Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best device to keep the cleanliness of your home. It can pick up dust, pet hair, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots connect to 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 mop and vacuum 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 comes with a variety of features and controls that are available via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to create Cleaning zones for specific areas that need extra attention, and also to keep Out zones that you don't want it to go. It also gets software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, which make it better over time.
It's costly, but it's is also among the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. It can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, it automatically emptys itself into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It also comes with a variety of other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses a camera along with processor-powered smarts in order to recognize obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects like power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the 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. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of the laser mapping system, which is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is ideal for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is still a good vacuum for floors that are not clean and can sling debris over its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with ease. Its tyres are also very adept at hugging edges and corners, despite being circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is great for spills that aren't too big however, you aren't able to control how much water it consumes and this will reduce its effectiveness on more severe staining. It does a good job at picking up hair from pets. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, beautiful design, and a great navigation. However, it does have some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map an area, and a pair 3D scanning cameras for detecting and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been mapped and assigned, you can assign virtual no-go zones and preferred sections to the robot. You can also change the cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean or see live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping power are top of the line cleaning up surface debris from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust in bare floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. Like many other robots it's not a very good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule on an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. But it's important that a machine can accomplish the task that's the reason why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most well-known models to help you select the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robot is just like your typical robot but it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and uses them to navigate around and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it from falling down the stairs make it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
In our tests, it easily moved over large shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigational skills were impressive as well; its composite score in carpet and bare floors was better than the competition and it took in 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition; there's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can start it from the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set 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 easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It isn't equipped with some of the smart features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models, however, if you don't require those functions you can save some money with this model.
This robot is simple to install and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does have a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also manually send the robotvac on an cleaning schedule.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at removing pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other items that some heavier robots were unable to get at. It was also able to pass over doorway thresholds and change from one floor type to another.
The 11S, just like other robots, will also eat certain objects, like cords and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can stop this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, replace the filters and wash or change the brushes when required.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. It's a powerful robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It then uses that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than many high-end robotics.
The 980's best robot vacuum for dog hair other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from hard floors and carpet, along with the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensor helps it navigate through furniture, along edges and up the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for easy charging between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as great as some other robot vacuums. However, it's an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.