Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining the cleanliness of your home. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent choice for many households. It comes with a fantastic navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also has 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 extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. It also receives software updates, just like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive but also one of 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 also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the press of a button. It will automatically empty the bin of dust above its charging station, in contrast to other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a good choice for homes with a lot of space, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker is now an iconic name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't offer an option to mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features and is able to compete against much more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's this device is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of a laser mapping system that is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create an extensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at securing corners and edges, even though they're circular. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is ideal for spills that are not dangerous, but you are unable to regulate the amount of water it uses. It does a good job of removing pet hair. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It features a stunning design, excellent navigation and a powerful cleaning power. There are a few niggles in its operation that prevent it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping that utilizes an LIDAR sensor to map an area and two 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is identified and assigned, you can assign virtual no-go zones and preferred sections to the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start a manual clean, or view live feeds from the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are robot vacuum outstanding, effectively removing surface litter from carpets with medium pile and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. However, it's not exactly the most agile robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber, and it has problems with metal threshold transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It is essential for a robot able to do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has compared and reviewed some of the most popular models to help you pick the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that looks like any other, but it has some extra features and a better performance. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It is 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 away from the stairs, makes it one of the fastest vacs we've tried.
In our tests, it was able to moved over large shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were also impressive; its composite score in carpet and bare floors beat out the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can start it from 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 view the 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 simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable cost, the Eufy11S might be your best bet. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you don't need these features, you can save money.
The robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include an remote control that allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction levels. You can also set up a manual schedule to send the robotvac on an cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at removing dirt and pet fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low items that some of the more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doorways and switch from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects such as cords, hoodie drawstrings and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you prevent this from happening by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, replace the filters and wash or change the brushes when required.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey but it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. Although the application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin a bit when moving over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from carpet and hard floors and an ejector brush that moves debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The sensor for floor tracking helps it navigate around furniture, along edges and on stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. And it automatically returns to its base station for easy recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a reliable and solid machine that will keep your floors clean for hours and hours.