The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best robot vacuums are able to pick up tracked-in dirt and pet hair, crumbs, and more.

Although they're not as well as an ordinary vacuum cleaner, they've made significant progress in the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better at avoiding chair legs.

Smart Mapping

Utilizing navigation tools such as sensors and lasers, robot vacuum cleaners navigate through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors like wood, tile and laminate and carpets and area rugs with low pile. Robots that are the most sophisticated map your home to know where they've been and how to avoid hitting obstacles such as chairs, sofas and bookshelves. You can make use of your smartphone app to create no-go zones, which tell your robot to stay out of rooms that you don't want to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping abilities like the Roomba J7, make use of an onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligent to detect and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to complete the task without having to constantly monitor the status of your floorplan or manually remove obstacles from the robot's way. The TP Link Tapo RV30 plus is a robot that can combine mopping and vacuuming, so it's an all-in-one solution to keep your home clean. It has great suction and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and can also function as a surveillance camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and can be used as a trashcan that is robotic, is a good option for homes that don't have the need for more advanced features. However, it has a few disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other and it may not be as effective at collecting larger objects 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's perfect for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It's priced at less than $200 and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood as well as low-pile carpets and avoids tangles. It doesn't include any advanced features, however it does its job well. It is also compatible 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 technologies can impact the ability of a robot vacuum 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, kids' toys and pet spills. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the most impressive examples of this kind of technology in action. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.

We tested this robotic cleaner in a huge home and were amazed by how quickly and efficiently the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It's incredibly maneuverable and can reach places that most stand-up vacs cannot go, including under beds and sofas. It also has a great suction, a massive 500 ml dustbin, and an over two-hour running time. It's not able to create no-go zones, and its recognition of objects is a bit iffy. We noticed it bumping into things on occasion during our tests which resulted in vase caps falling over.

It is important to keep in mind that, no matter how smart the robot vacuum is it won't substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It won't be able to clean heavily soiled carpets. It's not able to reach ceilings or other difficult-to-reach areas. However, to keep your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs, dander and other debris, it can be an excellent addition to your routine of cleaning.

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

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 where they left off should they need to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that automatically empties its dust bin when it is full is a great convenience. Certain models come with windows that allow you to see when the dust bin has to be empty. This is a fantastic feature for anyone who has pets or children who create more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you choose which model can be controlled with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, 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 map and clean certain areas of your home.

Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and sensor technology that lets them create maps of your home. You can save these maps within the robot's app to quickly navigate through your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture layout and transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.

Smart vacuums can save you time by cleaning entire homes by themselves and also keeping detailed records about the cleaning sessions that have occurred previously. You can access the records via an app for your smartphone or tablet. Most of them can be connected to your top rated robot vacuum smart speaker, so that you can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that offers good performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors and carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other particles. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed, however it does its job very well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to move across the gaps between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that trip up other robots. It also has a large dust bin that doesn't need to be empty manually, and it's able to recharge and resume cleaning if it runs out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums we've tried but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to provide a fantastic value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled via a physical remote or an app that you can install on your smartphone. Some robot vacuums can be operated by voice commands using smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is helpful if your robot needs to be cleaned and you have pets or small children who might interfere.

Most models also include an automatic mode that functions without any input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin sucking up dirt, food hair, and crumbs. These robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with an established schedule, making them ideal for those who want to set and forget.

Some of the more expensive models have an advanced feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to look around your home and identify obstacles. These models can detect things like furniture, stairs power cords, and even different types of flooring. This helps robots avoid hazards. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and other flooring coverings that are difficult for robots navigate.

Some robots come with less basic abilities for object detection, but still manage 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 has the performance of a top bot. It has a powerful suction and can clean dirt and debris on medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which uses bristles and plastic, provides an efficient cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other models that are in the middle of the range but it has everything you want from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create the cleaning schedule and then create one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. It doesn't feature room-scanning or obstacle avoidance like the j7 or S8.