Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best device to keep the cleanliness of your home. It will pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots connect to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent choice for many households. It comes with a fantastic navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas where you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, which improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can clean an entire home in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, this one automatically emptys itself into a larger waste container above its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it an excellent choice for homes of all sizes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has made its name in budget robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model that could also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features that can compete with more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to construct an accurate picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are very good at grabbing edges and corners. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is good for spills that are not too large but you cannot limit the amount of water it is using, which will limit its effectiveness when dealing with more severe stains. It does a good job in removing hair from pets. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, beautiful design and excellent navigation. However, it does have some operational issues that keep it from ranking as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping that uses a LIDAR sensor to map out an area and three 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once mapped the app allows you to create virtual no-go zones as well as areas that you want to clean. will automatically clean. You can also change the cleaning options, begin cleaning manually or see a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. And its sweeping and suction power are top of the line and cleans up surface debris from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust on floors that are unfinished. It's not the fastest robotics available. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of metal.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting a schedule in an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. But it's important that a machine can do the job that's why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular ones to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robovac looks just like your typical robot but it's an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your house and uses them to navigate and avoid obstructions. It can even detect common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs in real time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor, and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it away from stairs is what makes it one of the most agile vacs we've tested.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring was higher than the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair more info from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than those of the competition's. There is a cleaning button at the top, and you can choose to start it with the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a smart dark gray plastic that is both attractive and beautiful in your home. The rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and cleaning the filter is equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent option for those looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and has no frills at a low cost. It lacks some of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models, but if you don't need these functions, you can save some money with this model.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with a remote control which lets you choose between different modes and alter the suction levels. You can also manually send the robotvac on an cleaning schedule.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at cleaning dirt and pet fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to reach under furniture and other low items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was also able to get over thresholds for doors and transition from one floor type to another.
The 11S, as with other robots, can also eat some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can stop this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using an organizer for cords if you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's pricey but it's a top performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation as well as environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It has more advanced automation than its rivals, for instance the ability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. Although the application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin out a bit while moving over cables, it's a highly efficient robot vacuum.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than many high-end robotics.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on floors and carpets, as well as an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. Its floor tracking sensor assists it in maneuvering through furniture, along edges and up the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It can also return automatically to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as impressive as other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.