Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining the cleanliness of your home. It will nab dust, pet hair, and other debris from the surface before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great option for households with a variety of. It is able to vacuum and mop well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of features and controls that are available via 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 wish it to go. And, like all Roomba devices, it receives new software updates that make it even better over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's got a huge battery that can sweep all of your home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming with the press of the button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically emptys itself into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It also comes with a variety of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It's not often damaged or stuck during cleaning, and it's the best at avoiding power cables as well as other objects I've tested. It's not as reliable at detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy owned by Anker is now a household name in the world of budget robot vacuums. However, it didn't offer a model that could also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features and can compete well against more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the primary selling point of this machine. The previous Eufy devices have built up an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It also takes a lot less time to construct an accurate picture of your space and stores multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors, slinging debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with ease. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very efficient at grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter picker, though, with our tests showing it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
There's a mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming one. This is great for spills that aren't too dangerous, but you are unable to regulate the amount of water that it uses. It does a good job at picking up hair from pets. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It is a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that uses a LIDAR to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras for detecting and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been defined and assigned, you can designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also alter the cleaning options, begin cleaning manually or watch a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. The suction and sweeping capabilities are exceptional, removing surface litter from medium pile carpeting and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the most powerful robot available. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's important for a robot to be able to do the job and that's why our ZDNet team has tested and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you select the right one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but it has a few more features and a better performance. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It's even able to spot common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum off the stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
In our tests, it easily climbed over thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were also impressive; its composite score in carpet and bare floors topped the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top, and you can access it via the app, or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for daily or weekly cleaning, set no-go zones, and view its history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that is both attractive and attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in higher-end models. If you don't need these features, you could save money.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does come with the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you choose between different modes and alter the suction level. It also lets you manually send the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient at removing dirt and fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that larger robots are unable to reach. It was also able to easily get over thresholds for doors and change from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, as with other robots, can also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its rivals, for instance the best robot vacuums ability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if the application is a bit slow and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to remember your home's floor plan. It will use this data to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate between furniture and around edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as efficient as some other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that will keep your floors clean for hours at a time.