.