14 Misconceptions Common To Best Robot Vacuum 2023 The Best Robot Vacuum 2023

Robot vacuums can make cleaning your floors a breeze. The best ones nab tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair, and more.

Although they're unable to do the same job as a regular vacuum but they've come quite a way in the past few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better in avoiding the legs of chairs.

Smart Mapping

Robot vacuum cleaners use instruments for navigation such as sensors and lasers to navigate your home. They remove pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from floors made of hard materials like tile, wood and laminate, as well as carpets with a low pile. The most advanced robots can map your house, to help them remember where they have been and avoid bumping into obstructions like chairs, sofas and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of your way. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to tell your robot to avoid areas you don't want it to be able to keep.

Robots that have advanced mapping capabilities, such as the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered intelligents to see and avoid obstacles. This means that you can leave the robot to perform a thorough cleaning without having to constantly 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 clean. It has great suction and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has a useful self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.

A less expensive bot 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 require the more sophisticated features of more expensive models. It does have some disadvantages in comparison to the Roomba S8 and j7. It uses a single brush instead of dual roller brushes, which means it might not be as effective at removing larger debris such as socks and shoes. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance so it is possible that you will need to eliminate clutter before running.

The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that is ideal for those who prioritize simplicity and competence. It's less than $200, and delivers consistent, strong suction on hardwood and low-pile rug while avoiding tangles. It doesn't come with any advanced features, but it does the job very well. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on schedule or create no-go zones via the app.

Object Detection

Object-avoidance technology can be the difference between a robot vacuum's ability to navigate around your home. Certain models in this list have sensors (or cameras) to assist your robot vacuum in avoiding common robot traps such as cords, toys for children and pet messes. IRobot's Roomba j7 is one of the most impressive examples of this kind of smart tech in action. It also has a stylish base that automatically empty the garbage bin, so you don't need to.

In our testing, we set up this robot cleaner in a huge home and were impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It's extremely maneuverable and can reach places that most standup vacuums cannot reach, like under couches and under beds. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, great suction and a runtime of over two hours. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to create zones that are not allowed to be used and its object detection is a little hit-or-miss and we did see 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 might be it will not replace your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to deal with heavy soiled carpets, it won't reach into every crevice, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other hard-to-reach spaces. However, if you want to keep your floors free of pet hair, crumbs and other particles it's a good addition to your routine of cleaning.

Most robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate through obstacles and steps. They usually know when they're about to fall down the stairs, for instance, and they can detect areas that are cluttered and maneuver around them. If you're not vigilant your robot-cleaner could become stuck on a cord or shoe and require help.


Some robot vacuums are equipped with mapping capabilities that allow them to draw an precise floor plan of your house and pinpoint themselves. They will then be able to identify the areas they've already cleaned and can reduce time by not having to go over the same areas. It also allows them to resume the same place they left off, should they have to return to their charging dock.

Self-Emptying

A robot vacuum that will automatically empty its bin after it is full is a great convenience. Some models also have a window so you can see the time when the bin must be empty. This is a great feature for those with pets or children who create more mess than adults.

The majority of robot vacuums let you select whether the machine is operated with an app, a remote on your phone or via voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including scheduling and maintenance tips. If you set the right settings, you can set your robot to clean on a regular time, or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.

The most intelligent robot vacuums we have tested are equipped with cameras and smart sensors, which allow them to build maps for your home. They can be saved to the robot's application so that you can easily navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems even remember furniture arrangement and record the transitions between hard floors and carpet.

The most efficient smart vacuums save you time by automatically mapping and cleaning whole homes, and also keeping precise records of previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records via an app for your tablet or phone. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker so you can control them using voice commands.

TP-Link Tapo RV30+ is self-emptying robot that provides great performance at a reasonable cost. It can clean floors and sweep pet hair and other messes from hardwood and low-pile rugs. It's not as sophisticated as other robots we've reviewed, but it does what it does well.

The tank-like wheels on this model allow it to glide across the high transitions between rooms as well as obstacles like tangled cords from devices which can cause a problem for other robots. It comes with a large bin that does not need to be empty manually, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it's running out of power. It's more expensive than other robotic vacuums that we've tested, but it blends powerful suction with simple controls to give you a good value.

Voice Control

Most robot vacuums are controlled via a remote control or an app on a smartphone. Some also connect to smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to operate them with voice commands. This is helpful for robots that need to clean up and you have pets or small children who could be disruptive.

irobot vacuum and mop of models have an automatic mode that functions without input from you. Simply press a button on the robot or in the app and it will begin sucking up food, dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. The robots can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them ideal for people who simply want to make a plan and forget.

Some of the more expensive models include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to scan and detect obstructions in your home. They can detect things such as power cords, stairs, and furniture, and they can also discern between different kinds of flooring. This helps them avoid such hazards which is particularly useful in larger homes with lots of rugs and other flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.

Some robots are more basic in their ability to detect objects, but they still do the job. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for instance is similar to a wifi router but offers the performance of a high-end bot. It has excellent suction and is able to remove dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs effortlessly. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to become stuck in stray shoes or cords, and its hybrid roller brush makes use of bristles and plastic rather than the traditional bristle brush to provide better cleaning.

This model is more expensive than other robots in the mid-range, but it does everything you would expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can map and build a cleaning schedule as well as virtual keep-out zones, and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it doesn't have the ability to scan rooms or avoid obstacles like the j7 and S8.