The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Cleaning your floors isn't always simple but robot vacuums can help. The Best Wet Dry Robot Vacuum ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shed pet hair and more.

And while they still can't do as good of a job as a regular vacuum but they've come quite a way in the past few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners employ navigation tools such as lasers and sensors to navigate through your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as low-pile area rugs and carpets. Robots that are the most advanced map your home so they know where they've been, and can avoid hitting obstacles such as sofas, chairs, and bookshelves. You can also use the smartphone app to create no-go zones that tell your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.

Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to detect and avoid obstacles. This means that you can leave the robot to perform a thorough 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 which combines mopping with vacuuming. It's a single-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It is self-emptying and is also able to be used as a surveillance camera.

A cheaper robot that vacuums, mops and can even be used as a robotic trashcan The Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't need the advanced features of the more expensive models. It does have some disadvantages in comparison to Roomba S8 and J7. For one, it has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have which means it won't be as effective at picking up larger debris like shoes and socks. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to clear away clutter before running it.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who value simplicity and competence. It costs less than $200 and offers consistent, solid suction on hardwood and carpets with low pile and avoids tangles with rug threads. It doesn't have any advanced features, however it does its job well. It is also compatible with voice commands. You can set it up on a schedule, or create zones of no-go zones with the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Some of the models we've reviewed contain sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for children and pet messes. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best robot vacuum for hair examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically emptys the dustbin so you don't have to.

During our tests the robot, we set the cleaner up in a huge house and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleared floors without getting bogged down. It is extremely maneuverable and can get to places most standup vacs never go, including under sofas and under beds. It also has excellent suction, a huge 500 ml dustbin and an over two hours of runtime. It isn't able to create no-go zones and its recognition of objects isn't exactly reliable. We saw it bumping into things in our tests on occasion, resulting in some vases falling over.

It is important to keep in mind that no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum is it won't replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It won't be able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It's not able to reach ceilings or other areas that are difficult to reach. However, if you want to keep your floors free of crumbs, pet hair, dander and other debris it's an excellent addition to your cleaning routine.

The majority of robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate through obstacles and steps. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for example and also detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe or another object.

Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with the ability to map, which allows them to create a floor plan of your home and then locate themselves within it. They will then be able to identify the areas they have already cleaned and save time by not having to clean the same spots. This lets them resume the same place they left off in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically empties its dust bin when it gets full is a great convenience. Some models have an indicator that allows you to know when the bin has to be empty. This feature is ideal for those who have children or pets who tend to make lots of mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums allow you to select whether the machine will be controlled by a remote control, an app on your smartphone, or by voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance suggestions. If you set the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean on a regular time or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.

Some of the most advanced 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 can even keep track of furniture arrangement and record the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire homes automatically and keeping detailed records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app for your smartphone or tablet. They can also be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them via 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 floors and sweep pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed, however it does its job very well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to roll across the gaps between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't have to be emptying manually and is able to recharge itself and restart cleaning when it runs out power. It's more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tested however it combines powerful suction and simple controls to give you a good value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app on your phone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is useful for robots that need to be cleaned and you have pets or children who might interfere.

Most models also include an automatic mode that operates without input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app and it will begin sucking up food, dirt, particles, and pet hair. The robots can be programmed to clean according to a schedule, making them ideal for those who just need to set and forget.

Some of the higher-end models include a sophisticated feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things like furniture, stairs, power cords and even different types of flooring. This helps robots avoid dangers. This is especially helpful in homes with large areas of carpeting and flooring which are difficult for robots navigate.

Other robots have more basic abilities for object detection however they still manage to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean elegant, easy-to-use design 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 on medium pile carpets and hardwood floors. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to get stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles, as well as plastic, gives an effective cleaning.

This model is more expensive than the other models that are in the middle of the range however, it can do everything you would expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can map out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones that you can stay clear of. It does not have the same room scanning and obstacles-avoiding features as the j7 and s8.