Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best device to keep an orderly home. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other particles on the surface.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is an excellent option for homes with a variety of. It vacuums and mops well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and has a wide range of features and controls that are accessible via the app. It comes with a useful feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. It also receives software updates, similar to all Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive, but it's is also among the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's got a huge battery that can vacuum an entire home in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming with the push of a button. It automatically empties the trash bin that is above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after each run.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests, it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as reliable at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in low-cost robot vacuums it's never offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features and can compete well with more expensive models.
The laser navigation system is the most important feature of this machine. The X8 makes use of a laser mapping system that is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to create a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are good at grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is good for loose spills, you can't control how much water it uses, which will limit its effectiveness for more serious staining. However, it does an excellent job of picking up pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It has a beautiful design, excellent navigation and an impressive cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities that keep it from ranking as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot and models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping which uses an LIDAR sensor to map out an area and two 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. After the room has been defined and assigned, you can assign virtual no go areas and favorite sections to the robot. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start a manual clean or watch live feeds of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. Its sweeping and suction power are top of the line cleaning up surface debris from carpets with medium piles Best self empty robot vacuum and dust in bare floors. However, it's not exactly the most flexible robot available. Like many other robots, it's not a good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's important for a robot capable of the task 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 robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but comes with a few more features and better performance. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses those to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It can even detect 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 away from steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it easily moved over large shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigational skills were also impressive and its overall score on carpet and bare floors topped the competition. It was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
Its controls are a bit simpler than the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top, and you can launch it via the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for daily or weekly cleaning, set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check the history of its cleaning. Ion is covered in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that feels and looks attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and has no frills at a reasonable price. It isn't equipped with some of the more advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are available in higher-end models but if you're not looking for those functions you can save some money with this model.
This robot is simple to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include the remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust suction levels. You can also manually assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at getting pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that heavier robots were unable to get at. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and change from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can suck up some objects like cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping these items off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin regularly, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's most popular robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than many competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines with its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if the app isn't the most responsive and the 980's wheels spin out when rolling over cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It then uses that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from carpets and hard floors, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating around furniture, along edges and up the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size isn't as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that will keep your floors clean for hours on end.