The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones will remove dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair, and more.

And while they still can't do as good of a job as a regular vacuum but they've come quite a way over the last few years. They're smarter, more powerful and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.

Smart Mapping

Utilizing navigational tools like lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners move through your home, sucking pet hair, crumbs, and dirt into their dustbins from hard floors like laminate, wood, and tile and area rugs and carpets with low pile. The most advanced robots can map your house, to help them keep track of where they've been and avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves that you may want to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go zones using your smartphone to alert your robot to avoid rooms you don't wish it to clean.

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, utilize processor-powered cameras and onboard sensors to see and avoid obstacles. This means you can let it alone to get a thorough cleaning without having to continuously be checking the status 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 has great suction and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a useful self-emptying feature, and can be used as an alarm camera.

Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and functions as a robotic trashcan is a great option for homes without the need for more advanced features. It does have some disadvantages in comparison to Roomba S8 and J7. For one, it has a single rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes of the other which means it won't be as effective at collecting larger objects such as shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, which means you might need to get rid of the clutter prior to running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and offers strong, consistent suction on hardwood and carpets that are low-pile, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It doesn't come with any advanced features, but it does the job well. It also works with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or create zones that are not allowed to enter through the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can make or break a robot vacuum's ability to navigate around your home. Certain models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common robot traps such as cords, toys for children and pet mess. iRobot Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a fantastic example. It also has a stylish base that automatically emptys the garbage bin, so you don't need to.

During testing, we set this robotic cleaner up in a large house and were awed by how quickly and thoroughly it cleaned up floors without becoming bogged down. It is very maneuverable and can reach places that the majority of stand-up vacuums are unable to be, such as under couches and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, great suction and a time of over two hours. It's just not equipped with the ability to set no-go zones in the app and its detection of objects is a little hit-or-miss and we did see it occasionally bump into objects during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vases).

It's important to keep in mind that despite how smart a robot vacuum might be, it won't completely replace your traditional canister or upright vacuum. It's not equipped to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-access areas. However, to keep your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs and other dander, it can be an ideal addition to your cleaning routine.

Most robot vacuums come with sensors that aid them to navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can usually sense the moment they're likely to fall down a staircase, for instance, and also recognize cluttered areas and maneuver around them. If you're not vigilant your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.

Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that permit them to create an precise floor plan of your house and locate themselves. They will then be able to identify the areas they have cleaned and save time by not having to go over the same spots. This allows them to continue where they left off, in the event that they have to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A vacuum cleaner that can automatically emptys its bin when it is full is a great convenience. Some models even have windows so you can see the time when the bin must be empty. This is a fantastic option for anyone with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app for your phone, or via voice commands. They have a number of digital functions, including scheduling and maintenance tips. You can program your robot to clean on every week or on a regularly, using the right settings. You can also program it to clean specific areas of your home.

Some of the smartest robot vacuums we've tested come with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. You can save these maps in the robot's app and use them to navigate around your home. Some of these systems will even remember the furniture arrangement and the transitions between hardwood floors and carpet.

Smart vacuums can save you time by mapping and cleaning entire houses automatically and keeping detailed records about previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records through an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. The majority of them can be linked to your smart speaker, floor vacuum robot so that you can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that provides 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 quite as sophisticated as the other robots we've reviewed but it does its job very well.

The rubber-like wheels on this model allow it to glide right over the high gaps between rooms and obstacles like tangled device cords that trip up other robots. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually, and it's also able to recharge and resume cleaning when it's not able to continue cleaning. It's more expensive than some of the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction with simple controls to provide a fantastic value.

Voice Control

The majority of robot vacuums are controlled using a remote or an app on your smartphone. Certain robot vacuums can be controlled by voice commands via smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful when you have pets or children who might get in the way of your cleaning or if you're tired to control the robot by hand.

The majority of models come with an automatic mode that operates without input. The robot can be started by pressing a button in the app or on the robot. These robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with a schedule, making them ideal for people who just want to make a plan and forget.

Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to examine your home and find obstacles. These models can identify things such as power cords, stairs and furniture, and even discern between different kinds of flooring. This can help robots stay clear of dangers. This is especially helpful in large homes with lots carpeting and flooring that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Other robots have more basic abilities for object detection however they still manage to get the job done. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example is similar to an internet router, but has the performance of a high-end robot. It has a strong suction and can handle dirt and debris on medium pile carpets and hardwood floors. Its short, squat-shaped side brushes are less likely to get caught in stray shoes and cords and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic, rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide an even more thorough cleaning.

It's more expensive than other mid-range robots, but it can do everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and create a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it does not have obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the j7 or S8.