Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is with a robot vacuum. It can pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great choice for many households. It can be used to vacuum and mop, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of features and controls available via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you do not want it to be. It also receives software updates, like the other Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It's expensive but also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum all of your home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming with the press of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, it automatically emptys itself into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance, which 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 isn't as reliable at detecting pet waste and other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker is now a household name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't provide the option of a model that could mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete against more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have created an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It takes less time to build an accurate map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very efficient at grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is great for spills that are not too dangerous, but you are unable to control the amount of water it uses. That said, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, excellent navigation and a powerful cleaning power. However, it does have some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models, the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping technology which 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 the room is mapped, the app lets you assign virtual no-go areas and favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning options, begin cleaning manually, or view live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions instantly. The suction and sweeping power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from carpets with medium piles and dust in bare floors. It's not the fastest robot available. Like many other robots it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial that a machine can do the job that's the reason why our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most well-known models to help you choose the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that is similar to other, but has some extra features and better performance. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstructions. It's also able to detect common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs in real time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
In our tests, it easily climbed over thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were also impressive and its overall score on carpet and bare floors beat out the competition and it took in 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button on the top and you can start it with the app or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, create areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its cleaning history. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels appealing in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to empty and removing the filter is equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It doesn't have many of the smart features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models but if you're not looking for those functions you can save some money by purchasing this model.
The robot is easy to setup and use. It does not require smartphone application more info or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include an remote control that allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually send the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely effective in getting rid of dirt and pet hair from hard floors as well as in low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that heavier robots were unable to get at. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doors and transition between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will take in some objects like cords, hoodie drawstrings, and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can keep these objects off the ground and by using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, replace the filters and wash or change the brushes as needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's costly but it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if the app is a bit sluggish and the 980's wheels spin out when it comes across cables.
We really like the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to store your home's floor plan. It uses this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt from carpets and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensor helps it navigate between furniture as well as along edges and the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It can also return automatically to the base station for easy charging between sessions. The bin capacity and the battery life of the 980 aren't as impressive as some other robot vacuums. However, it's a reliable and solid machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.