The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors easier. The best robot vacuums are able to pick up tracked-in dirt and pet hair, crumbs and more.

While they can't perform like an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they've improved a lot in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners employ tools for navigation, such as sensors and lasers to navigate around your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs and dirt from hard floors like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots can map your house, to help them remember where they have been and avoid hitting obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves that you may prefer to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go areas on your smartphone to tell your robot to avoid rooms that you don't want to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, use the onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to avoid and detect obstacles. This means that you can leave it to do an efficient cleaning without having to constantly monitor the state of your floorplan, or manually move obstacles out of the robot's path. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's a complete solution to keep your home tidy. It's got great suction, and also is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature that can be used as a security camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mop and is also a trashcan that is robotic, is a good option for homes that do not require for more advanced features. However, it has some disadvantages when compared to Roomba S8 and j7. For instance, it uses one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the others and it may not be as effective in cleaning up larger particles such as shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so you might need to get rid of the clutter prior to running.

The iLife A4s Pro robot is an easy-to-use reliable robot for those who value simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and offers consistent, solid suction on hardwood and carpets with low pile and avoids tangles with rug threads. It's not a lot of technology however, it's effective. It also works with voice commands, which means you can run it on schedule or create zones that aren't allowed to be entered via the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between a robot vacuum's ability to navigate your home. Some models on our list include sensors (or even cameras) that help your robo-cleaner avoid common robot traps like cords, toys for kids and pet spills. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also has a stylish clean base that emptys the trash bin automatically so that you don't need to.

During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a large home and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It's extremely maneuverable and can get into places that most standup vacuums cannot, such as under beds and couches. It has a 500ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. However, it lacks the ability to set no-go zones within the app and its detection of objects is somewhat erratic, meaning we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in the tumbling of a few vase tops).

It's important to note that, no matter how intelligent a robot vacuum may be it will not replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily soiled carpets, it won't get into every crevice and it won't reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach spaces. But for keeping your floors clear of pet hair, crumbs and other dander it could be an excellent addition to your cleaning routine.

The majority of robot vacuums have sensors that aid them to navigate through obstacles and steps. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for instance and can also identify areas that are cluttered and move around them. If you're not careful your robot cleaner could get stuck on a cord, shoe or any other object.

Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an accurate floor plan of your home and pinpoint themselves. This lets them know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid spending time cleaning the same spots. It also allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically empty its dust bin once it is full is a great convenience. Some models have an indicator that allows you to see when the dust bin is due to be empty. This is a fantastic feature for anyone who has pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you choose which model can be controlled by an app, a remote on your phone or via voice check here commands. They have a number of digital functions, including maintenance and scheduling tips. You can program your robot to clean on a weekly or regularly, using the right settings. You can also program it to map and clean certain areas of your house.

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

Smart vacuums can save you time by cleaning entire homes by themselves and also keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your phone or tablet. They can also be connected 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 that delivers high performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, as well as remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does very well.

The tank-like wheels on this model permit it to move right over the high transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled device cords that can cause problems for other robots. It has a huge bin that does not need to be emptying manually and is able to recharge itself and resume cleaning if it's running out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tested but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to deliver an excellent value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled via a remote control or an app on a smartphone. Some robot vacuums can be operated by voice commands through smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is a great option when your robot has to be cleaned and you have pets or small children who might interfere.

Most models also include an automatic mode that works without any input from you. The robot can be started by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean according to the schedule, which makes them perfect for those who just need to set and forget.

Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can identify things like furniture, stairs power cords, and even different types of flooring. This helps to avoid the dangers which is particularly useful in larger homes that have lots of rugs and other flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots have more basic abilities for object detection but they are able to complete the task. 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 capabilities of a top-of-the-line bot. It has a strong suction that can take care of dirt and debris on medium-pile flooring and carpet. Its squat and short side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, that uses bristles as well as plastic, provides an efficient cleaning.

This model is pricier than other mid-range robots but it does everything you'd expect from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can create the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. However, it doesn't have room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 and S8.