Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining an orderly home. It will pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It has a great navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also has a handy feature which allows you to create cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas where you don't want it to be. It also receives software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It has 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 robotics that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, this one automatically empties into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It also has many other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts in order to recognize obstacles. It's not often damaged or stuck during cleaning and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables as well as other objects I've tested. However, it's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's never offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have created an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping system is more precise. It takes less time to build an extensive map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is ideal for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is still a good vacuum for floors that are not clean, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The tyres are adept at securing edges and corners, 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 option which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is ideal for spills that are not too serious, but you cannot control the amount of water that it uses. However, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, efficient appliances. It has a beautiful design, superb navigation, and excellent cleaning power. However, it has some operational hiccups that prevent it from being ranked as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technology which uses LIDAR to map a room, and a pair 3D scanning cameras for detecting and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once mapped, the app lets you create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean, or view a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well by registering furniture and obstructions in robotic hoovers real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top-notch and cleans up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust in bare floors. However, it's not the most flexible robot available. It's not the most efficient 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 using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's important that a robot is able to do the job, so our ZDNet staff has compared and reviewed some of the most popular models to help you pick the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that is similar to other, but has several more features and a better performance. Its smart mapping system creates 2D and 3-D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around and stay clear of obstructions. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most agile 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 abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of dirt and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top and you can start it from the app or via voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to empty and cleaning the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low price, the Eufy 11S is a great option. It doesn't have many of the advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in more expensive models, but if you don't need those functions you can save a little money with this model.
This robot is very easy to setup and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with a remote control which allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction levels. It also allows you to manually take the robovac off on a scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient at removing dirt and fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other low items that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It could also easily get over thresholds for doors and change between floors and another.
The 11S, as with other robots will also suckup some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, change the filters, and clean or change the brushes when necessary.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's 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 most competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980's wheels spin out when rolling over cables.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent and 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 and an ejector brush that moves debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from falling down stairs. It will also return to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as great as those of other robot vacuums. However, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.