Having spent considerable time with the previous Tapo RV30, I was eager to see what TP-Link brought to the table with their latest Tapo RV30 Max Plus model. I’ve got to say – they’ve really stepped up their game from the previous Tapo RV30 Plus model, and surprisingly, they’ve managed to make it even more affordable than before.
The first thing that caught my eye was the fresh design overhaul. Gone is the white utilitarian look of the previous model, replaced by a sleek, matte black finish that extends from the vacuum itself to the charging dock. It’s the kind of design that wouldn’t look out of place even in a modern, minimalist home. I actually think it looks much more premium than other vacuums that cost twice as much.
At just 10cm in height, the Tapo RV30 Max Plus is notably thinner than many competing robot vacuums on the market, allowing it to easily glide under beds, sofas, and cabinets where dust often accumulates. This low-profile design ensures the vacuum can access those typically neglected spaces without getting stuck, maximizing its cleaning coverage throughout your home.
The Tapo RV30 Max Plus comes bundled with the auto-empty dock, differentiating it from the standard Tapo RV30 Max model which doesn’t include this feature. While both models share the same core cleaning capabilities, the auto-empty dock is exclusively available with the Max Plus variant and cannot be purchased separately.
5300Pa Suction Power
Let’s talk about that upgraded 5300Pa suction power. If you’re like me and have mainly hardwood, vinyl or tile floors, this machine is honestly overkill – but in a good way. During my testing, I was genuinely impressed by how it handled daily cleaning. I even did the flashlight test (you know, that moment when you shine a light on the floor at an angle to spot any missed dust), and I was pretty amazed at how spotless it left the surface after just one pass.
Where this extra suction power really shines is on carpets. The Tapo RV30 Max Plus digs deep into the carpet fibers in my bedroom, pulling out dust and debris that you probably didn’t even know was there. It’s especially noticeable if you have pets or high-traffic carpeted areas. I highly recommend those with pets to consider an upgrade as it works really well at picking up those fine fur from carpets.
The vacuum system also uses a replaceable HEPA filter, capturing microscopic particles and allergens that standard filters might miss. This filtration system ensures that the air expelled from the unit during cleaning and auto-emptying processes remains clean, making the Tapo RV30 Max Plus an excellent choice for allergy sufferers or those concerned about indoor air quality while maintaining spotless floors.
Auto Empty Dock
If there’s one feature that’s truly changed my cleaning routine, it’s the Tapo RV30 Max Plus’ included auto-empty dock. It’s hard to explain just how convenient this is until you’ve experienced it yourself. The dock automatically sucks out all the collected debris in the robot vacuum’s bin, meaning you can literally forget about your vacuum for months at a time. My older robot vacuum required cleaning once a week which is rather inconvenient.
But there’s another benefit that often goes unmentioned: since the robot’s internal bin gets emptied after every run, it maintains peak suction power throughout its cleaning cycle. No more gradual performance drop as the bin fills up. TP-Link claims the bin will last up to 2 months with the provided 3L dust bag. But I found that it lasted way longer on the previous model, though it will ultimately depends on your usage scenario.
The included auto-empty dock features dust bags that automatically seal themselves when removed, ensuring a completely mess-free disposal process with no contact with dust or debris. This is a huge advantage as cleaning a robot vacuum can be a rather dusty and messy affair. Adding to the convenience, TP-Link included a multi-purpose cleaning tool that features both a small cleaning brush and a built-in blade to quickly cut and remove hair tangles.
Tapo IQ+ Navigation
The RV30 Max Plus skips the camera-based system in favor of the costlier LiDAR technology. It uses a spinning laser to create a high resolution and precise floor plan of your home with centimeter-grade accuracy. This 360-degree LiDAR setup actually has a nice privacy bonus as there’s no camera that can see your home layout or personal items.
The new Tapo IQ+ system has made noticeable improvements too – in my testing, it completed the same cleaning route about 15% faster than the previous model. This is especially noticeable in rooms with unusual layout which might confuse older robot vacuums while the Tapo RV30 Max Plus excels in such scenario.
However, it’s worth noting that without a camera, the vacuum does have some limitations. It might struggle with certain obstacles like stray charging cables or lightweight items on the floor. These scenarios might cause the robot vacuum to get stuck. It’s not a deal-breaker, but you’ll want to do a quick check of your floor before starting the robot vacuum.
Mopping Function
The Tapo RV30 Max Plus comes with a 300ml water tank for the mopping feature. It comes with a piece of reusable mopping cloth which should be washed after every cleaning job. It’s not designed to remove tough stains but it works well enough at removing minor stickiness from the floor.
Let’s be honest about the mopping feature – it’s basic. Rather than true mopping, think of it more as a robot dragging a damp cloth across your floor. But here’s the thing – I’m actually okay with this. Even premium robot vacuums costing three or four times more don’t handle mopping particularly well. There’s hardly any consumer robot vacuum in the market that can handle an oily floor after a heavy cooking session in the kitchen.
Excellent Tapo App
The Tapo app deserves special mention here. If you’re already using other Tapo smart home products, you’ll feel right at home – everything integrates smoothly into the existing ecosystem. You can even configure other Tapo smart devices to trigger a cleaning job on the Tapo robot vacuum, useful if you just want a cleaning job to be done quickly without using the app.
What makes the app particularly useful is its cloud connectivity, which lets me to check the vacuum’s status or start a cleaning session remotely. The interface is refreshingly intuitive – no deep diving through menus to find basic functions. It’s the kind of user-friendly design that makes you forget you’re controlling a fairly complex piece of technology.
I’m really impressed me was the level of control you get over the vacuum’s operation. Want to keep it away from certain areas? Just draw virtual walls or mark no-go zones on the map. Need a quick cleanup in the kitchen? Simply point to that zone in the app, and off it goes. The Tapo RV30 Max Plus offers customizable cleaning jobs that’s really easy to configure.
Closing Thoughts
After spending several weeks with the Tapo RV30 Max Plus, I’m genuinely impressed by what TP-Link has achieved at this price point. Coming in at under RM1000, it delivers features and performance that you’d typically expect from much pricier models. In fact, I think this is the best robot vacuum under RM2000 that you should buy.
The combination of powerful 5300Pa suction, efficient LiDAR navigation, and the convenience of an auto-empty dock makes it a compelling choice for most homes. Yes, the mopping feature is basic, and obstacle avoidance could be better, but these are minor trade-offs considering the overall package.
Tapo RV30 Max Plus
8.6
Tubi Rating
pros
- Excellent suction performance with an affordable price
- Plenty of cleaning options available on the Tapo app and easy to use
- Precise and accurate cleaning with the LiDAR navigation and IQ+ technology
cons
- Basic mopping feature