Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best method to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove dust, pet hair and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a great option for a wide range of homes. 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 available via the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that need extra attention, and also to keep Out zones where you do not want it to go. And, like all Roomba devices, it receives new software updates that make it more efficient over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It has a high-powered battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, it 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 with a lot of space with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It isn't often entangled or entrapped during a cleaning cycle and is the best at avoiding power cables as well as other objects I've tested. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy is owned by Anker is now an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't provide a model that could also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features that can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have built up a rough map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to build a comprehensive map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors that can carry debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with ease. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are efficient in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter eater, however, with our tests showing it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that aren't too serious, but you can't limit the amount of water it consumes. However, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, and has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It has a beautiful design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. It has a few oddities in its operation that prevent it from being named the best smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot, the RX2 features a dual-sensor mapping system that uses a LIDAR sensor to map out a room and two 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once mapped the app allows you to assign virtual no-go areas and favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start a manual clean, or view live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main robot vacuum cleaner black friday screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. 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 available. Like many others it's not a very good climber and is prone to problems with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule in an app and not thinking about it for weeks at one time. However, it's essential that a robot can get the job done that's the reason why our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most well-known models to help you find the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that is similar to other, but has a few more features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and uses them to navigate around and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it away from the stairs, makes it one of the most agile vacs we've tried.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive; its composite score in carpet and bare floors topped the competition. It took in 98.5 percent of surface pet hair and litter from our lab test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than those of the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can access it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, create no-go zones and view the history of cleaning. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option if you're looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and doesn't have any frills at a reasonable price. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. If you do not need these functions, you can save money.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with the remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac for scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient in removing dirt and pet fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was also able to easily get over thresholds for doors and transition from one floor type to another.
The 11S, like other robots, will also eat certain objects, like cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organiser whenever possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines through its mobile application. While its app is a little sluggish and the 980 may spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. 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 robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.
The 980's other features include dual 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. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It will also return to the base station for simple recharging in between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as great as other robot vacuums. However, it is a reliable and solid machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.