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.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Find models that recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent option for a wide range of households. It is able to vacuum and mop well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and offers a broad range of features and controls that are accessible via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's costly, but it's is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can clean the entire house in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the press of one button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after each run.
It also has a number of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses a camera along with processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects like power cables. However, it isn't as accurate in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes significantly less time to create a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a good vacuum for floors that are not clean, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are very good in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a great kitty litter eater, however our tests have shown it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is good for loose spills, you can't control how much water it uses, which will limit its effectiveness for more severe staining. That said, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a higher pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It is a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping technology that utilizes an LIDAR sensor to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is mapped and assigned, you can assign virtual no go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also change the cleaning options, begin cleaning manually, or view live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions instantly. And its sweeping and suction power are top of the line cleaning up surface debris from carpets with medium piles and dust on floors with no floor. It's not the most powerful robot on the market. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It is essential that a robot is able to do the job, so our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models to help you choose the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but has some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses those to navigate and avoid obstacles. It is able to 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 away from steps make it one of the fastest vacuums we've tried.
In our tests, it easily climbed over thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were impressive as well and its overall score on carpet and bare floors topped the competition. It picked up 98.5 percent of surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than those of the competition; there's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can access it via the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, set no-go zones, and see its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to empty and removing the filter is the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent choice if you want a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and doesn't have any frills at a low cost. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. If you don't require these functions, you can save money.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you select different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to set the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at cleaning pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low objects that larger robots could not reach. It was also able to traverse door thresholds and change from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will suck up some objects, such as cords drawstrings on hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can stop this by keeping these objects off the floor and by using an organizer for cords if you can. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's top-performing and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than most of its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. Although its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin a bit when rolling over cables, it's a highly efficient robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store 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 cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists it in maneuvering through furniture, along edges and on stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for easy recharges robotic hoovers between sessions. The bin capacity and the battery life of the 980 aren't as great as other robot vacuums. However, it is a reliable and solid machine that will keep floors clean for a long time. hours.