The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair and more.

Although they're not as well as the regular vacuum cleaner, they've come a long ways in the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners utilize navigation tools such as lasers and sensors to navigate your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile, and laminate, and carpets with a low pile. The most sophisticated robots can map your home to help them keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can also use your smartphone app to create zones that prohibit your robot to stay out of rooms you don't want it to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, use processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can leave the robot to perform an effective cleaning without having to constantly monitor the state of your floorplan or manually move obstacles out of the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robotic that does vacuuming and mopping, so it's a one-stop solution to keep your home clean. It has a great suction and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also be used as a security camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a trashcan that is robotic is a great choice for homes that don't have the need for more advanced features. However, it does have some disadvantages when compared to Roomba j7 and S8. It has only one brush, not dual roller brushes, which means it might not be as effective at removing larger debris such as socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, which means it is possible that you will need to eliminate clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200, and offers consistent, solid suction on both hardwood and carpets with low pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It doesn't include any fancy features, but it does its job well. It also works with voice commands. It can be set to run on a schedule or create no-go zones using the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can affect the robot's ability to navigate around your home. Some of the models we've reviewed have sensors (or even cameras) that help your robo-cleaner avoid common traps for robots such as cords, toys for children and pet spills. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empties the trash bin so that you don't have to.

We tested this robotic cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It is very maneuverable and can reach areas that stand-up vacuums can't be, such as under beds and couches. It also has great suction, a massive 500 ml dustbin, and an over two-hour runtime. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to create no-go zones within the app and its object detection is a bit hit-or-miss, meaning we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vase tops).

It is important to keep in mind that, regardless of how clever a robot vacuum is, it will not replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily soiled carpets, it won't reach into every crevice, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. However, if you want to keep your floors clean of crumbs, pet hair, dander and other debris it could be a good addition to your cleaning routine.

The majority of robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can sense the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and can also recognize areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not vigilant the robo-cleaner may be stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.

Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with the ability to map, which allows them to design a floor plan of your house and locate themselves within it. They can then identify which areas they have already cleaned and save time by not having to clean the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off should they need to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that automatically empties its bins of dust once it's full is a great benefit. Some models also have a window that lets you see when the bin needs to be emptied. This is an excellent feature for anyone who has pets or children who make more mess than adults.

The majority of Shark Ez Robot Vacuum vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled with an app, a remote on your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance suggestions. You can program your robot to clean your house on every week or on a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of the house.

Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's application so that you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture placement and even note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app for your phone or tablet. Most can also connect to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an inexpensive, self-emptying robot mop vacuum vacuum that delivers excellent performance for the price. It can clean both floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed, however it does the job well.

The model's tanks-like wheels allow it to go over obstacles such as cords that get caught up and high transitions between rooms. It has a large bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually and is able to recharge itself and resume cleaning if it runs out power. It's a bit more costly than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tested however it combines powerful suction with simple controls to give you a good value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a physical remote or an app on your phone. Certain robot vacuums are controlled via voice commands through smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This can be helpful if you have small children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning session, or if you're too exhausted to manage the robot manually.

Many models also come with an automatic mode that operates without input from you. You can start the robot by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them ideal for those who need to make a plan and forget.

Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can detect things like furniture, stairs, power cords and even different kinds of flooring. This can help robots avoid dangers. This is especially helpful in large homes that have lots of carpeting and flooring that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they still do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example, has the appearance of WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a premium bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs with ease. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to become tangled in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic instead of a traditional bristle brush for an even more thorough cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end, but it does everything you would expect from a robot mop and vacuum. It can map and shark ez Robot vacuum build a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It does not have the same room-scanning feature and obstacles-avoiding features like the j7 or the s8.