The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair, and more.

While they can't perform as well as a regular vacuum cleaner, they have improved a lot in the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners utilize tools 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 such as tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets with a low pile. Robots that are the most advanced map your home, so they know where they've been, and can avoid bumping into obstacles such as couches, chairs, and bookshelves. You can also use your smartphone 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 like the Roomba J7, utilize an the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to avoid and detect obstacles. This means you can let it alone to get an effective cleaning without having to continuously check the status of your floorplan, or manually remove obstacles from the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is a robot which combine vacuuming and mopping. It's a one-stop solution to keep your home tidy. It has a great suction system and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also has a useful self-emptying feature, and can be used as a security camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a cheaper robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as an automated trashcan is a great option for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages when compared to Roomba j7 and S8. For instance, it uses one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others which means it won't be as effective at picking up larger 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 a simple reliable robot for those who value simplicity and efficiency. It costs less than $200, and provides strong, consistent suction both on hardwood and low-pile rugs while avoiding tangles. It's not a lot of technology however, it's effective. It is also compatible with voice commands. It can be set up on a schedule, or create zones that are not allowed to be used using the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technologies can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Certain models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots like cords, toys for kids and pet messes. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this type of technology in action. It also comes with a sleek base that automatically emptys the garbage bin, so you don't have to.

In our testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large house and were awed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleaned up floors without becoming bogged down. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places that stand-up vacuums are unable to can, like couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. It's not able to set up no-go zones and its object recognition is a bit iffy. We noticed it hitting objects at times during our tests and resulted in vase caps falling over.

It's important to remember that no matter how clever the robot vacuum might appear it will not replace your regular canister or upright vacuum. It can't deal with heavily dirty carpets, it can't reach into every crevice, and won't be able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. But for keeping your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs and other particles it's a good addition to your cleaning routine.

Sensors are integrated into many robot vacuums to help them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They are able to tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for example and also detect messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could be stuck on a cord, shoe, or other object.

Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to design an outline 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 areas. It also lets them continue the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that automatically empty its bin after it is full is an excellent convenience. Some models have windows that allow you to know when the bin needs to empty. This is a great feature for people who have pets or children, who are likely to create lots of mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They have a number of digital features including maintenance and scheduling tips. If you set the right settings, you can set your robot to clean at a set time, or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.

The most intelligent robot vacuums we best robot floor cleaner have tested are equipped with sensors and cameras, which allow them to build maps for your home. These maps can be saved to the robot's app, so you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems can even keep track of furniture arrangement and record the transitions from hard floors to carpet.

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

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robot vacuum that delivers excellent performance for the price. It can clean hardwood floors as well as carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed but it does what it does very well.

The model's tank-like wheels permit it to glide over obstacles such as tangled cords and high transitions within rooms. It also comes with a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptied manually, and it's able to recharge and resume cleaning if it's power-depleted. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried, but it is able to combine powerful suction with simple controls to deliver an excellent value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app on your phone. Some models can also be integrated with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or 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 session, or if you're too tired to operate the robot manually.

Many models have an automatic mode which works without your input. The robot can be started by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them perfect for those who simply need to set and forget.

Some of the more expensive models include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstacles within your home. These models can recognize things like stairs, furniture power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This can help robots stay clear of hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots come with less basic object detection capabilities but they are able to get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is similar to WiFi routers, but it has the performance of a top-of-the-line bot. It is extremely suction-driven and can handle dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs easily. Its short and squat side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles and plastic, provides a thorough cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other robots in the middle-end, but it does everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create a cleaning schedule and create one. It also has virtual zones to keep out of. However, it does not have obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the S8 or j7.