The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Cleaning your floors isn't always simple, but robot vacuums help. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair, and more.

While they're still unable to do the same job as a traditional vacuum cleaner however, they've come a long way in recent years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners utilize instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate through your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials like tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets with a low pile. The most sophisticated robots map your home, so that they can keep track of where they've been and avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of your way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to instruct your robot to stay clear of rooms that you don't want to keep clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba J7, make use of processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to avoid obstacles and see them. This means you can let it to do a thorough cleaning without having to constantly be checking the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's an all-in-one solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction feature and can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also function as a surveillance camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a less expensive robot that vacuums, mops and is also an automated trashcan, is a good option for homes without the need for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba j7 and S8. For one, it has only one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other, so it might not be as effective in collecting larger objects like shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so it is possible that you will need to eliminate obstructions before you run.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It costs less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction both on hardwood and low-pile rug while avoiding tangles. It doesn't include any advanced features, however it does the job very well. It also works with voice commands. You can set it up to run a program, or create zones that are not allowed to be used using the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Some models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for kids and pet messes. IRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the trash bin automatically so that 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 reach, like under beds and couches. It has a 500ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a time of over two hours. It isn't able to set up no-go zones, and its recognition of objects is a bit hit-or-miss. We observed it crashing into objects in our tests on occasion and resulted in vessels falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that, no matter how clever the robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It can't deal with heavily dirty carpets, it can't be able to reach every corner, and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach areas. But for keeping your floors free of crumbs, pet hair and other particles, it can be a good addition to your routine of cleaning.

The majority of robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They are able to tell the moment they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and can also recognize areas that are cluttered and move around them. However, if you're not careful, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require assistance.

Some smarter robot vacuums have mapping capabilities, which allow them to design an outline of your home and then locate themselves within it. This lets them know what areas they've already cleaned and avoid the hassle of going over the same spots. This allows them to resume the same place they left off in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically emptys its dust bin when it is full is a huge convenience. Some models even have windows that lets you see when the bin has 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 is operated with the use of a remote, an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a range of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling suggestions. With the correct settings, you can schedule your robot to clean on a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of your house.

The smartest robot vacuums that we've tested are equipped with cameras and smart sensors, which allow them to build maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot's app and use them to best budget robot vacuum navigate through your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture placement and even note the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

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

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers excellent performance at a low price. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as advanced as some of the other robots we've reviewed but it does what it does very efficiently.

The tank-like wheels on this model permit it to roll right over the high transitions between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't have to be manually emptied and it can charge itself and continue cleaning when it is unable to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to give you a good value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is helpful if your robot needs to clean up and you have pets or small children who could be disruptive.

The majority of models come with an automatic mode that works without your input. The robot can be started by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean on a regular schedule which is great for those who wish to set it and forget it.

Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can detect things like stairs, furniture power cords, even different types of flooring. This can help to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes with lots of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots come with less basic ability to detect objects but they are able to complete the task. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, that has the sleek, fuss-free appearance of a WiFi hub but offers the performance of a top bot. It has a powerful suction that can take care of dirt and debris from medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to get stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles as well as plastic, provides an efficient cleaning.

It's more expensive than other mid-range robots, but it can do everything you require from mopping and vacuuming robots. 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 s8.