Robot vacuums can help you clean your floors more easily. The best ones can remove tracked-in dirt, crumbs, shedding pet hair, and more.
While they're still unable to perform as well of a job as the regular vacuum however, they've come a long way over the last few years. They're more efficient, smarter and (marginally) better at avoiding chairs.
Smart Mapping
Using navigation tools like lasers and sensors, robot vacuum cleaners move around your home, removing pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from their dustbins. They can be found on hard floors such as laminate, wood, and tile, as well as low-pile carpets and area rugs. Robots that are the most advanced maps your home so they know where they've been and how to avoid hitting obstacles like chairs, sofas, and bookshelves. You can also use your smartphone app to set up no-go zones, which tell your robot not to enter rooms you don't want it to clean.
Robots with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba j7, utilize onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles. Then, you can allow it to perform the job 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 combines vacuuming and mopping, so it's a one-stop solution for keeping your home tidy. It has a great suction and works with Alexa or Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.
Roborock Q Revo, a lower-cost robot that vacuums, mops and functions as an automated trashcan is a great option for homes that don't have the need for more advanced features. However, it has some limitations in comparison to the Roomba S8 and J7. For instance, it uses one rubber brush instead of the dual roller brushes that the other models have and it may not be as effective in collecting larger objects like shoes and socks. It doesn't come with AI obstacle avoidance, which means you might need to get rid of obstructions before you run.
The iLife A4s Pro robot is a simple reliable robot that is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity and proficiency. It's less than $200 and provides strong, consistent suction on hardwood and low-pile rug while avoiding knots. It's not a lot of technology, but it works well. It also works with voice commands, so you can set it up on a schedule or set up zones that are not allowed to enter using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technologies can impact the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate around your home. Some of the models we've reviewed contain sensors (or even cameras) which help your robo-cleaner avoid common traps for robots, such as cords, toys for kids and pet messes. iRobot Roomba j7, one of the most impressive examples of smart technology in action, is a great example. It also has a stylish clean base that fills the trash bin automatically so that you don't need to.
During testing we set up the robotic cleaner in a home with a large size and were amazed by how quickly and thoroughly the floors were cleaned without becoming a mess. It has impressive maneuverability and can get to places most standup vacs never go, including under beds and sofas. It comes with a 500-ml dustbin, great suction and a running time of more than two hours. It isn't able to set up no-go zones and its recognition of objects isn't exactly reliable. We saw it bumping into things on occasion during our tests, resulting in some vases falling over.
It is important to keep in mind that, no matter how smart a robot vacuum is it won't substitute for your upright or canister vacuum. It's not able to clean carpets that have been heavily soiled. It can't reach the ceiling or other difficult-to-reach areas. But for keeping your floors free of crumbs, pet hair, dander and other debris it could be an ideal addition to your routine of cleaning.
Most robot vacuums have sensor systems that help them navigate around obstacles and stairs. They can tell when they are about to fall down the stairs, for instance and also detect areas that are cluttered and move around them. Nevertheless, if you're not cautious the robo-cleaner may be stuck on a cord or shoe and require assistance.
Some of the smarter robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to design a floor plan of your house and locate themselves within it. This allows them to know which areas they've already cleaned, and avoid the hassle of going over the same areas. This allows them to resume the same place they left off should they need to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that automatically empties its bins of dust once it gets full is an incredible convenience. Some models have an indicator that allows you to observe when the bin has to be empty. This is a great feature for those with pets or children who tend to create more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums allow you to select whether the machine is controlled by a remote control, an app for your smartphone or voice commands. They also come with a variety of digital features, such as maintenance and scheduling suggestions. If robot mop set the right settings, you can program your robot to clean at a regular time, or on a weekly basis. You can also program the robot to clean and map out specific areas of your home.
Some of the most advanced robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras as well as smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. These can be saved in the robot's app so you can quickly navigate to specific rooms or areas of your home. Some of these systems will even remember the furniture layout and transitions between hardwood flooring and carpet.
Smart vacuums help you save time by cleaning entire homes automatically and keeping detailed records of the previous cleaning sessions. You can access these records using an app that you can install on your tablet or phone. Most of them can be linked to your 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 provides high performance for the money. It is able to clean floors and sweep up pet hair and other particles from rugs made of wood and low pile. It's not as advanced as other robots we've reviewed however, it does what it does well.
The wheels that resemble a tank that this model has allow it to glide right over the transitions between rooms and obstacles such as tangled cords for devices that can cause problems for other robots. It also has a huge dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied 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 tested however it combines powerful suction with simple controls to deliver a great value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums can be controlled via a physical remote or an app on your smartphone. Some can also integrate with smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, allowing you to control them using voice commands. This is a great option for families with small pets or children that could get in the way of your cleaning session or if you're tired to operate the robot manually.
Many models have an automatic mode which works without your input. Simply press a button on the robot or within the app, and it will start sucking up food, dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. They can be programmed to clean in accordance with the schedule, which makes them perfect for those who simply want to make a plan and forget.
Certain models that are more expensive include a sophisticated feature that makes use of artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstacles within your home. These models can identify things like stairs, furniture, power cords and even different types of flooring. This can help to avoid the dangers, which is especially useful in homes with a lot of rugs and other flooring materials that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are less sophisticated in their object detection abilities, but they still do the job. One example is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 plus, which has the clean and easy-to-use appearance of a WiFi hub but boasts a lot of the performance of a top bot. It has a powerful suction and can clean dirt and debris from medium-pile rugs and hardwood floors. Its short, squat side brushes are less likely to get stuck in stray shoes or cords and its hybrid roller brush utilizes bristles and plastic, rather than a traditional bristle brush for better cleaning.
This model is more expensive than other models that are in the middle of the range but it has everything you'd expect from a robot vacuum and mop. It can create and map a cleaning schedule, has virtual keep-out zones and is compatible with voice assistants. However, it does not have obstacles avoidance or room scanning like the j7 and S8.
