Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is to use a robotic vacuum. It will nab pet hair, dust and other debris from the surface before it becomes a larger problem.
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 can recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent choice for many households. It is able to vacuum and mop well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of features and controls accessible through the app. It comes with a useful feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and 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 better over time.
It's costly, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's got a huge battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It can also switch between vacuuming and mopping at the press of the button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the bin after each run, it automatically emptys into a larger waste container above its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy is owned by Anker It has become an established brand in the world of budget robot vacuums. However, it didn't offer a model that could also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's this device is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an approximate map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into objects but the X8's laser mapping system is much more accurate. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges despite being circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. This is ideal for spills that aren't too serious, but you can't limit the amount of water it consumes. It does, however, do an excellent job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. However, it has some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models and models, the RX2 has a dual-sensor mapping system which uses an LIDAR sensor to map an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect 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 preferred areas that the robot will automatically clean. You can also initiate a manual clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the onboard cameras, and more from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions immediately. The suction and sweeping capabilities are outstanding, effectively removing surface litter from carpets of medium pile and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. But it's not the most flexible robot available. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule in an app and forgetting about it for weeks at a time. It's crucial 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 right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robovac looks just like a typical robot, but it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles 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 off stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and was not 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 surface litter and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top. You can access it via the app or via 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 its cleaning history. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. best affordable robot vacuum on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S is a great option. This model lacks some smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you don't require these functions, you can save money.
This robot is simple to use and set up. 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 different modes and alter the suction level. It also allows you to manually send the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at cleaning dirt and fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low objects that larger robots could not reach. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and move from one type of floor to another.
The 11S, like other robots will also suckup some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can prevent this by keeping these items off the floor and using an organizer for cords if you can. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes as necessary.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. Although the app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit while rolling over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent and 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 hard floors and carpets and an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from falling down stairs. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.