Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep a clean home. It will remove dust, pet hair, and other debris from the surface before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Find models that recharge and pick up the area they left.
- iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent choice for many homes. It vacuums and mops well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors and has a wide range of features and controls that are available via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention and Keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. Like all Roomba devices, it receives new software updates that make it better over time.
It's costly, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It also has many other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts in order to recognize obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
- Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the Anker-owned Eufy has made its name in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model that can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of features that are advanced and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of laser mapping technology that is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to build an extensive 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 decent vacuum for floors that are not clean and can sling debris over its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very efficient at grabbing corners and edges. It's not the best cat litter scooper, however, with our tests showing it can only remove about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is great for spills that aren't serious, but you cannot limit the amount of water it uses. It's effective in removing hair from pets. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
- Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot and models, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping technology which uses the LIDAR sensor to map out an area 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 the app allows you to assign virtual no-go areas and preferred areas that the robot will automatically clean. You can also begin an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the onboard cameras, and more from the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions instantly. Its sweeping and suction powers are exceptional, removing surface litter from carpets with medium pile as well as embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. Like many other robots it's not a great climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at an time. It's crucial that a robot is capable of the task, so our ZDNet team has tested and www.robotvacuummops.com looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the best one for your home.
- Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but comes with a few more features and better performance. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3-D maps of your house and makes use of them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
In our tests, it easily climbed over thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beats the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the dirt and embedded dog hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competitors. There's a round cleaning button on the top, and you can launch it via the app, or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to empty and removing the filter is equally easy.
- Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple, no-frills robot vacuum for a reasonable cost, the Eufy11S could be a good choice. It isn't equipped with some of the more advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models however, if you don't require these functions, you can save some money by purchasing this model.
This robot is very easy to install and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with an remote control that allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
In our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors and in low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other items that some larger robots are unable to reach. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doors and transition from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, as with other robots will also suckup some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin regularly, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best robot vacuum that you can purchase. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping is something to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines through its mobile application. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins when rolling over cables.
We love the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will then use this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a cleaner vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.