Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining an orderly home. 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 environment. Find models that recharge and pick up the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It comes with a fantastic navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also has numerous features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It has a handy feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas that you don't wish it to go. It also gets software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, which make it better over time.
It's expensive but is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can clean a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, it automatically empties into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It also has a number of other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses cameras and processor-powered smarts in order to recognize obstacles. It's not often damaged or trapped during cleaning and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables as well as other objects in my tests. However, it's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy is owned by Anker It has become an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it did not provide an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of features that are advanced and can compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation system is the most important feature of this machine. The previous Eufy devices have built up a rough map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into objects but the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It takes less time to create an extensive 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 with no dust. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. Its tyres are adept at securing corners and edges, even though they're circular. It's not the best cat litter picker, though as our tests show it is able to remove around 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is great for loose spills however, you aren't able to control how much water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness when dealing with more serious staining. However, it does an excellent job of picking up pet hair, with a better 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, a great navigation system and an impressive cleaning power. But see page has some operational hiccups which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that uses a 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 has been mapped it is possible to assign virtual no-go zones and favorite sections to the robot. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the cameras onboard and more on the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. Its sweeping and suction power are top of the line and cleans up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust in bare floors. It's not the most powerful robot available. It's not the greatest climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. However, it's essential that a robot can do the job, which is why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most well-known models to help you choose the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot looks like a typical robot, but it's an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It's even able to spot common obstructions such as power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum away from stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are simpler than the competitors. There is a cleaning button at the top and you can either start it using the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, create no-go zones and view its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to access for emptying and cleaning the filter is the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good option for those looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and simple at a cost that is low. It isn't equipped with some of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models but if you don't need these features, you can save money by purchasing this model.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with an remote control that lets you choose between different modes and alter the suction level. You can also set the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at removing dirt and pet fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doorways and switch from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to take in some objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you keep these items off the ground and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum that you can buy. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It has more advanced automation than its competitors, such as the ability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although its app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit while rolling over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to remember your home's floor plan. 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 the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors, along with a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharges between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as great as some other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.