The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

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

And while they still can't perform as well of a job as a regular vacuum however, they've come a long way in recent years. They're more sophisticated and powerful, and (marginally better) in avoiding chair leg.

Smart Mapping

Using navigation tools like lasers and sensors, robotic vacuum cleaners move around your home, suctioning pet hair, crumbs and dirt into their bins from hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and low-pile carpets and area rugs. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home, so they know where they've been and can avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves. You can make use of your smartphone's app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot to stay out of rooms you don't want it 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. This means you can let it alone to get a thorough cleaning without having to constantly monitor the state of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a surveillance camera.

A less expensive robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a excellent choice for homes that don't require the more advanced features of more expensive models. However, it has a few disadvantages compared to the Roomba j7 and S8. It has a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it isn't as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance so it is possible that you will need to eliminate the clutter prior to running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets while avoiding tangles. It doesn't include any advanced features, however it does the job well. It also works with voice commands. You can set it up to run a program, or create no-go zones using the app.

Object Detection

The use of object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum navigate through your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or clean even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for children and pet spills. The iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the best examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empty the trash bin so that you don't need to.

In our testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a big home and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently it was able to clean floors without getting sluggish. It's very mobile and can reach places that stand-up vacuums can't be, such as under beds and couches. It also has a great suction, a massive 500-milliliter dustbin and over two-hour running time. It isn't able to set up no-go zones and its object recognition isn't exactly reliable. We saw it crashing into objects on occasion during our tests and resulted in vases falling over.

It's important to remember that despite how smart a robot vacuum might be, it won't completely replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets that have been heavily soiled. It won't reach ceilings or other difficult-to-reach areas. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning to remove hair, and pet dander.

Sensor systems are integrated into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They usually know the moment they're likely to fall down a staircase for instance, and they also recognize cluttered areas and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could get stuck on a shoe, cord or any other object.

Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities that allow them to design an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. They can then identify which areas they have already cleaned and can reduce time by not having to go over the same spots. This allows them to continue the same place they left off in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is a wonderful convenience. Some models come with a window that allows you to observe when the bin is due to be empty. This is an excellent feature for anyone who has pets or children who tend to make more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select which model can be controlled by a remote, an app on your phone or via voice commands. They offer a range of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. Using the right settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of the house.

The most advanced robot vacuums we've tested come with sensors and cameras which allow them to build maps for your home. These can be saved in the robot's app so you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture placement and note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

The most efficient smart vacuums save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your tablet or smartphone. The majority 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 inexpensive, self-emptying robot vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors as well as low-pile carpets, and remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as sophisticated as some of the other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does well.

This model's tank-like wheels allow it to go over obstacles like tangled cords and high transitions between rooms. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be empty manually and is able to recharge itself and restart cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to give you a great value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are operated by voice commands via smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is helpful when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or children who could be disruptive.

Many models also come with an automatic mode that functions without input from you. Simply press a button on the shark robot vacuum mop or within the app, and it will start sucking up food, dirt, hair, and crumbs. These robots can be programmed to clean on a regular schedule, which is ideal for those who wish to make it easy to set it and forget it.

Some of the more expensive models include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to scan and detect the presence of obstacles within your home. They can detect things such as power cords, stairs and furniture, and they can also identify different types of flooring. This can help robots avoid dangers. This is particularly useful in large homes that have lots of rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots navigate.

Some robots come with less basic abilities for object detection but they are able to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek elegant, easy-to-use design of a wifi hub but offers the capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It has a strong suction that can take care of dirt and debris on medium pile flooring and carpet. Its squat and clean short side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles and plastic, gives an effective cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end, but it does everything you want from a robot vacuum and mop. 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 or the s8.