Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep the cleanliness of your home. It can remove dust, pet hair and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic option for a wide range of households. It can be used to vacuum and mop, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and has a wide range of features and controls available via the app. It comes with a useful 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 wish it to go. And, like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it more efficient over time.
It's expensive but is also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large area in less than two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically empties into an even larger waste container on top of its charging dock.
It also has many other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses a camera along with processor-powered smarts to recognize obstacles. It isn't often entangled or trapped during cleaning and is the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Although Anker-owned Eufy has made an impact in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model that can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of advanced features, and can compete with more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the most important feature of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an approximate map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes significantly less time to construct an accurate map of your space and stores multiple maps, which is great for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on floors with no dust that can carry debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with ease. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are very adept in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter eater, however, with our tests showing it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for spills that are not too large but you cannot control how much water it consumes, which will limit its effectiveness on more severe staining. It is effective in removing pet hair. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, stunning design and great navigation. There are a few niggles in its operation that prevent it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot and models, the RX2 has a dual-sensor mapping system which uses an LIDAR sensor to map the space and two 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room has been defined, you can designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start cleaning manually or watch live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line and cleans up surface debris from carpets with medium piles and dust on floors that are unfinished. However, it's not the most agile robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot able to do the job so our ZDNet team has tested and looked over some 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 several more features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It can even identify 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 that keeps it from falling down steps make it one of the most agile vacs we've tested.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring was higher than the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than the competitors. There's a clean button at the top and you can either start it by using the app or voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for weekly or daily cleaning, set no-go zones, and see the history of its cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels appealing in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and doesn't have best rated robot vacuum any frills at a cost that is low. This model lacks some smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. However, if you don't need these functions, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with an remote control that allows you to select between various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to set the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at cleaning pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it easier to get under furniture and other items that some of the more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was able to pass easily over thresholds of doorways and move between floors of different types to another.
The 11S, like other robots, will also eat some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer when you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as required.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's top-performing and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is something to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than its competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. While its application is a bit slow and the 980 may spin out a bit when crossing cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a cleaner vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on hard floors and carpets, as well as an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station for simple charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as good as those of some other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours at a time.