Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep a clean home. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots connect to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It comes with a fantastic navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has numerous features and controls accessible via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require extra attention, and also to keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. It also gets software updates, like all Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's costly but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between mopping and vacuuming at the touch of a button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after each run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a good choice for homes with a lot of space that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes both a camera and processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable at detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in low-cost robot vacuums it's not yet an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the most important feature of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have built up a rough map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into objects, but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It also takes significantly less time to construct a comprehensive picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is great for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are adept at grabbing edges and corners. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however as our tests show it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is a good option for spills that aren't too big but you cannot control how much water it uses, which will limit its effectiveness for more serious staining. It is effective in removing hair from pets. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It is a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has a few operational oddities that keep it from ranking as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping that utilizes an LIDAR sensor to map an area and two 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once mapped, the app lets you designate virtual no-go zones and preferred areas that the robot will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start cleaning manually or see live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction power are top of the line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust in bare floors. However, it's not exactly the most agile robot on the market. As with many others, it's not a good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. However, it's essential that a machine can accomplish the task and that's the reason why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular models to help you select the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot is just like your typical robot but it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstructions. It can even identify common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum from stepping on steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button at the top and you can start it by using the app or voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, create no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that is both attractive and beautiful in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to empty and removing the filter equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. The model isn't equipped with smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in higher-end models. If you don't require these features, you can save money.
This robot is easy to set up and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does have the ability to control the remote with a remote that allows you to select between different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at getting pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other low items that some of the more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was also able to easily traverse door thresholds and move from one floor type to another.
The 11S, just like other robots, will more info also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as required.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's most popular robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's a top performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is something to behold. It has more advanced automation than its rivals, for instance the capability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if the app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins when it comes across cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on hard floors and carpets and an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate across furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down stairs. It will also return to the base station for simple recharging in between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours and hours.