Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robot vacuum. It will remove dust, pet hair and other debris from the surface before it causes a bigger problem.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and then resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic choice for many households. It comes with a fantastic navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require more attention and Keep Out zones where you do not want it to move. And, like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even more efficient over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's got a huge battery that can clean the entire house in less than two hours. It can also switch between vacuuming and mopping at the push of one button. It will automatically empty the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after each run.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good choice for homes with a lot of space, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes both a camera and processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It's not often damaged or stuck during a cleaning cycle, and it's the best in avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. It's not as precise at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy owned by Anker is now an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it didn't provide the option of a model that could mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of advanced features, and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this device is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have constructed a rough map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into objects but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It takes less time to build an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors, slinging debris under its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with relative ease. Its tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges even though they are circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is great for loose spills but you cannot regulate the amount of water it consumes and this will reduce its effectiveness for more serious stains. It is effective of removing pet hair. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It has a beautiful design, superb navigation, and excellent cleaning power. However, it has some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technique which uses LIDAR to map the space as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once mapped the app allows you to create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start a manual clean or see live feeds of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions immediately. Its sweeping and suction powers are outstanding, effectively removing surface litter from medium pile carpeting and also removing embedded dust on floors. It's not the fastest robotics available. It's not the greatest climber, and it has problems with metal threshold transition strips.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting a schedule on an app and forgetting about it for weeks at one time. It's important for a robot capable of the task, so our ZDNet staff has compared and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you select the right one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget-friendly robot looks like a typical robot, but it's an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and makes use of them to navigate around and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum away from the stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it was able to moved over large shag rug robot cleaner and didn't end up 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 percent of pet hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are simpler than the competition; there's a round cleaning button on the top and you can access it via the app or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its cleaning history. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that looks and feels attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and simple at a cost that is low. It lacks some of the more advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are available in higher-end models however, if you don't require those functions you can save a little cost with this model.
The robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you choose between different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely effective in cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to fit under furniture with low hanging and other objects that bulkier robots could not reach. It was also able to pass over doorway thresholds and transition from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, just like other robots, can also eat certain objects, like cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping these objects off the floor and using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis, replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's most popular robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It has more advanced automation than most of its rivals, for instance the ability to create virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if the app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins when it is pushed over cables.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to store your home's floor plan. It then uses the information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.
The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as an ejector brush that moves debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate across furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down stairs. It also automatically returns to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharges between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours and hours.