Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining a clean home. It can remove dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Find models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a great choice for many homes. It comes with a fantastic navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with many features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It has a handy feature that lets you create Cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and Keep Out zones in areas that you don't wish it to go. It also receives software updates, like the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also among the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It has a powerful battery that can sweep all of your home in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming at the push of the button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the bin after each run, it automatically emptys into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a great option for most homes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker It has become a household name in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. However, it did not provide a model that could also mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features that can compete against more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The X8 makes use of laser mapping technology that is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. 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 that can carry debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. Its tyres are adept at hugging edges and corners despite being circular. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however as our tests show it only removes about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for loose spills, you can't limit the amount of water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness for more severe staining. It's effective at picking up hair from pets. It has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, gorgeous design and excellent navigation. There are a few niggles in its operation that prevent it from being considered the best smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technology which uses LIDAR to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, you can assign virtual no go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start an automatic 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. The suction and sweeping capabilities are outstanding, effectively removing surface litter from carpets with medium pile and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. It's not the best climber and has issues with metal threshold transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at one time. It's crucial that a robot is able to accomplish the task, which is the reason why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular models to help you choose the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that looks just like the other, but has a few more features and a better performance. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and makes use of to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump sensor, and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it off the stairs make it one of the fastest vacuums we've tried.
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 capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are less basic than the competitors. There's a clean button at the top, and you can either start it using the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones, and look up the history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that feels and looks appealing in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to empty and removing the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple low-cost robot vacuum at a low price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. It isn't equipped with some of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models however, if you don't require those functions you can save a little money with this model.
The robot is easy to install and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with a remote control which allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction level. It also lets you manually send the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at getting dirt and fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other items that heavier robots were unable to get at. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and change from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to take in some objects like cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you avoid this by keeping these items off the ground and by using a cord organizer when you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly, replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as required.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the best robot vacuum that you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than its competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. Although the app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin a bit when 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 store the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt on hard floors and carpets, as well as an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The floor tracking sensor assists in navigating between furniture as well as along edges and the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for simple recharges between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as great as other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that can keep floors clean for a long time. hours.