The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The most effective robot vacuums clean up dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and much more.

And while they still can't perform as well of a job as a traditional vacuum cleaner but they've come quite a way over the last few years. They're more sophisticated and powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners utilize instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate through your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of hard materials such as tile, wood, and laminate, and carpets and area rugs with low piles. Robots that are the most advanced map your home, so they know where they've been and how to avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to instruct your robot to avoid rooms that you don't want to be able to keep.

Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, utilize processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to do a thorough job without having to continuously monitor the state of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine vacuuming and mopping, so it's a complete solution for keeping your home tidy. It has great suction and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a convenient self-emptying feature that can be used as an alarm camera.

A less expensive robot that mops, vacuums and can even be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't need the more sophisticated features of more expensive models. It does have some disadvantages in comparison to Roomba S8 and J7. It uses one brush instead of dual roller brushes, meaning it isn't as efficient at picking up larger pieces of debris like shoes and socks. It does not have AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200, and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood and carpets with low pile and also avoids tangles caused by rug threads. It's not a lot of technology however, it's effective. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or create no-go zones through the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can affect the robot's ability to navigate your home. Some models on this list include sensors (or cameras) to aid your robot vacuum to avoid common traps for robots like cords, toys for children and pet mess. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this type of technology in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically emptys the trash bin so that you don't need to.

In our testing the robot, we set the cleaner up in a large house and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleaned up floors without becoming bogged down. It is extremely maneuverable and is able to reach places most standup vacs never reach, such as couches and under beds. It also has great suction, a huge 500 ml dustbin and an over two hours of runtime. It lacks the option to set up no-go zones, and its recognition of objects is a bit hit-or-miss. We noticed it bumping into things in our tests on occasion, resulting in some vases falling over.

It's important to keep it in mind that, no matter how smart a robot vacuum may be, it will not substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to deal with heavy soiled carpets, it won't be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. But for keeping your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs and other dander, it can be a good addition to your cleaning routine.

Most robot vacuums come with sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They usually know the moment they're likely to fall down the stairs, for instance, and also recognize cluttered areas and maneuver around them. However, if you're not cautious, your robo-cleaner might become stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.

Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw an accurate floor plan of your house and locate themselves. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. This lets them 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 bins of dust once it is full is an incredible benefit. Some models also have a window that lets you see the time when the bin must be empty. This feature is ideal for people who have children or pets who are likely to create a lot more mess than adults.

The majority of robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app for your smartphone, or by voice commands. They also have a variety of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling. With the correct settings, you can set your robot to clean at a regular time or on an annual basis. You can also program the robot to map out and clean specific areas of your home.

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

The most effective smart vacuums will help you save time by automating the mapping and cleaning of entire houses and keeping detailed records of cleaning sessions. You can access the records via an app on your smartphone or tablet. They can also be connected to your smart speaker, so you more info can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides outstanding performance for a reasonable price. It can clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other messes from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed, however, it does what it does well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to roll right over the transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled cords from devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually, and it can recharge and resume cleaning if it's not able to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tested however it has powerful suction and simple controls to provide excellent value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled via a remote control or an app for a smartphone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to run them using voice commands. This is helpful for robots that need to be cleaned and you have pets or children who might interfere.

The majority of models come with an automatic mode that works without your input. You can start the robot by pressing a button within the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean according to an established schedule, making them perfect for those who need to set and forget.

Some of the more expensive models come with an advanced feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to detect and scan the presence of obstacles in your home. These models can identify things such as power cords, stairs as well as furniture, and can even identify different types of floors. This helps robots avoid hazards. This is especially useful in large homes that have lots of rugs and other floorcoverings which are difficult for robots navigate.

Other robots have more basic ability to detect objects, but still manage to get the job done. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean elegant, easy-to-use design of a wifi hub but boasts a lot of the performance of a top bot. It is extremely suction-driven and handles dirt and debris on hardwood floors and rugs with medium pile effortlessly. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to become caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other mid-range robots however, it is able to do everything you need from mopping and vacuuming robots. It can map and build a cleaning schedule and has virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. It doesn't feature room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 or S8.