The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair and more.

While they can't perform as well as the regular 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

Robot vacuum cleaners use tools for navigation, such as sensors and lasers to navigate around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors such as tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots 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 areas on your smartphone to instruct your robot to avoid areas you don't want it to be able to keep.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities like the Roomba J7, make use of an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to avoid and detect obstacles. Then, you can allow it to do a thorough job without having to keep an eye on the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles out of the way. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, which means it's a complete solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a fantastic suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.

A cheaper robot that vacuums, mop and can even be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't require the more sophisticated features of the more expensive models. However, it has some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others which means it won't be as effective in picking up larger debris like shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, so you may need to clear the clutter prior to running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and offers consistent, solid suction on hardwood and low-pile carpets and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not very advanced however it's a good choice. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or create zones that aren't allowed to be entered via the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Some models on our list have sensors (or even cameras) that allow your robot cleaner to avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for kids and pet messes. iRobot Roomba j7 is among the most amazing examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically empties the garbage bin, so you don't have to.

During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without getting bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and is able to reach places most standup vacs never reach, such as under beds and sofas. It has a 500ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. It isn't able to create no-go zones, and its object recognition is a bit hit-or-miss. We noticed it crashing into objects at times during our tests which resulted in vase caps falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that no matter how intelligent the robot vacuum and mop combo vacuum is, it will not replace your upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily dirty carpets, it can't be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach areas. It's an excellent addition to your routine cleaning for getting rid of hair, and vacuum robot pet dander.

Sensor systems are built into most robot vacuums to assist them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell the moment when they're going to fall down a staircase, for instance, and they also recognize cluttered areas and move around them. Nevertheless, if you're not cautious, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require assistance.

Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and also locate themselves. This lets them know which areas they've cleaned before and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. This lets them resume where they left off in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its bins of dust once it gets full is an incredible benefit. Some models come with a window that allows you to see when the dust bin is due to be empty. This is a great option for anyone with pets or children who create more mess than adults.

The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine will be controlled by a remote or an app for your smartphone, or by voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance suggestions. You can program your robot to clean your house on an annual or a regularly, using the right settings. 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 lets them 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 even remember the furniture placement and transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.

The most efficient smart vacuums help you save time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app for your tablet or phone. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker, so you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an inexpensive, self-emptying robot Vacuum robot that offers excellent performance for the price. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other debris from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does very well.

The wheels that resemble a tank that this model has allow it to move across the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles such as tangled cords for devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't require to be empty manually, and it's also able to recharge and continue cleaning when it runs out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, however it has powerful suction and easy controls to deliver an excellent value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote control or an app for a smartphone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is useful if you have small children or pets who could hinder your cleaning or if you're exhausted to operate the robot manually.

Many models have an automatic mode that works without input. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app and it will begin taking in food particles, and pet hair. They can also be programmed to clean regularly and is perfect for those who prefer to program it to forget about it.

Some of the higher-end models come with an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstructions within your home. These models can detect things like furniture, stairs power cords, and even different types of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers which is especially helpful in homes with a lot of carpets and flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots have more basic ability to detect objects, but still manage to complete the task. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek and easy-to-use appearance of a wifi hub but offers the capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris on hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile effortlessly. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles, as well as plastic, gives a thorough cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other models in the mid-range, but it does everything you'd expect from mop and vacuum robots. It can draw out a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. It doesn't have the same room-scanning and obstacle-avoiding capabilities like the j7 or s8.