Looking for an affordable robot vacuum that can keep your home clean without breaking the bank? TP-Link's offering under the Tapo brand might be just what you are looking for. This article will compare the specifications of the Tapo RV10 Lite, RV10, and RV30.
The affordable TP-Link Tapo RV10 Lite V1
The TP-Link Tapo RV10 Lite is set to compete with models from Xiaomi with the same moniker, the Roborock E series, and the iRobot Roomba 694. What makes the Tapo RV10 Lite stand out is its spacious dustbin, which can hold up to 800 ml of dust, pet hair, and other debris. Unfortunately, it doesn't use LiDAR or visual sensors for navigation and solely relies on a gyroscope for mapping and path planning, and an infrared sensor for obstacle avoidance. It uses these sensors to plan an optimal cleaning route, making cleaning routines more efficient and thorough. The suction power maxes out at 2000 Pa, which other budget robot vacuum cleaners do already exceed.
How did TP-Link manage to fit such a large dustbin in their Tapo RV10 Lite? They removed the water tank and mopping functionality. The Tapo RV10 is currently available for US$229 on Amazon.
The midrange TP-Link Tapo RV10 V1 and RV10 Plus V1
Compared to the Lite version, the TP-Link Tapo RV10 doesn't differentiate itself through its vacuuming capabilities. It features the same motor capable of 2000 Pa of suction power, the same levels of adjustments and noise output, and the same 2600 mAh battery. Just like the mopless option, the Tapo RV10 plans a zigzag route, reducing the chances of missing or repeating areas during cleaning when compared to random-path robot vacuums. Both models do compensate for the poor suction power by having a floating suction mouth, as found on newer Roborock robot vacuum cleaners. This allows them to get closer to the floor and is especially useful on uneven surfaces.
With a 2600mAh long-lasting battery, the vacuum can clean an entire home on a single charge for up to 3 hours. It also has an Auto-Charging feature that returns it to the charging dock automatically when the battery gets low, and then restarts right where it left off. The Carpet Auto-Boost feature increases suction power when moving from a hard floor to a carpet, ensuring a deep clean. Users can also send voice commands via smart speakers with the Voice Control feature.
Where they do differ is in their mopping capabilities. The TP-Link Tapo RV10 is a vacuum and mop combo robot, with 3-level electronic mopping. While vacuuming effectively sucks up floating dust, mopping is necessary for tackling sticky messes and providing regular polishing in homes with hard floors. The RV10 robot vacuum and mop combo makes this easy with an electronic pump that offers three water flows to suit different floor types, providing consistent and steady water pressure for optimal cleaning.
The TP-Link Tapo RV10 Plus features an almost identical robot vacuum cleaner, but comes with an auto-emptying dock. Whether the dock will be sold separately is unknown, as the Tapo RV10 Plus does differ slightly, insofar that the dustbin in the unit itself is 50 ml smaller. Whether it simply comes down to being a slightly reworked dustbin that will also fit in the Tapo RV10, or if the robot itself differs, is unknown. The auto-emptying dock empties the dustbin with 27,000 Pa of suction, and fits 4 l bags.
The high-end TP-Link Tapo RV30 V1 and RV30 Plus V1
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 and RV30 Plus are upgrades over their predecessors in almost every aspect. They come equipped with a powerful motor capable of producing 4,200 Pa of suction power and are the only models to use LiDAR for navigation and mapping. The Tapo RV30 series can store multiple maps, making it a great choice for larger homes, and the upgraded 5,000 mAh battery ensures up to three hours of continuous cleaning. The only difference between the RV30 and RV30 Plus is the slightly smaller dustbin on the latter model.
However, the mopping capabilities of the Tapo RV30 are unfortunately inherited from the RV10, lacking a vibrating brush or any cleaning patterns to make mopping more effective. While features such as Y-shaped mopping could potentially be added through a firmware update, TP-Link has not provided any information on this yet. The expected price of the RV30 is around US$300. What we also don't know is how much the auto-emptying dock will add to the price, though I'd expect it to be in the US$200-300 range.
Conclusion
On paper, TP-Link's entry into the robot vacuum cleaning market may not seem impressive, but it appears that they are not targeting the high-end market at the moment. The Tapo RV10 Lite and Tapo RV10 are both compelling household helpers, priced at US$229.99 and US$249.99, respectively, particularly for those already using the Tapo ecosystem.
However, users of Home Assistant should avoid these products as there is currently no way to integrate them. While TP-Link has promised to support Matter on their products, robot vacuum cleaners are not yet on the list.
