Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It will pick up pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a great choice for many households. It can be used to vacuum and mop and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of features and controls accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. It also gets software updates, like the other Roomba products, which improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive but is also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's got a huge battery that can vacuum the entire house in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming with the touch of a button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the dust 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 that uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It isn't often entangled or entrapped during cleaning, and it's the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker It has become an iconic name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't provide a model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of features that are advanced and can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have constructed a rough map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into objects however the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes significantly less time to build up a comprehensive picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent 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 adept at securing corners and edges even though they're circular. It's not the best cat litter picker, though our tests have shown it can only remove about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is ideal for spills that are not too dangerous, but you are unable to regulate the amount of water it uses. It does, however, do an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a better percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It has a beautiful design, excellent navigation, and excellent cleaning power. However, it has some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping system that makes use of LIDAR to map an area, and a pair 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been defined and assigned, you can assign virtual no-go zones and favorite sections to the robot. You can also alter 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 in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping abilities are exceptional, taking away surface debris from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. But it's not the most agile robot on the market. As with many others, it's not a good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and forgetting about it for weeks at one time. But it's important that a robot can accomplish the task and that's the reason our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular ones to help you choose the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that is similar to other, but comes with several more features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real time. This combination of sensors, along with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it away from the stairs, makes it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
It was able to climb over the thick shag carpets and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were also impressive and its overall score on carpet and bare floors was better than the competition. It picked up 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are simpler than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top and you can launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for your daily or weekly cleaning, set no-go zones, and see the history of its cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels appealing in your home. Its rear dustbin is easily accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great choice if you want an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and doesn't have any frills at a low cost. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. If you don't need these features, you could save money.
This robot is very easy to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or more info 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 take the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was extremely effective in cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors as well as in carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to get under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doors and transition between floors of different types to another.
The 11S, as with other robots, will also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can stop this by keeping these objects off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters, and wash or change the brushes when necessary.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping is something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, such as the ability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. Although the application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin a bit when crossing cables, it's a highly efficient robot vacuum.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path in every 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 carpet and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate across furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours on end.