Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool to maintain an orderly home. It will pick up dust, pet hair, and other debris on surfaces.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Look for models that recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a great choice for many households. It comes with a fantastic navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with numerous features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require extra attention, and also to keep Out zones that you don't want it to move. And, like all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it better over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also among the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large area in less than two hours, and it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. It will automatically empty the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after each run.
It also comes with a variety of other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It isn't often entangled or stuck during a cleaning cycle, and it's the best in avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. However, it's not as reliable at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Although Anker-owned Eufy has made an impact in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the primary selling point of this machine. The X8 makes use of laser mapping technology that is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is perfect for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at hugging corners and edges, even though they're circular. It's not the best cat litter eater, however as our tests show it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is great for spills that aren't too big, you can't regulate the amount of water it uses which can limit its effectiveness on more severe staining. That said, it does an excellent job of picking up 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, stunning design and excellent navigation. It has a few oddities in its operation that prevent it from being considered the top smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping technology which uses a LIDAR sensor to map out a room and three 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room is defined, you can designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also manually change cleaning options, begin a manual clean or watch a live feed of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions in a flash. The suction and sweeping power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. It's not the fastest robot on the market. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy a robot vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. It's crucial that a robot is able to do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models to help you choose the right one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but comes with some extra features and is more efficient. Its intelligent mapping system creates 2D and 3-D maps of your best robot cleaner house and makes use of them to navigate and avoid obstructions. It can even identify common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it off the stairs make it one of the most flexible vacs we've tested.
It was able to climb over thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were impressive as well as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors beat out the competition. It was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top and you can start it from the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, create no-go zones, and look up its history of cleaning. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is easily accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent choice if you want a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and has no frills at a cost that is low. It doesn't have many of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in more expensive models, but if you're not looking for these functions, you can save a little cost with this model.
This robot is very easy to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with the ability to control the remote with a remote that allows you to select between different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also manually set the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient in removing dirt and pet fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile helped it reach under furniture and other items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doorways and transition from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will be able to suck up objects like cords, hoodie drawstrings and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you keep these items off the ground and by using a cord organizer when you can. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes as necessary.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive, but it's a top performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines with its mobile app. Although the app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit while moving over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses the information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors, along with an ejector brush that moves debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensor helps it navigate between furniture, along edges and up stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for simple recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours on end.