Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep a clean home. It will remove dust, pet hair and other debris from the surface before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is a fantastic choice for many homes. It vacuums and mops well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and offers a broad range of features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that need extra attention and Keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. It also gets software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive but also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's got a huge battery that can vacuum an entire home in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming at the press of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run, it automatically emptys itself into a larger waste container above its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it a great choice for homes with a lot of space with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects like power cables. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste, or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned an impact in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The X8 utilizes laser mapping technology that is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to build an extensive map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The tyres are adept at securing corners and edges, despite being circular. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is great for spills that are not too large but you cannot control how much water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious stains. It is effective in removing pet hair. It has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. However, it has a few operational oddities that keep it from ranking as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you assign virtual no-go areas and favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning options, begin a manual clean or watch live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are excellent, removing surface litter from carpets with medium pile and also removing embedded dust on floors. However, it's not exactly the most flexible robot available. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Many people purchase robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot to be able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has compared and reviewed some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robot is just like your standard robot, however it's upgraded in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It can even detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it off the stairs make it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair that we tested in our lab samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than those of competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top, and you can access it via the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, create no-go zones, and view its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is accessible for emptying and removing the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It lacks some of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are available in higher-end models however, if you don't require these features, you can save some money with this model.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does have a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually send the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at cleaning pet fur and dirt from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile made it possible to fit under furniture with low hanging and other items that some bulkier robots could not reach. It could also easily pass over doorway thresholds and move from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can suck up some objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings, and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can stop this by keeping such objects off the floor and using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also recommends that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and clean or change the brushes as needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Ongoing -navigation as well as environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its rivals, for instance the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. Although its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's still a highly efficient robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from floors and carpets, as well as a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating between furniture as well as along edges and stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It also automatically returns to the base station to allow for recharging in between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.