Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep an orderly home. It will pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a fantastic option for a wide range of homes. It vacuums and mops 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 lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require extra attention and Keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. And, like all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it even better over time.
It's expensive but also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours. It can switch between mopping and vacuuming with the press of a button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it a great option for most homes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as 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. However, it isn't as reliable at detecting pet waste and other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy is owned by Anker is now an established brand in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. However, it didn't provide the option of a model that could mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features and can compete well against more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have constructed an outline of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It takes less time to create an extensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.
check over here is still a good 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 their circular shape, are efficient at grabbing corners and edges. It's not the best cat litter scooper, however our tests have shown it is able to remove around 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is great for loose spills but you cannot limit the amount of water it is using and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious stains. It does, however, do an excellent job of picking up pet hair, with a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It is a stunning design, excellent navigation and an impressive cleaning power. There are a few niggles in its operation that keep it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technique which uses LIDAR to map a room and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped the app allows you to create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras, and more on the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. And its sweeping and suction power are top-notch and cleans 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. As with 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 hands-off convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. It's important for a robot capable of doing the job so our ZDNet team has tested and looked over some of the most popular models to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like a typical robot, but it's upgraded in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. It can even detect common obstacles such as 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 away from the stairs, makes it one of the fastest vacuums we've tried.
In our tests, it effortlessly could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of the dirt and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than competitors. There's an oblong cleaning button at the top. You can launch it via the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, create areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that feels and looks attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable cost, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in more expensive models. If check over here don't require these features, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to setup and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with an remote control that allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction levels. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors and in low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doors and switch from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will take in some objects like cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you avoid this by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organiser if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. Although the app is a little sluggish and the 980 can spin a bit when crossing cables, it's an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
One thing we love 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 memorise the floor plan of your home. It will then use this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
The 980's other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from hard floors and carpet and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating around furniture, along edges and up the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It can also return automatically to the base station for easy charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as efficient as other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours on end.