REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Good carpet cleaning (for anything but hair)
Runs quietly while cleaning
REASONS TO AVOID
Disappointing obstacle avoidance
Struggles with hair
App layout could be more intuitive
TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus Review
An unintrusive choice for those who need help with light, daily cleaning but don't need the bells and whistles of higher-end models
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Genaveve Bradshaw ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ December 9, 2025
Contributions From: Sam Hill
RELATED: The Best Robot Vacuums of 2025
Our Verdict
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus keeps things simple — it's a no-nonsense robot vacuum built for everyday tidying, not deep cleans. It's quiet, affordable, and handles bigger crumbs and debris on carpet well, though it has a tougher time with pet hair and finer debris like sand. Navigation isn't perfect — it can get tripped up by thin cords and furniture legs, and push around smaller obstacles — but it's gentle enough not to cause complete chaos. The app gives you solid control once you get used to it, and the mop feature does a decent job on light spills. It's a good fit for smaller homes that want easy upkeep without spending big. This isn't a vacuum that will keep your home spotless without supervision, but it's an effective helper.
Our TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus Experience
With consistent middle-of-the-pack scores throughout our testing (except for its disappointing pet hair performance), this model didn't make our space spotless without direction. We observed the vacuum slow down as it detected objects. However, we had plenty of times when the robot didn't recognize an object and simply plowed right over it. This was especially true for flat objects like socks and cords.
On carpet and hard flooring, we had mixed results. The TP-Link Tapo cleaned up all larger debris, but left behind plenty of sand. In our hard floor test, it deemed the task complete after just five minutes, even though plenty of smaller debris was left behind.
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus has simplicity in mind, without many bells and whistles found on premium.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Still, we can't help but find this vacuum a decent day-to-day helper between deep cleans. Once we got the hang of the app, it was pretty straightforward to use, and we liked the simple on-board controls.
If you're on the hunt for an affordable robot vacuum that covers the basics — especially easy daily upkeep and larger debris on carpet — this model hits a lot of the right notes. It's best suited for smaller homes or apartments, light cleaning routines, and households without heavy pet hair or clutter issues.
However, if you're dealing with heavy shedding pets, lots of small obstacles, or you want a model that confidently avoids cords, messes, and gets truly deep cleaning performance, you might want to aim a bit higher. This is a good entry-level model to see if you like having a robot vacuum in your home.
However, if you're dealing with heavy shedding pets, lots of small obstacles, or you want a model that confidently avoids cords, messes, and gets truly deep cleaning performance, you might want to aim a bit higher. This is a good entry-level model to see if you like having a robot vacuum in your home.
If you liked the sound of the RV30 Max Plus, but the pet hair problem is a dealbreaker, you might want to check out the Eufy 11s Max. It's about the same price point and performs solidly across the board — but it doesn't have a mopping feature. If trading pet hair cleaning for hard flooring mopping makes sense for your home, give it a shot. If your budget can allow for more, the Roborock Saros 10R is worth a read. It excels across the board and will help cut back even more on deeper cleans.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Cleaning Performance
The RV30 Max Plus handles larger debris, like Cheerios and rice, very well, picking up nearly all of it in a single pass. However, finer particles such as sand are more of a challenge, leaving small piles scattered across the template that leave a visible vacuum path.
Large debris was picked up on the first pass, but sand needed more attention.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Carpet cleaning is generally strong, but edges and corners are inconsistent, with some areas left with more residue than others. Overall, it's a solid performer for everyday messes but falls short of a deep-cleaning powerhouse.
The TP-Link Tapo left coffee grounds along the edges and corners of our testing space.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Navigation
Navigation is one of the weaker aspects of this model. The robot moves cautiously around furniture and larger obstacles but struggles with thin cords, chair legs, and thresholds. Small obstacles can be pushed around rather than avoided, and in testing, it even moved some small items like socks and hats several feet. While it rarely causes major damage, its inconsistent detection means you'll need to tidy up before sending it off to clean.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
When testing its whole room coverage, it swept through 80% of our office space. It stuck close to chair legs and under the tabl, though it was less impressive in the middle of the room.
Shown here is the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max's navigation through our office. The center of the room got the least amount of attention.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
Operation is straightforward once you get familiar with the app. You can adjust suction and water levels, save presets, schedule zone cleanings, and create virtual walls. Some features are hidden behind icons and menus instead of just being clearly labeled, which can take a little time to figure out, but overall, it gives a good degree of control. Integration with Alexa and Google Home is a nice bonus.
The robot has smart, multi-level mapping that can auto-recognize any saved maps and switch to the correct ones. Through the app, you are able to schedule zone-specific cleanings as well.
On board, the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max has three simple buttons for quick and easy control.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Pet Hair
Pet hair is a major weak point for the RV30 Max Plus. The brushes tangle easily, especially around the roller, and it can take around ten minutes to fully clear them. Despite this, the robot is able to finish a cleaning cycle and handles most fur along edges and borders. “I hope you have a good pair of scissors because this robot has a knack for tangling hair”, wrote one tester. For households with moderate to heavy shedding, this model won't be the best fit.
Lots of hair got tangled during our tests, needing to be cut out.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Noise
The robot is reasonably quiet compared to some competitors, though it does produce a high-pitched mechanical whine while cleaning. Voice prompts are natural-sounding and pleasant, and the auto-empty base empties quickly, minimizing noise duration. It's not silent but tolerable for daily use.
At 55 decibels, it isn't considered loud, but the pitch was a common complaint among testers.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Mopping
Mopping works well for light to medium spills, with a 300ml tank and three adjustable water levels. It removes most stains effectively, though heavy or dark messes, especially along edges, may not be fully cleared. One tester wrote about post-mopping cleanup, noting, “When I wiped the floor down, the paper towel was stained a light brown.” The floor is generally left clean without puddles, but you may need to wipe up any residual moisture afterward.
The TP-Link does reasonably well at mopping, but deeper cleans here and there will still be necessary.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus versus top competing products:
—Genaveve Bradshaw and Sam Hill
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