Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the ideal tool for maintaining the cleanliness of your home. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other surface debris before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots connect to smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a great choice for many households. It vacuums and mops well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of features and controls that are available via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. It also receives software updates, like the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's costly however, it's also among 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. Additionally, it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after every run.
It also comes with a variety of other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts in order to recognize obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as accurate in detecting pet waste and other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name 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 comes with a variety of advanced features, and is able to compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into objects but the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes a lot less time to construct an accurate picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
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 adept at securing corners and edges despite being circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that are not serious, but you can't control the amount of water it uses. It does, however, do an admirable job of removing pet hair, and 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 comes with outstanding cleaning power, beautiful design, and a great navigation. But it has a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping which uses the LIDAR sensor to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is mapped the app allows you to assign virtual no-go areas and areas that you want to clean. will clean automatically. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras and more on the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping power are top of the line cleaning up surface debris from carpets with medium piles and dust on floors that are unfinished. But it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot to be capable of the task, so our ZDNet staff has compared and looked over some of the more info most popular models in order to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3-D maps of your home and makes use of them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect 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 which keeps it off the stairs make it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.
In our tests, it effortlessly could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5% of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at 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 weekly or daily cleans, create no-go zones, and view its history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels beautiful in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills for a reasonable cost, the Eufy11S is a great option. It doesn't have many of the smart features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models but if you're not looking for these features, you can save some cost with this model.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does have the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at removing dirt and pet fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to fit under furniture with low hanging and other items that larger robots are unable to reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doorways and transition from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to be able to suck up objects, such as cords drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can prevent this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters, and change or wash the brushes when necessary.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best 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 its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if its application is a bit slow and the 980 spins when rolling over cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors, along with the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as good as those of some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours on end.