Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the ideal tool to maintain a clean home. It can remove dust, pet hair and other particles on the surface.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and pick up the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop is a fantastic option for homes with a variety of. It is able to vacuum and mop well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and offers a broad range of controls and features accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention and Keep Out zones that you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, like the other Roomba products, which make it better over time.
It's costly however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of a button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after every run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective in avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as effective in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of advanced features, and is able to compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. The X8 utilizes the laser mapping system, which is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a good vacuum on bare floors, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with ease. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are very efficient at grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is good for spills that aren't too big however, you aren't able to control how much water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious staining. However, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, gorgeous design and excellent navigation. However, it does have a few operational oddities 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 for detecting and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is defined, you can assign virtual no-go zones and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also start a manual clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras and more on the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping capabilities are exceptional, taking away surface debris from carpets of medium pile as well as dust that has been deposited on floors. It's not the most powerful robot on the market. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule on an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. However, it's essential that a robot is able to accomplish the task and that's why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular ones to help you find the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robot is just like your standard robot, however it's upgraded in performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to detect 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 off steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the dirt and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are less basic than those of the competition's. There's a clean button at the top and you can choose to start it using the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, set no-go zones, and view its cleaning history. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and simple at a cost that is low. It lacks some of the advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models, but if you don't need those functions you can save a little cost with this model.
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 lets you choose between different modes and alter the suction level. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests during our tests, the 11S was very effective at getting rid of pet hair and dirt on hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under low-hanging furniture and other items that some bulkier robots could not reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doors and move from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, just like 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 suggests that you clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes when needed.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than most of its competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if more info its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It then uses this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from carpets and hard floors, along with a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station for simple recharging in between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size isn't as impressive as other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours and hours.