The best robot vacuum for hardwood floors Robot Vacuum 2023
Keeping your floors clean isn't always simple, but robot vacuums make it easier. The best robot vacuums are able to clean up dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and much more.
While they're still unable to perform as well of a job as a regular vacuum but they've come quite a way in the past few years. They're more sophisticated, more powerful, and (marginally better) at avoiding the chair leg.
Smart Mapping
Robot vacuum cleaners use instruments for navigation like lasers and sensors to navigate through your home. They collect pet hair, crumbs, and dirt from hard floors, like wood, tile and laminate, as well as carpets and area rugs with low piles. The most advanced robots can map your house, to help them remember where they have been and avoid bumping into obstacles like sofas, chairs and bookshelves you might prefer to keep out of the way. You can also set up no-go zones on your smartphone to tell your robot to stay clear of rooms you don't wish it to be able to keep.
Robots equipped with advanced mapping capabilities, like the Roomba J7, make use of onboard cameras and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid obstacles. You can then leave it to do a thorough job without having to constantly monitor the state 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 complete solution for keeping your home tidy. It's got great suction, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with a handy self-emptying feature, and can be used as security cameras.
A less expensive robot that vacuums, mop and can also be used as a robot trashcan, the Roborock Q Revo is a good choice for homes that don't need the advanced features of the more expensive models. 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 of the others which means it won't be as effective at picking up larger debris like socks and shoes. It also lacks AI obstacle avoidance technology, so you might need to get rid of clutter prior to running it.
The iLife A4s Pro is a basic robot that's ideal for those who prefer simplicity and efficiency. It's less than $200 and provides consistent, strong suction for hardwood as well as carpets with low pile, while avoiding tangles with rug threads. It doesn't include any fancy features, but it does the job very well. It's also compatible with voice commands, which means you can set it up on schedule or even set up no-go zones using the app.
Object Detection
Object-avoidance technology can make or break the ability of a robot vacuum to navigate your home. Some 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 messes. iRobot's Roomba J7 is among the best examples of this type of technology in action. It also features a chic clean base that empties the dustbin automatically so you don't need to.
In our testing the robot, we set the cleaner up in a huge house and were awed by the speed and efficiency with which it cleared floors without getting sluggish. It has impressive maneuverability and is able to reach places that stand-up vacuums are unable to can, like couches and under beds. It has a 500 ml dustbin, excellent suction and a running time of more than two hours. However, it isn't equipped with the ability to create no-go zones in the app and its object detection is somewhat erratic which means that we saw it bump into things occasionally during our tests (resulting in a few toppled vase tops).
It's important to keep in mind that, no matter how smart the robot vacuum is it isn't going to replace your regular upright or canister vacuum. It's not equipped to handle heavily soiled carpets, it won't be able to reach every corner, and it's not able to reach your ceilings or other difficult to reach spaces. It's a great addition to your regular cleaning routine for removing crumbs, pet dander, and hair.
Sensor systems are integrated into many robot vacuums to assist them navigate around stairs and obstacles. They can tell when they're about fall down the stairs, for example and can also identify messy spaces and maneuver around them. If you're not vigilant your robot-cleaner could get stuck on a cord or stray shoe and require assistance.
Certain robot vacuums come with mapping capabilities that allow them to make an accurate floor plan of your home and locate themselves. They will then be able to identify the areas they have already cleaned, and reduce time by not having to clean the same spots. This allows them to resume where they left off if they have to return to the charging dock.
Self-Emptying
A vacuum cleaner that can automatically empty its bin after it is full is a great convenience. Some models come with an indicator that allows you to observe when the bin is due to be empty. This feature is great for people who have children or pets, who tend to make much more mess than adults.
Most robot vacuums let you select whether the machine can be controlled by the use of a remote, an app on your smartphone or voice commands. They have a number of digital features, including maintenance and scheduling tips. With the correct settings, you can program your robot to clean at a set time or on an annual basis. You can also program it to mark and clean specific areas of your house.
Some of the most intelligent robot vacuums we've tested are equipped with built-in cameras and smart sensor technology that allows them to create maps of your home. You can save these maps to the robot app to easily navigate around your home. Some of these systems even keep track of furniture arrangement and record transitions from hard floors to carpet.
Smart vacuums save time by mapping and cleaning entire houses automatically and keeping detailed records about the previous cleaning sessions. You can access the records using an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. Many of them can be linked to your smart speaker so that you can control them via voice commands.
TP-Link's Tapo RV30 Plus is an affordable, self-emptying robotic vacuum that provides good performance for the money. It can clean hardwood floors as well as carpets with low pile, and also remove pet hair and other debris. It's not as advanced as the other robots we've reviewed, but it does its job well.
The model's tank-like wheels permit it to go over obstacles like cords that get caught up and high transitions within rooms. It has a huge bin that does not need to be emptying manually, and can recharge itself and restart cleaning when it's running out of power. It's a bit more costly than the other robotic vacuums we've tested but it combines powerful suction with straightforward controls to give you a good value.
Voice Control
The majority of robot vacuums are controlled by a remote or an app that runs on smartphones. Certain robot vacuums are controlled by voice commands through smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. This is useful for families with small pets or children who might interfere with your cleaning session, or if you're too tired to control the robot by hand.
The majority of models come with an automatic mode which works without your input. The robot can be started by pressing a button on the app or on the robot. The robots can be programmed to clean according to an established schedule, making them perfect for those who want to set and forget.
Some of the more expensive models include a sophisticated feature that uses artificial intelligence to detect and scan obstacles within your home. These models can identify things like furniture, stairs power cords, even different kinds of flooring. This can help them avoid such hazards, which is especially useful in larger homes with lots of carpets and flooring coverings that are difficult for robots to navigate.
Other robots are more basic in their abilities for object detection however they still manage to accomplish the task. The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus, for example, has the appearance of a wifi router but offers the performance of a high-end robot. It has excellent suction and handles dirt and debris from hardwood floors and medium-pile rugs effortlessly. The short and squat-shaped side brush is less likely to be caught in shoes or cords. The hybrid roller brush, which is made up of bristles as well as plastic, gives a thorough cleaning.
It's more expensive than other mid-range robots, but it does everything you need from mopping and vacuuming with a robot. It can map out an cleaning schedule and design one. It also has virtual zones to stay out of. It doesn't offer the same room scanning and obstacle avoidance as the j7 or s8.