Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robot vacuum. It will nab dust, pet hair, and other debris from the surface before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a great choice for many homes. It vacuums and mops well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and comes with a variety of features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that need extra attention and Keep Out zones where you don't want it to go. Like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it better over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum an entire home in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of one button. It automatically emptys the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a great option for most homes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as 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. It is not as accurate at detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete against much more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The previous Eufy devices have built up a rough map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It also takes significantly less time to construct an accurate picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors and can sling debris over its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The tyres are adept at securing corners and edges, despite being circular. It's not a fantastic cat litter picker, though, with our tests showing it only removes about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is ideal for spills that are not too serious, but you can't limit the amount of water that it uses. It does, however, do an admirable job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, gorgeous design and great navigation. However, it does have some operational hiccups which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models and models, the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping which uses an LIDAR sensor to map out a room and two 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room has been identified, you can designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also start an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, view a live feed from the onboard cameras, and more from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors are effective by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping abilities are outstanding, effectively getting rid of surface litter from carpets of medium pile and also removing dust that has been deposited on floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. Like many other robots it's not a great climber and is prone to problems with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial that a robot is able to do the job, so our ZDNet staff has tested and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you select the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robot looks like your typical robot but it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and uses to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. The combination of sensors with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum off steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it effortlessly moved over large shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet was higher than the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5% of pet hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are more basic than the competition; there's a round cleaning button on the top, and you can launch it via the app, or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones and check its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive 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 basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. However, if you do not need these features, you could save money.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with a remote control which allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. You can also send the robotvac on a cleaning schedule.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely effective in cleaning pet hair and dirt on hard floors and in carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to pass under furniture more info that is low-hanging and other items that some heavier robots were unable to get at. It was also able to pass over doorway thresholds and move from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects like cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can avoid this by keeping these objects off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, replace the filters, and wash or change the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's most popular robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's an excellent performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. Although the app is a little sluggish, and the 980 does spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It then uses this information to design a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as an ejector brush that moves debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The floor tracking sensor assists in navigating around furniture, along edges and on stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It also automatically returns to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size isn't as impressive as other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours at a time.