Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It will nab dust, pet hair and other surface debris before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots can sync with smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is a fantastic option for a wide range of homes. It has a great navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. It also receives software updates, just like the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It has a powerful battery that can sweep the entire house in less than two hours. It can also switch between vacuuming and mopping at the push of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics 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 comes with a variety of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests, it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as reliable at detecting pet waste and other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in low-cost robot vacuums it's never offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features and is able to compete against much more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at hugging corners and edges even though they're circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is good for spills that aren't too big but you cannot control how much water it uses which can limit its effectiveness on more severe staining. It does a good job in removing pet hair. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, beautiful design, and a great navigation. It has some oddities in its operation, which prevent it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping system that makes use of LIDAR to map a room and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you designate virtual no-go zones and preferred areas that the robot will clean automatically. You can also initiate an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras and more on the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping capabilities are excellent, getting rid of surface litter from medium pile carpeting and also removing dust that has been deposited on floors. However, it's not exactly the most efficient robot available. Like many others it's not a great 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, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's important for a robot to be able to do the job, so best robot vacuums our ZDNet staff has compared and reviewed some of the most popular models in order to help you pick the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot looks like your typical robot but it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum away from the stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
In our tests, it effortlessly moved over large shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of competitors. 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 set up a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, create no-go zones, and view its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is accessible for emptying and removing the filter just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic low-cost robot vacuum 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 higher-end models. If you do not need these features, you can save money.
This robot is simple to setup and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with an remote control that allows you to select between various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also manually send the robotvac on the schedule of cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it possible to fit under furniture with low hanging and other items that some larger robots are unable to reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doorways and switch between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings, and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can prevent this by keeping these items off the floor and by using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as required.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum that you can purchase. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its rivals, for instance the capability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980's wheels spin out when rolling over cables.
We love the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpet and hard floors, along with a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The floor tracking sensor helps it navigate between furniture, along edges and on the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.