RV20 Max Plus
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →A cheap, low Tapo robot vacuum with laser mapping and a slim self-emptying dock. It suits small, tidy homes with mostly hard floors. Its mop is a basic wipe, though, and clutter trips it up.
Updated
Check the manufacturer’s site for current availability.
Where it sits in Tapo’s range
- RV20 Max PlusThis model
- RV20 MaxSame robot with a charging-only base
- RV30 Max PlusSame suction and dock, taller laser turret on top · £179.99
- RV50 Pro OmniDock also washes and dries the mops · £386.98
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What reviewers found
Two Italian home tests: TechPrincess over two months in a flat, and Tom's Hardware Italia in a 120 square metre flat. Both liked the hard-floor vacuuming, the tiny dock and the low body, and both found the mop a light wipe at best. Upkeep is where they differ: TechPrincess thought tangled hair was an occasional chore, while Tom's Hardware Italia said to set aside half an hour a week. TechPrincess also saw it wedge itself under low furniture.
TechPrincess, hands-on, 2 months at home, Feb 2025 · Tom's Hardware Italia, hands-on, Dec 2024
Hard floors
Reviewers rate it highlyTechPrincess found its cleaning decidedly good once the map was sorted, with dust picked up very well, and Tom's Hardware Italia rated its pickup on hard floors good.
Carpet and rugs
Not enough evidenceOnly Tom's Hardware Italia judged carpet pickup, rating it only fair compared with hard floors.
Pet hair
Mixed resultsTechPrincess found it picked up hair and pet hair well, but hair tangles in the brush more often than on pricier robots. Tom's Hardware Italia advises about half an hour a week clearing hair from the brush and wheels.
Mopping
Reviewers found problemsThe mop is a plain cloth you wet and wash yourself. TechPrincess found it didn't shift greasy or stubborn marks, and Tom's Hardware Italia called floor washing one of its weak points.
Navigation and obstacles
Mixed resultsTom's Hardware Italia found it moved round the home well but leaned on its front bumper a lot. TechPrincess saw it bump into objects on the floor and twice wedge itself under a sideboard until a no-go line was added.
Dock and upkeep
Reviewers rate it highlyBoth testers liked the tiny emptying base. TechPrincess hadn't filled its 3-litre bag after two months, and Tom's Hardware Italia found it small enough for flats with no room for a big dock.
App and software
Not enough evidenceThe reviews we use don't say much about the app yet. TechPrincess notes it sends handy reminders when the filter and sensors need cleaning.
Noise
Not enough evidenceOnly TechPrincess judged noise, finding it very quiet, even when it boosted suction on rugs.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use judged long-term reliability or Tapo's support yet.
Value
Reviewers rate it highlyTechPrincess found it worth more than its price after two months, and Tom's Hardware Italia rated it a sensible low-cost choice for small flats, costing far less than feature-packed rivals.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Good vacuuming on hard floors
Once the map was sorted, TechPrincess found the cleaning decidedly good, with dust and hair picked up well, including in a neighbour's home with pets. Tom's Hardware Italia rated pickup good on hard floors but only fair on carpet. TechPrincess also found it very quiet, even when it boosted suction on rugs. It's a sound pick for keeping hard floors free of crumbs and dust, less so for deep carpet.
Low body, but it can wedge
At just over 8cm, Tom's Hardware Italia expected it to slip under more beds and cabinets than turret robots. TechPrincess found the downside: twice it pushed the front of its body under a sideboard, couldn't get its wheels through and stayed stuck. A no-go line on the map fixed it. Watch the first runs and block off any gap it can't clear.
Tidy up before it runs
There's no camera to recognise objects. TechPrincess found it couldn't get past a drying rack, bumped into flower pots moved onto the floor and risked tangling in shoelaces. Tom's Hardware Italia found it got round the home well but leaned on its front bumper a lot. A clear floor makes a big difference, so it suits homes where things live off the ground.
The mop is a light wipe
The pad is a plain microfibre cloth you wet and wash yourself after every run, and TechPrincess found it didn't shift greasy or stubborn marks, though it did cut down on mopping by hand. Tom's Hardware Italia called floor washing one of its weak points. Because the pad doesn't lift, the robot avoids rugs while mopping, per Tapo. Treat it as a quick freshen-up, not a floor wash.
Brush care differs by tester
The dock worked well for TechPrincess, whose 3-litre bag still wasn't full after two months. The main brush has no anti-tangle design, and this is where the testers differ. TechPrincess cleaned it every two or three weeks and called that manageable, while Tom's Hardware Italia advised half an hour a week on the brush and wheels. How much hair your home sheds can change the chore, so neither figure is a fixed schedule for you.
Our take
Should you buy the RV20 Max Plus?
Best for: Small homes with low furniture and little space for a dock. Skip it if: You have a pet that sheds heavily or lots of long hair.
The RV20 Max Plus may suit a small, tidy home where low height and a compact self-emptying dock matter more than mopping. Measure furniture clearance: one tester saw it wedge under a sideboard. Allow time for tangled hair. RV50 Pro Omni adds mop washing, while the basic Q7 M5 has encouraging hair evidence but leaves bin emptying to you.
The RV20 Max Plus is one of Tapo's cheapest mapping robots. It has the same suction and the same small emptying dock as the RV30 Max Plus, but the laser that maps your rooms sits in the front bumper instead of a turret on top. That makes it just 8.3cm tall, lower than many turret models, though furniture gaps still need measuring. The dock is a slim tower with a 3-litre dust bag and no ramp, which reduces its footprint; leave the docking clearance specified by Tapo.
What you give up is anything clever. The mop is a flat pad you wet and wash by hand, and it can't lift, so the robot simply avoids rugs while mopping. There's no camera to recognise shoes or cables, and no anti-tangle brush. The RV20 Max is the same robot with a plain charging base.
Where to buy
Where to buy the RV20 Max Plus in United Kingdom
No United Kingdom price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it fit under low furniture?
Check the actual gap. It's 8.3cm tall, per the specifications, because the laser sits in the bumper rather than on top. But TechPrincess had it drive half under a sideboard and get stuck, so block off any gaps that are only just too low.
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
Don't count on it. It has no camera, and TechPrincess found it bumped into objects left on the floor and could tangle in shoelaces. Tom's Hardware Italia noted it relies on its front bumper a lot. Tidy cables away and keep it out of rooms with pet accidents.
Can it leave the mop off for carpet?
The pad doesn't lift, so in mopping mode the robot avoids carpet instead, according to Tapo. TechPrincess confirmed it steered round rugs while mopping. For carpet days, take the mop pad off and run it as a vacuum.
How often do I have to empty or refill anything?
The dust bag lasts a long time: TechPrincess hadn't filled its 3-litre bag after two months. The pad needs washing after every mopping run and the small water tank refilling by hand. Budget time for the brush too: Tom's Hardware Italia suggests a weekly half-hour clean.
How big a home can it do on one charge?
It completed the two tested flats. Tom's Hardware Italia cleaned a 120 square metre flat and came back with half the battery left, and TechPrincess finished 90 square metres with 30 to 40% remaining. If it does run low, it recharges and carries on from where it stopped.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
RV30 Max Plus
Why consider it: Same suction and emptying dock, with a laser turret that maps fast and cleans methodically.
The compromise: It's taller at 10cm, and fine grit and sticky spills beat it.
Q7 M5 / M5+
Why consider it: A budget mapping vacuum that lifts pet hair far better than its price suggests.
The compromise: It bumps into clutter, and the basic model's dock only charges, so you do the emptying.
D10 Plus Gen 2
Why consider it: Maps your home and empties itself into a bag for up to three months, and it's very good on hard floors.
The compromise: It's weak on thick carpet and runs over cables and socks.
Omni C20
Why consider it: Nearly as slim at 8.5cm, and its dock washes the mop pads for you.
The compromise: It can't see small obstacles either, so you still tidy up first.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
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Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- TechPrincess: Recensione Tapo RV20 Max Plus: la prova dopo due mesi ↗Hands-on, 2 months at home
- Tom's Hardware Italia: Tapo RV20 Max Plus test e recensione ↗8 / 10Hands-on
Sources
Videos
- Gauging Gadgets: Tapo RV20 Max Plus Review & Demo ↗
- TP-Link Global Support: Max Suction, Slim Design- Tapo RV20 Max Plus Robot Vacuum Cleaner ↗
- Search YouTube for Tapo RV20 Max Plus ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.