Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the ideal device to keep an orderly home. It can remove pet hair, dust and other surface debris before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop is a great choice for many homes. 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 that are accessible via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require extra attention, and also to keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. And, like all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it even better over time.
It's costly however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It has a powerful battery that can sweep the entire house in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming at the touch of a button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after every run.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a good option for most homes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's not often damaged or entrapped during cleaning, and it's the best in avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it's not as reliable at detecting pet waste and other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker is now a household name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. But it didn't offer a model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of advanced features, and can compete with much more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate picture of your space and stores multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very good in grabbing corners and edges. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that are not serious, but you cannot limit the amount of water that it uses. It is effective of removing hair from pets. 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 comes with outstanding cleaning power, gorgeous design, and a great navigation. However, it has some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Similar to the latest models of iRobot like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping which uses a LIDAR sensor to map out a room and two 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room is defined and assigned, you can assign virtual no-go zones and favorite sections to the robot. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start an automatic clean or watch live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. And its sweeping and suction power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust in bare floors. However, it's not exactly the most agile robot on the market. Like many other robots it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It is essential for a robot capable of the task and that's why our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models to help you pick the best one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robot looks like your standard robot, however it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It's even able to spot common obstructions 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 stairs make it one of the most agile vacs we've tried.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button at the top and you can either start it using the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones and check its cleaning history. Ion is clad in a stylish dark gray plastic that is both attractive and attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent option if you're looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and doesn't have any frills at a low cost. The model isn't equipped with smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in more expensive models. However, if you do not need these features, you could save money.
This robot is very easy to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does have an remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually take the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at getting dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to fit under furniture with low hanging and other items that bulkier robots could not reach. It was also able to easily pass over doorway thresholds and move between floors and another.
The 11S, just like other robots, can also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you prevent this from happening by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer when you can. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as needed.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation as well as environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. While its application is a bit slow and the 980 may spin cleaning robot mop and vacuum out a bit while moving over cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
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 will then use that information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.
The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from carpet and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along 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 battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as impressive as those of other robot vacuums. However, it's an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.