The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Keeping your floors clean isn’t always easy, but robot vacuums make it easier. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair, and more.

Although they’re not as well as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they’ve made significant progress in the past few years. They’re more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.

Smart Mapping

Using navigation tools like sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners move around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors such as laminate, wood and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. The most advanced robots can map your home so they can remember where they have been and avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can make use of your smartphone’s app to set up zones that prohibit your robot not to enter rooms you don’t want it to clean.

Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, make use of an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to avoid and detect obstacles. You can then leave it to complete the task without having to constantly monitor 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 combines mopping and vacuuming, so it’s a complete solution for keeping your home tidy. It has great suction, and it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mop and is also a trashcan that is robotic is a great choice for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has some limitations in comparison to Roomba S8 and j7. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it isn’t as effective at removing larger pieces of debris like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so it could be necessary to get rid of clutter prior to running it.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy-to-use, reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and proficiency. It’s less than $200 and delivers consistent, strong suction on hardwood as well as low-pile carpets while avoiding knots. It doesn’t include any advanced features, but it does its job well. It also works with voice commands. You can set it to run on a schedule or create zones of no-go zones with the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the robot’s ability to navigate your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot Roomba J7, one of the most amazing examples of smart technology in motion, is an excellent example. It also has a stylish clean base that empties the dustbin automatically so you don’t need to.

During testing the robotic cleaner up in a huge house and were awed by the speed and efficiency with which it was able to clean floors without getting sluggish. It is extremely maneuverable and is able to reach places most standup vacs never go, including under sofas and under beds. It also has a great suction, a massive 500 ml dustbin, and an over two-hour runtime. It lacks the option to create no-go zones and its object recognition isn’t exactly reliable. We observed it bumping into things at times during our tests, resulting in some vase caps falling over.

It’s important to keep in mind that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum might be but it can’t replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It’s not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It’s not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. However, to keep your floors clear of pet hair, crumbs and other dander it could be an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.

Sensor systems are integrated into the majority of robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can usually sense the moment they’re likely to fall down the stairs, for instance, and detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you’re not careful your robo-cleaner may get stuck on a shoe, cord, or other object.

Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to draw an precise floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. They will then be able to identify the areas they’ve already cleaned, and robotvacuummops save time by not having to go over the same areas. It also allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is an excellent convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to know when the bin needs to empty. This feature is great for people who have children or pets who are likely to create much more mess than adults.

The majority of robot vacuums allow you to choose which model can be controlled by the use of a remote, an app on your phone or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features including scheduling and maintenance tips. If you set the right settings, you can program your robot to clean at a regular time, or on a weekly basis. You can also program it to clean 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 in the robot’s app to quickly navigate around your home. Some of these systems can even keep track of the furniture’s layout and transitions between hard floors and carpet.

Smart vacuums help you save time by cleaning entire homes automatically and keeping detailed records of the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access the records via an app for your tablet or smartphone. Most of them can be connected to your smart speaker so you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides great performance at a reasonable price. It can clean floors and sweep pet hair and other messes from low-pile and hardwood rugs. It’s not as advanced as the other robots we’ve reviewed but it does the job well.

The tank-like wheels that this model has allow it to glide right over the gaps between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords that trip up other robots. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be empty manually and is able to recharge itself and resume cleaning if it is unable to continue cleaning. It’s a bit more expensive than the other robotic vacuums we’ve tested however it combines powerful suction and simple controls to provide a fantastic value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums can be controlled using a remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums can be controlled by voice commands through smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful when your robot has to clean up and you have pets or small 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 robot or within the app, and it will start sucking up dirt, food particles, and pet hair. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them ideal for people who just need to make a plan and forget.

Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can identify things such as power cords, stairs, and furniture, and can even discern between different kinds of floors. This can help robots avoid dangers. This is especially useful in homes with large areas of rugs and other floorcoverings that are difficult for robots navigate.

Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection but they are able to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance, has the appearance of an internet router, but has the performance of a top-of-the-line robot. It has a powerful suction and can clean dirt and debris on medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its squat, short side brushes are less likely to become tangled in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic, rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide a more thorough cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other robots in the mid-range, but it does everything you’d expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. However, it doesn’t have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 or S8.