Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool to maintain the cleanliness of your home. It can pick up dust, pet hair and other particles on the surface.
Some robots connect to 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 mop and vacuum combo is a great option for a wide range of households. It is able to vacuum and mop 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 for certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. It also gets software updates, similar to all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep a large area in less than two hours. Additionally, it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. And, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically emptys itself into a larger waste container above its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it an excellent choice for homes of all sizes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's not often damaged or trapped during a cleaning process and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables as well as other objects in my tests. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker, has become an iconic name in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. However, it did not provide a model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of advanced features, and is able to compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 utilizes laser mapping technology that is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to create an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The tyres are adept at hugging edges and corners despite being circular. It's not a great kitty litter picker, though, with our tests showing it only removes 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 too serious, but you can't regulate the amount of water it uses. However, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a better pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, gorgeous design, and a great navigation. However, it does have a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping system that makes use of LIDAR to map an area as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras for detecting and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped and assigned, you can assign virtual no go areas and favorite sections to the robot. You can also start an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, view live feeds from the cameras onboard 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 abilities are excellent, taking away surface debris from carpets with medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the most efficient climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. But it's important that a machine can accomplish the task that's the reason why our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular models to help you find the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that looks just like the other, but comes with some extra features and better performance. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. The combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum off stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigational skills were impressive as well; its composite score in carpet and bare floors beat out the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are simpler than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button at the top, and you can either start it using the app or by voice commands 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. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and cleaning the filter is just as 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. It isn't equipped with some of the smart features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models however, if you don't require these features, you can save some cost with this model.
The robot is 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 select between various modes and adjust the suction levels. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in getting rid of dirt and pet hair from hard floors and in carpets with a low pile. Its slim top robot vacuum profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that bulkier robots could not reach. It was able to go effortlessly over door thresholds and move from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects like cords, drawstrings on hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these objects off the ground and by using a cord organizer when you can. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, replace the filters and wash or change the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's top-performing and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It has more advanced automation than the majority of its competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. Although the app is a little sluggish and the 980 can spin out a bit while rolling over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will then use that information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt on hard floors and carpets, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will also return to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as impressive as some other robot vacuums. However, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.