Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best method to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It will pick up dust, pet hair and other particles on the surface.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that are rechargeable 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 vacuums and mops well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of controls and features available via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones where you don't want it to go. Like all Roomba devices, it receives new software updates that make it more efficient over time.
It's expensive but also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can clean a large area in less than two hours, and it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. It automatically empties the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after each run.
It also comes with a variety of other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or stuck during cleaning, and it's the best at avoiding power cables as well as other objects in my tests. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has made its name in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model that can also 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.
The main selling point of Eufy's the X8 is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have constructed a rough map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into objects, but the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It also takes a lot less time to build up a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. Its tyres are adept at hugging edges and corners, even though they are circular. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that aren't serious, but you can't limit the amount of water it uses. It is effective at picking up hair from pets. It has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, superb navigation and an impressive cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map a room and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you create virtual no-go zones as well as preferred areas that the robot will clean automatically. You can also begin an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the cameras onboard and more on the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are exceptional, getting rid of surface litter from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. It's not the fastest robotics available. Like many other robots it's not a great climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Some people buy a robot vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and forgetting about it for weeks at an time. But it's important that a robot is able to get the job done and that's the reason why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular ones to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot looks like a typical robot, but it's an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. 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 steps, makes it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of the pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of competitors. There's an oblong cleaning button at the top. You can start it from the app or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable cost, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. 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 don't need those functions you can save a little money by purchasing this model.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with the remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually take the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at getting pet fur and dirt from carpets and floors with low pile. 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 effortlessly over door thresholds and switch between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to be able to suck up objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, change the filters, and wash or change the brushes as necessary.
6. IRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's an excellent performer and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, such as the capability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a dependable robot click here vacuum, even if the app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins out when it comes across cables.
We love the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a cleaner vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from hard floors and carpets, as well as a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating between furniture, along edges and up steps. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't 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.