Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep an orderly home. It can pick up pet hair, dust, and other surface debris.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is a great option for homes with a variety of. It features a superb navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with many features and controls accessible via the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones that you don't want it to move. And, 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 that ZDNet has evaluated. It has a powerful battery that can vacuum the entire house in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the push of a button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after each run.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses the camera as well as processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's not often damaged or trapped during a cleaning cycle and is the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it isn't as effective in detecting pet waste and other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy owned by Anker, has become an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't provide an option to mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's this device is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an approximate map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into objects however the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges, even though they are circular. It's not the best cat litter scooper, however as our tests show it only removes about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for spills that are not too large, you can't regulate the amount of water it uses which can limit its effectiveness for more serious stains. It's effective in removing pet hair. It has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. But it has a few operational oddities that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping system which uses LIDAR to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras for detecting and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). After the room has been defined and assigned, you can assign virtual no go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also change the cleaning options, begin a manual clean, or view a live feed of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions instantly. The suction and sweeping capabilities are exceptional, taking away surface debris from medium pile carpeting and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the fastest robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule on an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. 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 popular ones to help you select the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but has several more features and a better performance. Its intelligent mapping system creates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses those to avoid obstacles and navigate. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it off the stairs, makes it one of the most agile vacs we've tried.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for click here flooring and carpet was higher than the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair that we tested in our lab samples.
Its controls are a bit simpler than competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can launch it via the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones, and look up its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good option if you're looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and has no frills at a reasonable price. It doesn't have many of the advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in more expensive models, but if you don't need those functions you can save some money by purchasing this model.
This robot is simple to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does come with a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was very effective at removing dirt and pet hair from hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other items that larger robots could not reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doors and transition from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to take in some objects such as cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can avoid this by keeping these objects off the floor and by using an organizer for cords if you can. It also recommends that you periodically clean the dustbin, replace the filters and clean or change the brushes when necessary.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set 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.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It then uses the information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
Other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate across furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It also automatically returns to the base station to allow for recharges between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as impressive as other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours on end.