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 surface debris before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great option for a wide range of households. It has a great navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with many features and controls accessible via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. Like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even better over time.
It's expensive however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has tested. It has a high-powered battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it an excellent option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It isn't often entangled or entrapped during a cleaning cycle, and it's the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Although Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an outline of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges, even though they're circular. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. This is ideal for spills that aren't serious, but you can't regulate the amount of water that it uses. However, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, with a better pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. However, it has some operational hiccups which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique which uses LIDAR to map a room, and a pair 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been identified, you can assign virtual no-go zones and preferred sections to the robot. You can also begin cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, watch live feeds from the onboard cameras and more on the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions immediately. Its sweeping and suction power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. However, it's not exactly the most flexible robot available. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with metal threshold transition strips.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at a time. It's important for a robot to be capable of doing the job, so our ZDNet staff has compared and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that is similar to other, but comes with a few more features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it from falling down stairs make it one of the fastest vacs we've tested.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top and you can launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones, and look up the history of cleaning. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. However, if you don't require these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to setup and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with a remote control that lets you choose between different modes and alter the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to set the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
In our tests during our tests, the 11S was very effective at getting rid of pet hair and dirt from hard floors as well as in carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other objects that heavier robots were unable to get at. It was also able to pass over doorway thresholds and transition between floors and another.
The 11S, as with other robots, can also eat some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping these objects off the floor and using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines with its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980's wheels spin out when it is pushed over cables.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or robot cleaner and mop vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses the information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than most high-end robots.
The 980's other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from carpet and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate between furniture and around edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharges between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as impressive as other robot vacuums. However, it is a reliable and solid machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.