Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep an orderly home. It will nab dust, pet hair and other debris from the surface before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great option for households with a variety of. It is able to vacuum and mop well, 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 has a handy feature which allows you to create cleaning zones in areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas that you don't wish it to go. As with all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it even more efficient over time.
It's costly however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours, and it can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one 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 the bin after every run.
It also has many other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It's not often damaged or stuck during a cleaning process and is the best in avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. It's not as reliable in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker, has become an iconic name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it did not offer an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of modern features and can compete with much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of laser mapping technology that is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on floors with no dust and can sling debris over its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. Its tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges, despite being circular. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however, with our tests showing it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is good for spills that aren't too big but you cannot regulate the amount of water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more severe staining. It does a good job of removing pet hair. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, excellent navigation and an impressive cleaning power. But it has a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping technology that uses the LIDAR sensor to map out an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room has been identified and assigned, you can assign virtual no go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate a manual clean, or view live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping abilities are exceptional, removing surface litter from medium pile carpeting as well as embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. Like many other robots, it's not a good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Some people buy a robot vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule in an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at a time. It's important that a robot is able to do the job, so our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the best one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but has a few more features and better performance. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3-D maps of your home and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to detect common obstructions such as furniture legs and power cords in real time. This combination of sensors along with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it off steps is what makes it one of the most flexible vacs we've tried.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our laboratory 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 launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its cleaning history. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to empty and removing the filter the same.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable cost, the Eufy11S is a great option. It lacks some of the more advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in more expensive models, but if you don't need these features, you can save some cost with this model.
The robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi connection, however it does have an remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually send the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in getting rid of pet hair and dirt from hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doorways and switch from one type of floor to another.
Like self emptying robot vacuum , the 11S will suck up some objects, such as cords drawstrings on hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can prevent this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly, replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly however it's an excellent performer and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if its application is a bit slow and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
We really like the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking helps it navigate between furniture, along edges and on the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep your floors clean for hours on end.