Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great tool to maintain the cleanliness of your home. It can remove dust, pet hair and other debris from the surface before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is a fantastic option for homes with a variety of. It is able to vacuum and mop well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and comes with a variety of features and controls accessible through the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones that you don't want it to go. As with all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it more efficient over time.
It's costly but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's got a huge battery that can clean all of your home in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming at the press of the button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it a great option for most homes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Although Anker-owned Eufy has made its name in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of advanced features, and can compete with much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 utilizes the laser mapping system, which is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. 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 still a good vacuum on floors with no dust that can carry debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with relative ease. Its tyres are adept at securing edges and corners, even though they are circular. Our tests revealed 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 serious, but you cannot regulate the amount of water it uses. It does a good job at picking up pet hair. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It is a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. It has some oddities in its operation that keep it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 features a dual-sensor mapping system that uses a LIDAR sensor to map out the space and three 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. After the room has been mapped and assigned, you can designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start a manual clean, or view live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping abilities are exceptional, removing surface litter from medium pile carpeting as well as embedded dust on bare floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. As with many others, it's not a good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's important that a robot is capable of the task so our ZDNet staff has tested and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses those to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor, and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it from falling down the stairs make it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
It was able to climb over the thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were also impressive as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors was better than the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than the competitors. There's an oblong cleaning button at the top, and you can launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, create no-go zones, and see its history of cleaning. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter is equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic, no-frills robot vacuum at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in higher-end models. However, if you don't need these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to setup and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with the remote control that lets you select between different modes and adjust suction level. You can also manually assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in removing pet hair and dirt on hard floors as well as in low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that bulkier robots could not reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doorways and transition from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, like other robots, can also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organiser if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best 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 its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines with its mobile app. While its app is a little sluggish and the 980 may spin out a bit while crossing cables, it's an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
We love the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The floor tracking best robot floor cleaner sensor helps it navigate between furniture, along edges and on the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharging between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors clean for hours and hours.