Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other surface debris.
Some robots connect to smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is an excellent option for a wide range of households. It has a great navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you don't want it to go. As with all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even more efficient over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It has a powerful battery that can clean all of your home in less than two hours. It can also switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of a button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically emptys itself into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a good choice for homes of all sizes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's rarely tripped up 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 hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's never offered an all-in-one model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of modern features and can compete with more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The tyres are adept at securing corners and edges even though they're circular. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. This is ideal for spills that are not serious, but you cannot control the amount of water it uses. It does, however, do an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a higher pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, stunning design, and a great navigation. But it has some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot and models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping technology which uses a LIDAR sensor to map an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is defined, you can assign virtual no go areas and favorite sections to the robot. You can also begin cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, watch a live feed from the cameras onboard and more from the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. And its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line cleaning up surface debris from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust in bare floors. It's not the fastest robotics available. Like many others it's not a very good climber and is prone to problems with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It is essential for a robot capable of doing the job and that's why our ZDNet team has tested and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you pick 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 is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and makes use of to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. It's also able to detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors, along with a bump sensor and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it away from stairs make it one of the most agile vacs we've tested.
In our tests, it was able to climbed over thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors topped the competition. It was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are less basic than the competitors. There's a clean button at the top and you can choose to start it by using the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, set up no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a stylish dark gray plastic that feels and looks attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent choice if you want a robot vacuum that's simple and doesn't have any frills at a cost that is low. It doesn't have many of the advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are available in more expensive models, however, if you don't require these features, you can save a little money with this model.
This robot is easy to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you select different modes and alter the suction level. You can also manually set the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at cleaning pet fur and dirt from carpets and floors with low pile. 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 also able to traverse door thresholds and change between floors and another.
The 11S, like other robots, can also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can stop this by keeping these items off the floor and using an organizer for cords if you can. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin periodically replacing the filters, and washing or changing the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced 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 many competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins when it comes across cables.
We love the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It will use this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that capture dirt on carpets and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from falling down stairs. It also automatically returns to its base station to ensure hassle-free charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as good as those of some other robot vacuums, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep your floors clean for hours on end.