Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great device to keep a clean home. It will nab dust, pet hair and other surface debris before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is an excellent option for a wide range of households. It features a superb navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has numerous features and controls accessible via the app. It has a handy feature which allows you to create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. It also receives software updates, similar to the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can clean a large home in under two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. It will automatically empty the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after every run.
It also has many other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts in order 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. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy 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 comes with a variety of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's the X8 is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have built up a rough map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into objects however the X8's laser mapping system is more precise. It also takes a lot less time to construct a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is still a good vacuum on bare floors, slinging debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are very adept in grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is great for loose spills but you cannot limit the amount of water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness for more serious stains. It does, however, do an excellent job of removing pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, beautiful design, and a great navigation. It has a few oddities in its operation that prevent it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot and models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping that utilizes the LIDAR sensor to map the space and three 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is mapped, the app lets you create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning options, begin an automatic clean, or view live feeds of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors are effective in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are outstanding, effectively removing surface litter from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on bare floors. However, robot vacuum cleaner with mop 's not exactly the most flexible robot available. Like many others, it's not a good climber and has trouble with things like metal threshold transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule on an app, only to forget about them for weeks. But it's important that a machine can accomplish the task and that's the reason our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular models to help you select the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robot is just like your typical robot but it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 2D and 3-D maps of your home and uses to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. It's even able to spot common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs in real time. This combination of sensors, along with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it away from stairs, makes it one of the most flexible vacs we've tried.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it picked up 98.5% of dirt 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 start it from the app, or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check the history of its cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that is both attractive and appealing in your home. Its rear dustbin is easily accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic, no-frills robot vacuum at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S is a great option. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in more expensive models. However, if you do not need these functions, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does have the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at cleaning dirt and pet fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other low items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doorways and transition from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects, such as cords drawstrings for hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can avoid this by keeping these items off the floor and using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive, but it's top-performing and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation as well as environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It has more advanced automation than the majority of its competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers with its mobile application. It's a powerful robot vacuum, even if its application is a bit slow and the 980 spins out when rolling over cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that capture dirt from floors and carpets and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free charging between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as good as some other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.