The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The most effective robot vacuums remove dirt, pet hair, crumbs and much more.

While they can't perform 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 in avoiding the legs of chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners employ tools for navigation, such as lasers and sensors to navigate around your home. They collect 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. The most sophisticated robots can map your home so they can recall where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might want to keep out of your way. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to tell your robot to stay clear of rooms that you don't want to clean.

Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, use onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can leave it alone to get an efficient cleaning without having to continually check the status of your floorplan or manually move obstacles out of the robot's path. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that combines vacuuming and mopping, so it's an all-in-one solution for keeping your home clean. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature, and can be used as an alarm camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mop and functions as a trashcan that is robotic is a great choice for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some limitations in comparison to Roomba S8 and j7. It has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have and it may not be as effective at cleaning up larger particles such as shoes and socks. It doesn't come with 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 prefer simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and delivers consistent, strong suction both on hardwood and low-pile rugs and avoids tangles. It doesn't have any advanced features, but it does its job well. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter via the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum mops vacuum to navigate your home. Some models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for kids and pet mess. iRobot Roomba j7 is among the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also has a stylish clean base that empties the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.

In our testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a big house and were impressed by the speed and efficiency with which it was able to clean floors without getting sluggish. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to be, such as under beds and couches. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. However, it lacks the ability to set no-go zones in the app and its detection of objects is somewhat erratic which means that we saw it hit things a few times during our tests (resulting in a few tipped vase tops).

It is important to keep in mind that, regardless of how intelligent the robot vacuum is it won't substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily dirty carpets, it can't reach into every crevice, and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach areas. But for keeping your floors clear of pet hair, crumbs and other particles it could be an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.

Sensor systems are built into the majority of robot vacuums to assist them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can sense when they are about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and can also recognize messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not cautious your robot-cleaner could be stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.

Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to create a floor plan of your house and locate themselves within it. This lets them know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid spending time cleaning the same spots. This allows them to continue the same place they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically emptys its bin when it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models even have a window that lets you see the time when the bin must be empty. This feature is great for those who have children or pets, who are likely to create lots of mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled via a remote control or an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They offer a range of digital features including scheduling and maintenance tips. With the correct settings, you can schedule your robot to clean at a set time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to clean specific areas of your house.

Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps within the robot's app and use them to navigate through your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture placement and even note the transitions between hard floors and carpet.

Smart vacuums save time by mapping and cleaning entire houses by themselves and also keeping detailed records about the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access these records using an app on your tablet or phone. They can also be connected to your smart speaker, so you can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides excellent performance at a low cost. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does very well.

The wheels that resemble a tank on this model allow it to move across the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled device cords that can cause problems for other robots. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be empty manually and is able to recharge itself and continue cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested however it has powerful suction with simple controls to provide excellent value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote control or an app for a smartphone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or cheap Robot vacuum Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is useful for families with small children or pets who could get in the way of your cleaning routine or if you're exhausted to operate the robot manually.

The majority of models come with an automatic mode which works without 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 an established schedule, making them ideal for people who simply need to set and forget.

Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. They can detect things like power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and can even discern between different kinds of floors. This can help to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes that have lots of rugs and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they are still able to do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance, has the appearance of WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a premium bot. It has a strong suction and can clean dirt and debris on medium pile carpets and hardwood floors. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles as well as plastic, gives an effective cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other models in the middle-end, but it does everything you want from a Cheap robot vacuum mop and vacuum. It can map and create a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it doesn't have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.