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 debris on surfaces.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Look for models that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a great option for a wide range of households. It features a superb navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also has many features and controls that are accessible through the app. It comes with a useful feature which allows you to create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas that you don't want it to be. And, like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even better over time.
It's expensive but is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after each run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it an excellent option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste, or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
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 which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of modern features and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the primary selling point of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have built up an outline 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 picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are very good at grabbing corners and edges. It's not the best cat litter picker, though our tests have shown it only removes about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for spills that aren't too big, you can't limit the amount of water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness for more severe stains. However, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It has a beautiful design, excellent navigation, and excellent cleaning power. It has some oddities in its operation that prevent it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technique that uses a LIDAR to map an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras for detecting and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is defined and assigned, you can designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also alter the cleaning modes, start a manual clean, or view live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions immediately. The suction and sweeping power are top of the line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors with no floor. It's not the fastest robotics available. It's not the greatest climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Many people purchase robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial that a robot is able to do the job so our ZDNet team has tested and reviewed some of the most popular models to help you pick the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and uses them to navigate around and stay clear of obstructions. It's also able to detect common obstructions such as furniture legs and power cords in real time. The combination of sensors with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
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 pet hair from our lab test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than those of the competitors. There's a round cleaning button on the top, and you can start it from the app, or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, set up no-go zones and check its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that looks and feels attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter is the same.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple low-cost robot vacuum at a low cost, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you do not need these functions, you can save money.
automatic vacuum and mop robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does have a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at removing dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other objects that heavier robots were unable to get at. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doors and transition from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, as with other robots will also suckup some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organiser when you can. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, replace the filters, and change or wash the brushes as required.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It has more advanced automation than its competitors, such as the ability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile application. It's a capable robot vacuum, even though its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins out when rolling over cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will then use this information to design a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a cleaner vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate across furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as good as those of other robot vacuums, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep your floors clean for hours at a time.