The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair and more.

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

Smart Mapping

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

Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba J7, utilize an onboard camera and processor-powered intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. This means you can let it alone to get a thorough 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 combines mopping and vacuuming, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a great suction, and it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It has a self-emptying function and is also able to be used as a security camera.

A less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can also be used as a robotic trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a solid option for homes that don't need the more advanced features of higher-end models. There are some drawbacks in comparison to the Roomba S8 and J7. It has one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have and it may not be as effective at picking up larger debris like shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, so you may need to clear clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's perfect for those who value simplicity and proficiency. It's priced at less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile rugs while avoiding knots. It's not a lot of technology, but it works well. It's also compatible with voice commands, so you can run it on schedule or even set up no-go zones using the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between a robot vacuum's ability to navigate around your home. Some models on this list have sensors (or cameras) to help your robot vacuum avoid common traps for robots like 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 comes with a sleek clean base that empties the garbage bin automatically so you don't have to.

During our tests, we set this robotic cleaner up in a huge house and were impressed by how quickly and efficiently it cleaned up floors without becoming bogged down. It's incredibly maneuverable and is able to reach places that stand-up vacuums are unable to go, including couches and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, a powerful suction system and a time of over two hours. It isn't able to set up no-go zones and its recognition of objects is a bit iffy. We noticed it bumping into things in our tests on occasion which resulted in vases falling over.

It's important to keep in mind that, regardless of how intelligent a robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets with a lot of dirt. It won't reach ceilings or other difficult-to-access areas. But for keeping your floors clean of pet hair, crumbs, dander and other debris it could be a good addition to your routine of cleaning.

Sensor systems are built into many robot vacuums, allowing them to navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can sense when they are about to fall down the stairs, for example, and can also recognize messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not careful, your robo-cleaner may be stuck on a shoe, cord or another object.

Some robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that permit them to make an precise floor plan of your house and locate themselves. They can then identify which areas they have already cleaned, and save time by not having to go over the same spots. This allows them to continue where they left off should they need to return to the charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that automatically empties its dust bin when it's full is a great convenience. Some models also have a window to let you know when the bin needs to be emptied. This is an excellent option for anyone with pets or children who make more mess than adults.

Most robot vacuums let you choose whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app on your smartphone, or by voice commands. They also come with a range of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling. You can program your robot to clean on an annual or a regularly using the appropriate settings. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.

Some of the most intelligent 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 through your home. Some of these systems can even remember furniture arrangement and record the transitions from hard floors to 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 the records via an app top rated robot vacuum for your smartphone or tablet. The majority of them can be connected to your smart speaker, so you can control them with voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is a self-emptying robot that offers excellent performance at a low cost. It can clean floors and sweep pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. 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 move right over the high transitions between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that doesn't need to be emptying manually and it can charge itself and resume cleaning if it is unable to continue cleaning. It's a bit more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we've tested but it combines powerful suction and simple controls to deliver a great value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled by a remote control or an app for a smartphone. Certain robot vacuums are operated by voice commands via smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful for robots that need to clean and you have pets or 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 within the app and it will begin sucking up dirt, food crumbs, and pet hair. They can also be programmed to clean on a regular schedule and is perfect for those who prefer to set it and forget it.

Some of the most expensive models include an advanced feature that uses artificial intelligence to scan your home and detect obstacles. These models can identify things like stairs, power cords and furniture, and they can also distinguish between different types of floors. This can help them avoid such hazards which is particularly useful in homes with a lot of carpets and floor coverings that are hard for robots to navigate.

Some robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they are still able to do the job. 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 robot. It has excellent suction and can handle dirt and debris from carpets and hardwood floors with ease. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to be stuck in cords or shoes. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles, as well as plastic, gives an efficient cleaning.

The model is more expensive than other mid-range robots but it does everything you require from mopping and vacuuming robots. It can create and map 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 S8 or j7.