Home automation has grown exponentially in the last decade. In the past, home robots were considered too expensive to be used for any personal tasks such as household chores. However, with standards unifying in the IoT industry and the remarkable strides in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other technological advancements, robots are becoming more prevalent in homes.
Today, an abundance of smart home robots exist that are designed to help out in homes to make our lives easier while also saving us time in the process. They can do various tasks, such as vacuuming, cleaning windows, pools, mowing lawns, etc. Therefore, we have decided to compile this comprehensive list of the best home robots that will enhance the quality of your home life.
Moreover, many of these home robots have smart home capabilities incorporated or can be connected through WiFi to smart home assistants like Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This allows them to be controlled through voice commands or mobile apps. They can do tasks such as querying the internet to answer your questions, shopping, setting up reservations, to-do lists, reminders, playing music, calling and messaging, and much more.
Smart home robots are also excellent learners. Via machine learning, they figure out your schedules and habits and adjust themselves to better cater to your specific needs. They can learn things like the maps of your home and move around easily to be anywhere you need them to be.
As previously mentioned, there are loads of smart home robots in the market today, and if you’re planning to buy one, the research can seem a bit daunting. It is difficult to learn everything about a device before you buy it or to find the device that is best suited to your specific needs. Hence, we curated this list of the best robots you should consider to enhance your home life.
Best Home Robots
TEMI Personal Robot
Verdict: Best Personal Robot
Temi offers a practical humanoid design, built-in Alexa, excellent navigation sensors, and a range of smart-assistant functionality. It can be used as a personal assistant for home or work and provide a helping hand to the elderly too.
Benefits
- Complete Alexa Functionality
- Excellent computing power and AI, with a range of features
- Humanoid design can be used for holding things, helping the elderly
Drawbacks
- Can not climb over small objects or steps
- Not a lot of features as a home robot
The Temi personal robot packs many features as a personal assistant into a slim, humanoid design. Because of its vertical frame and thicker upper head, Temi is stable enough to be used for carrying stuff around or helping out when you need an extra hand. It can also be used by the elderly as a support cane, a stand, or a moving shelf. Temi’s face is a 10 inch LCD display with capacitive multitouch and a decent pixel density. It has four omnidirectional mics. In addition, for playing music, it has one subwoofer and several high fidelity speakers and equalizers. These high-end sensors make communicating with Temi pretty easy.
Temi also has dual-band WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth for short-distance communication. It can navigate indoors using 2D mapping, 3D localization, and plenty of sensors to detect objects in its way. Additionally, Temi can differentiate between permanent and temporary objects, which helps it to store accurate pathways. The charge lasts about 8 hours, at which point Temi finds its way to the charging pad.
Temi’s built-in user interface allows you to fiddle with its cameras, sound systems, navigation, and just the overall user experience. You can also personalize the AI assistant or add functionality through the Software Developer Kit using Linux as OS. Apart from the built-in interface, Temi has Alexa built right into it as well. The entire suite of features that Alexa provides is available through Temi, and you won’t have problems integrating the new updates as well. It does not offer much functionality as a Smart home assistant but still can interact with Smart Devices such as bulbs and thermostats using a compatible smart home hub or assistant.
Vector Home Robot
Verdict: Best Robot for Kids
Vector’s Home Robot is an intelligent and responsive family-friendly device. Its powerful processors and cloud-AI connectivity helps it navigate a wide range of tasks. Amazon Alexa is built-in, but some of the features might be missing.
Benefits
- High-end sensors make it very interactive and responsive to small changes
- Moves around, navigates paths, and charges on its own.
- Qualcomm processor and continuous connection to clouds help it perform various tasks while continuously getting smarter.
Drawbacks
- Does not offer the complete suite of Alexa features.
- The mobile app is a bit complicated
Arguably one of the best robots for kids, adults, or families, the VectorSmart robot can be used as a smart assistant due to its compatibility with Amazon Alexa. It can’t play music through Spotify, SiriusXM, Pandora, but apart from that, the built-in Alexa can be used to control other smart home devices, take notes, pictures, and pretty much everything else. If you use other apps or bypass Alexa to play music, Vector can react to audio signals, adjust lights, or simply dance to the music. All this is powered by a Qualcomm 200 platform and continuous cloud computing, making it smarter as it adapts to your patterns and surroundings.
Anki’s Vector interacts with its surroundings through high-end sensors such as capacitive touch, an ultra-wide HD camera, four microphone arrays, and accelerometers which help its sense of direction and inform it if it’s being touched or moved. This robot can navigate edges using drop sensors, move around, and self-charges, so you won’t have to spend time on its daily maintenance.
The Vector Robot is a small, cute, and highly intelligent personal home robot. Measuring in at 2.8 in. 2.4 in. 1.8 in., the Anki Vector Robot utilizes tank treads for stable mobility. Its head is round and it can pivot. Vector’s face is an LCD screen capable of displaying graphics such as eyes that can look frustrated, angry, or sad, depending on the robot’s mood. These design features give it a friendly appearance that adds to the range of kid-friendly features in its arsenal.
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum
Verdict: Best Robot Vacuum
The Roomba i7+ robot vacuum has WiFi connectivity, smart navigation, and changes it own dustbins meaning the only time you’ll have to handle it is when you move it between levels. Its excellent vacuum suction and low profile make it a great vacuum for carpets and hard floors.
Benefits
- Can change dustbins on its own using the additional kit
- Does not make a lot of sounds and has a low profile which helps it get into tight spaces.
- Navigation and mapping is great, can store different maps for different areas of the home
Drawbacks
- Performance not the same around corners and not great at climbing due to low profile
- Relatively expensive compared to other robot vacuums
iRobot Roomba i7+ is one of the first robot vacuums to introduce self-changing technology. The i7+ comes with a disposal station that can be plugged into any socket. When the robot’s dust bin is full, it returns to its stations where the dustbin is replaced, and the robot can charge itself too. This means once you’ve installed this robot, you can forget about its maintenance for a long time. It has a low profile which is great for getting into tight spaces but is a problem while climbing.
Roomba i7’s vacuum technology is also better than its previous versions. It has a powerful lifting suction and dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which can pull dirt and debrief from hardwood floors and really get into the fabrics for carpets. The rubber brushes also ensure the carpet’s texture isn’t ruined when it’s sucking the dirt out of it.
Another impressive feature of the Roomba i7 is its detailed navigation abilities. This robot can store different maps for different places in the house, and you can target a particular room through the mobile app. Since the maps are stored, the robot does not need to be picked up and placed anywhere. Roomba calls this Imprint Smart Mapping. It can also learn from your cleaning habits and adapt to your preferences using built-in AI algorithms. All remote control is done via WiFi.
iRobotBraava Jet M6 (6110) Ultimate Robot Mop
Verdict: Best Robot Mop
iRobot’sBraava Jet M6 offers efficient mopping, voice controls through Alexa or Google, excellent navigation capabilities, and smart AI algorithms to make it better with time. It is small, silent, and offers several cool features.
Benefits
- Small and quiet
- Excellent navigation capabilities
- Amazon Alexa and Hey Google Compatibility
- Better mopping capabilities than most robots
Drawbacks
- Difficulty getting into tight spots
- Price is higher than most robot maps
The price might be steep, but iRobot’s latest robot mop definitely delivers on expectations. It comes with a precision jet spray at the front that sprays the stored solution perfectly before rubbing the surface with the mop. It tackles everything from grime and kitchen grease to sticky messes. Braava Jet’s mopping capabilities are far better than other vacuum or combo robots. While there is room for improvements in tasks such as mopping around corners or getting rid of deep stains, irobot deserves praise for the strides it has taken.
The iAdapt 3.0 Navigation will make sure the Braava jet seamlessly navigates your home. The newer features also allow you to create no pass zones to avoid carpets or other surfaces. There’s also Imprint Smart Mapping, which means that over the course of a few cleans, the robot will actually “learn” what your home looks like, and it will also adapt to changes such as a chair or a table being moved. Additionally, advanced mapping allows you to create detailed maps of your entire house and select rooms via the phone app, making your mopping routine very flexible.
It uses WiFi to connect to your home network and work via audio commands using Amazon Alexa or Hey Google. What’s also nice is that it’s perfect for large rooms. Even if it runs out of battery, it knows your home’s layout and it knows how much it’s got left. Therefore, it’ll recharge automatically, and it will continue cleaning until everything in your home is clean. Oh, and you can combine it with a compatible Roomba model to automatically vacuum before the Braava mops your home – neat, right?
WORX Landroid L Robotic Lawn Mower
Verdict: Best Robot Lawn Mower
WorkX’sLandroid L is an excellent smart robot lawn mower for your home’s lawn. It offers WiFi connectivity, intelligent navigation, and zoning capabilities while boasting 9” blades. All control is done via WiFi through the mobile app.
Benefits
- Cuts to the edges
- Navigation and zoning are available
- The app is simple and easy to use
- Find my Landroid feature helps find the device in its stolen
Drawbacks
- Can not jump fences or go below them
- Does not cut in straight lines
While no shortage of robots that clean the inside of your home, lawn mowing is a task you won’t find a lot of robots for, not good ones at least. Enter the WORKX Landriod L. This innovative robot can cut your lawn, set zones, and provides a wide array of features to you through your phone. Landroid L’s patented AIA technology allows it to navigate pathways and align itself with corners so that it doesn’t miss spots. It can sense rain and return to its charging pad till the water’s dried off. Additionally, this robot has enough power in it to tackle slopes of up to 20°.
It is limited to up to ½ acre, and if you’ve got a fence in between your line, you’ll have to get an additional charging pad and manually move the thing over the fence. Landroidwill cut your grass a little at a time and naturally fertilize your yard while it does it. The whole thing is fully automated, connected via WiFi, and controlled through the phone app. Using the app, you can set zones and schedules and keep track of the mowing progress. You’ll get a few WiFi extenders to make sure Landroid remains within WiFi range.
In addition to the wireless app control, there’s also a “Find My Landroid” module. ItkeepsLandroid connected all the time and will notify you if the robot leaves the cutting area. You can track the robot if it leaves the area, so you’ll have to worry less if the device is stolen. The 9” offset blades give a pretty decent performance on all types of grass, and the shape and navigation features make sure Landroid cuts to the edge of your lawn.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner
Verdict: Best Pool-Cleaning Robot
Dolphin Nautilus CC is one of the best Pool cleaning smart robots for your home. It navigates your pool, climb walls, and assembles a virtual map in its memory allowing it to autonomously clean your home’s pool.
Benefits
- The filter cartridge is easy to access
- Can climb walls
- Swivel free cable allows for independent operation, saving energy
Drawbacks
- Prone to getting stuck in narrow passages
- Very limited control through phone
This robot pool cleaner from Dolphin is designed to clean swimming pools of all shapes up to 50 feet and climb walls. Its software is stored in a microprocessor on board, so no cloud computing. The software enables it to smartly navigate the pool. When the unit is placed in water, it uses its smart navigation technology to scan and calculate the most optimal and efficient route to clean pools. This makes the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner better than most pool cleaners, which have problems mapping out slanting walls or pools with more edges.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is 8X more energy efficient than suction and pressure cleaners, thus reducing energy costs. Its core features a tangle-free design that facilitates uninterrupted hassle-free cleaning. The Dolphin Nautilus CC can be programmed into three schedules. Once the cartridge is full, Nautilus will notify you, and you can use the easy access door on the top to get it out.
It also only uses a single button to operate. Place it outside the pool, press the button, and the dual scrubbing brushes of this robot will clean dirt and debris from the floor and walls of your pool within two hours. Additionally, it vacuums water through both fine and ultra-fine cartridge filters. This further aids in removing dead algae, leaves, dirt, and debris from your pool.
AlfaBot X6 Automatic Smart Window Cleaning Robot
Verdict: Best Window Cleaning Smart Robot
The Alfabot X6 Window Cleaning Robot has strong 5kg/11lb suction, good sensors, and a 4m power chord to protect it from falling when out of power allowing it to autonomously clean your home’s windows.
Benefits
- Powerful suction will take care of long-term stains
- UPS can run for 25 minutes without power to prevent it from falling down
- Remote controlled
Drawbacks
- It cannot be controlled through a phone app
- Difficulty cleaning corners
Alfabot’s X6 is one of the best window cleaning robots out there, the best in our opinion anyway. Window cleaning robots have been around for a decade, but they only recently gained popularity, and that has led to an influx of machines in the past few years. The X6 is an impressive addition to that market, with double suction wheels and a zig-zag cleaning route calibrated by built-in AI.
X6 has three smart cleaning route options, which you can program through the remote. The remote has a range of 30m and can be used as the primary controller for the X6. Smart AI algorithms allow Alfabot’s X6 to recognize edges and frames and calculate the most efficient possible route to save up on energy and time. Its sensors can predict structures before touching them, so the X6 remains quite balanced on the windows.
The 4-meter safety power cord prevents the robot from falling off the building while providing AC power. If the power goes off, like in case you trip the connection, the X6 has an uninterrupted power supply built-in, which will keep it running for 20-25 minutes.
Grill Bot
Verdict: Best Grill-Cleaning Robot
Grillbot is a great grill-cleaning robot that can be used for most types of grills. It can navigate edges, has three electric brushing motors, and has plenty of charge holding capability. Its brushes are also replaceable.
Benefits
- Can clean cold or hot grills at up to 250F
- Interchangeable Brushes
- Programmable timer
Drawbacks
- Not great at getting into cracks
- Makes a lot of noise
Measuring 3.7 inches and 8 inches in diameter, you can place the Grillbot on top of your grill, close the lid, and just wait for it to clean. It has three electric motors, with steel brushes attached to them that can clean the grill and get into tight corners. The brushes are dishwasher friendly, and you can replace them with new ones from the manufacturer.
Grillbot has a built-in timer that you can fiddle with. It works on both cold and hot grills and can work on top of a grill with up to 250F temperature. These two features make it a great party accessory. After grilling, you can just place the bot on top of your grill, set up the timer, close the lid and get back to the guests. When you open it after a while, the grill’s clean. However, Grillbot does make some noise, so if your grill is right next to a sitting table, you might wanna wait till after the guests leave.
Its sensing capabilities are decent, especially for a robot that works in the dark with high temperatures. It won’t strike the lid, but it’s not capable of recognizing cracks and spending extra time. So, if you have an old grill, there might be a few spots left for an old-fashioned scrubbing.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of smart home robots on the market, each with something different to offer. The one you choose will depend on your needs, the connectivity you already have in your home, and your budget. You can get robots that assist you continuously or do specific tasks just make sure you’ve done thorough research beforehand. With further technological advancements, home robots have the potential to be even more useful in the near future such as Amazon Astro household Robot for Home and Labrador’s robots Caddie and Retriever.
