Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great tool to maintain the cleanliness of your home. It can remove pet hair, dust and other surface debris before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots connect to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a great option for homes with a variety of. It vacuums and mops well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of controls and features accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require extra attention and Keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. It also receives software updates, similar to all Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum the entire house in less than two hours. It can also switch between mopping and vacuuming with the push of the button. It automatically empties the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after every run.
It also has many other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts in order to detect obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests, it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it's not as reliable at detecting pet waste and other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker, has become an established brand in the world of budget robot vacuums. But it didn't offer an option to mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features and can compete well against much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. The X8 uses a laser mapping system that is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to build an accurate map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It can easily sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are efficient at grabbing edges and corners. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes 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 regulate the amount of water it is using, which will limit its effectiveness for more serious stains. It's effective at picking up pet hair. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. However, it has some operational issues that keep it from ranking as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping system that makes use of LIDAR to map an area as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). After the room has been identified it is possible to assign virtual no-go zones and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate an automatic clean or see live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. And its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line and cleans up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. It's not the fastest robot on the market. As with many others it's not a great climber and is prone to problems with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting a schedule on an app and forgetting about it for weeks at one time. It's crucial that a machine can get the job done, which is the reason our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular ones to help you select the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like your typical robot but it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and makes more info use of them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it from falling down steps make it one of the most flexible vacs we've tested.
It was able to climb over thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit simpler than the competitors. There's an oblong cleaning button at the top and you can launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, create no-go zones, and see its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic low-cost robot vacuum at a low price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It lacks some of the smart features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models, but if you're not looking for those functions you can save some cost with this model.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with a remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually take the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient in getting dirt and pet fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile made it possible to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other items that some heavier robots were unable to get at. It could also easily pass over doorway thresholds and change between floors and another.
The 11S, as with other robots will also suckup certain objects, like cords 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 suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive however it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its competitors, including the ability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. It's a powerful robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt from floors and carpets, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will also return to the base station for easy charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.