Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining a clean home. It will pick up pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Look for models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic choice for many households. It has a great navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with numerous features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas where you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, like the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. It can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. It automatically emptys the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after every run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a good choice for homes with a lot of space, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy owned by Anker It has become an iconic name in the world of budget robot vacuums. But it didn't provide an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of features that are advanced and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with the X8 is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created a rough map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It takes less time to create an extensive map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum for floors that are not clean, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are good in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a great kitty litter eater, however as our tests show it only removes about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is good for spills that aren't too big but you cannot regulate the amount of water it consumes, which will limit its effectiveness on more severe staining. It's effective of removing hair from pets. It has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It has a beautiful design, a great navigation system and an impressive cleaning power. But it has a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique which uses LIDAR to map the space, and a pair 3D scanning cameras for detecting and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also manually change cleaning options, begin a manual clean or see live feeds of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. Its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line and cleans up surface debris from carpets with medium piles and dust in bare floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. As with many others it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's important for a robot to be able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has compared and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3-D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around and stay clear of obstructions. It can even detect common obstructions such as power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum away from steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were also impressive as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors beat out the competition, and it took in 98.5 percent of surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit simpler than the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top, and you can start it from the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, designate no-go zones and check its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that feels and looks appealing in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic, no-frills robot vacuum at a low cost, the Eufy11S might be your best bet. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in higher-end models. However, if you don't need these features, you could save money.
The robot is easy to install and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does have an remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to set the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at getting dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it possible to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other objects that larger robots are unable to reach. It was also able to traverse door thresholds and move between floors and another.
Like other robots, the 11S can suck up some objects, such as cords drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can avoid this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes when needed.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey however it's an excellent performer and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum you floor vacuum robot can buy. Its self-navigation as well as environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It has more advanced automation than most of its rivals, for instance the capability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. It's a powerful robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980's wheels spin out when it is pushed over cables.
We love the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember your home's floor plan. It will use this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
The 980's other features include dual 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 floor tracking sensor assists it in maneuvering through furniture as well as along edges and stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It can also return automatically to the base station for easy recharging in between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as impressive as other robot vacuums. However, it is an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.