Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the ideal tool to maintain an orderly home. It will pick up dust, pet hair, and other surface debris.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is a great choice for many homes. It has a great navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also has many features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's costly but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours, and it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after every run.
It also has many other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects like power cables. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker, has become an iconic name in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. But it didn't provide the option of a model that could mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features that can compete against more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the primary selling point of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have built up an outline of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into objects however the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to create an extensive map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is still a good vacuum for floors that are not clean, slinging debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with ease. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are good at grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however our tests have shown it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is good for spills that are not too large however, you aren't able to limit the amount of water it consumes and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious staining. However, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, with a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It is a stunning design, excellent navigation and a powerful cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities that keep it from ranking as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping technology that uses the LIDAR sensor to map an area and two 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once mapped the app allows you to designate virtual no-go zones and areas that you want to clean. will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean or see a live feed of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top of the line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. But it's not the most agile robot on the market. It's not the greatest climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule in an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. It's crucial for a robot to be capable of doing the job, so our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models to help you pick the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot is just like your standard robot, however it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles such as power cords and furniture legs in real time. The combination of sensors with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum off stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
It was able to climb over the thick shag carpets and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were impressive as well and its overall score on carpet and bare floors was better than the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top, and you can access it via the app or via voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, create areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its cleaning history. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that feels and looks attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to empty and removing the filter just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and simple at a low cost. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you don't need these features, you can save money.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it check here does come with an remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually take the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient in removing pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other objects that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was also able to get over thresholds for doors and move from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can suck up some objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also suggests that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters and wash or change the brushes as needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly however it's top-performing and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than most of its rivals, for instance the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. While its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 may spin out a bit when moving over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It then uses this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a cleaner vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt from hard floors and carpets, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station for easy charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size isn't as impressive as other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours and hours.