Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other surface debris before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent option for homes with a variety of. It vacuums and mops well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and offers a broad range of features and controls that are accessible via the app. It has a handy feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. It also receives software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It's expensive however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It has a high-powered battery that can vacuum a large area in less than two hours. Additionally, it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, it automatically emptys itself into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it an excellent option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy, owned by Anker, has become a household name in the world of budget robot vacuums. However, it did not provide an option to mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features and can compete well against more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of the laser mapping system, which is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are efficient at grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however as our tests show it can only remove about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is great for loose spills but you cannot limit the amount of water it is using and this will reduce its effectiveness for more severe stains. However, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. It has some oddities in its operation, which prevent it from being considered the best smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models and models, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping technology which uses a LIDAR sensor to map out a room and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room has been identified it is possible to designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean or watch live feeds of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping capabilities are exceptional, removing surface litter from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the fastest robot available. Like many other robots it's not a very good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It is essential for a robot to be able to do the job, so our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you pick the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot looks like your typical robot but it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and makes use of them to navigate around and stay clear of obstructions. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. top robot vacuum of sensors along with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it easily moved over large shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet was higher than the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are less basic than the competition's. There's a clean button on the top and you can either start it by using the app or voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, designate no-go zones, and look up its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that is both attractive and beautiful in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also simple.
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. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. If you do not need these features, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to install and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with a remote control which lets you choose between different modes and adjust suction levels. You can also set the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in cleaning pet hair and dirt on hard floors as well as in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to go effortlessly over door thresholds and switch between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organiser whenever possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as required.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum that you can buy. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although the app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin a bit when rolling over cables, it's still a highly efficient robot vacuum.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as an ejector brush that moves debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating around furniture, along edges and on stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It also automatically returns to its 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 solid and reliable machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.