Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep a clean home. It can pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo 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 that are available via the app. It comes with a useful feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas where you don't want it to be. It also receives software updates, just like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's costly but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's got a huge battery that can clean all of your home in less than two hours. It can also switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of a button. It will automatically empty 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 also comes with a variety of other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts in order to detect 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's not as accurate in detecting pet waste and other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker is now an iconic name in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. However, it did not provide the option of a model that could mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of features that are advanced and is able to compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into objects, but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It takes less time to build 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 a good vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. Its tyres are adept at hugging edges and corners, even though they're circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that aren't serious, but you cannot control the amount of water it uses. However, it does an excellent job of picking up pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping system that uses an LIDAR sensor to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room has been mapped, you can designate virtual no-go areas and favorite sections to the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean or see a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping abilities are excellent, removing surface litter from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. However, it's not exactly the most agile robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber, and it has problems with metal threshold transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. However, it's essential that a robot can get the job done, which is the reason our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular models to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but comes with some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor, and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it from falling down the stairs, makes it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tested.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were impressive as well as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors topped the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can start it from the app or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, designate no-go zones, and look up the history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that feels and looks appealing in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple low-cost robot vacuum at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in higher-end models. If you do not need these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi connection, however it does have the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you select different modes and alter the suction level. You can also manually send the robotvac on an cleaning schedule.
During our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in getting rid of pet hair and dirt on hard floors and carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to get under furniture and other low items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and change from one floor type to another.
The 11S, like other robots, will also eat some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and by using a cord organizer when you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's a top performer and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although the application is a bit slow and the 980 may spin out a bit when crossing cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
We love the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include two multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from hard floors and carpet, along with an ejector brush that moves website debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It will automatically return to its base station for easy recharges between sessions. The bin capacity and the battery life of the 980 aren't as good as other robot vacuums. However, it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.