The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The most effective robot vacuums clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and much more.

While they can't perform as well as the regular vacuum cleaner, they have made significant progress in the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners use navigation tools such as lasers and sensors to navigate around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets and area rugs with low piles. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home so they know where they've been, and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also use your smartphone app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot to stay out of rooms you don't want it to clean.

Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to avoid obstacles and see them. Then, you can allow it to perform the job without having to continuously monitor the state of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the 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 tidy. It's got great suction, and also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It can self-empty and can also function as a security camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and is also a robotic trashcan is a great choice for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses only one brush, not dual roller brushes, meaning it might not be as effective in removing larger debris such as socks and shoes. It doesn't have AI obstacle avoidance, so you may need to clear obstructions before you run.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who value simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and provides strong, consistent suction both on hardwood and low-pile rug and avoids knots. It's not a lot of technology however it's a good choice. It's also compatible with voice commands, which means you can run it on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technologies can impact the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate through your home. Some models on our list contain sensors (or even cameras) which help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for kids and pet spills. iRobot Roomba j7, one of the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also has a stylish base that automatically emptys the dustbin so you don't need to.

During testing we set up this robotic cleaner in a large home 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, such as under beds and couches. It has a 500ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. It lacks the option to create no-go zones, and its recognition of objects is a bit hit-or-miss. We noticed it hitting objects at times during our tests and resulted in vessels falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that, no matter how clever a robot vacuum mop robot may be, it will not replace your upright or canister vacuum deals. It's not able to deal with heavy soiled carpets, it won't get into every crevice and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access spaces. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning to remove pet dander, and hair.

Sensors are integrated into most robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and floor Cleaning obstacles. They can sense when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance, and can also recognize areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not vigilant, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require help.

Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to draw an accurate floor cleaning plan of your home and locate themselves. This lets them know what areas they've cleaned before and avoid wasting time going over the same spots. It also lets them resume where they left off in case they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically empty its dust bin when it gets full is a huge convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to see when the dust bin has to be empty. This feature is ideal for people who have pets or children, who tend to make much more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine is controlled by a remote, an app on your phone or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features including scheduling and maintenance tips. With the correct settings, you can set your robot to clean at 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 smartest 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. You can save these maps within the robot app to easily navigate around your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture placement and note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

Smart vacuums help you save time by mapping and cleaning entire houses by themselves and also keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. The majority of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so that you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that offers high performance for the money. It is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not quite as sophisticated as other robots that we've reviewed but it does its job very well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model permit it to glide across the high transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled device cords which can cause a problem for other robots. It has a huge bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and can recharge itself and continue cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums we've tested but it combines powerful suction and 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. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This can be helpful when you have children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning routine, or if you're too tired to operate the robot manually.

Many models have an automatic mode which works without your input. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app, and it will start sucking up dirt, food crumbs, and pet hair. These robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them ideal for those who want to make a plan and forget.

Some of the higher-end models include a sophisticated feature that uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan the presence of obstacles in your home. They can detect things like stairs, power cords and furniture, and they can also distinguish between different types of floors. This can help to avoid the dangers, which is especially useful in homes with a lot of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots are more basic in their object detection abilities however, they still get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs with ease. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to be tangled in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic instead of the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.

It's more expensive than other mid-range robots but it does everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can map and create a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it does not have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.