Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best device to keep an orderly home. It will nab dust, pet hair and other surface debris before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots can sync with smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Look for models that recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent option for households with a variety of. It features a superb navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and controls accessible via the app. It has a handy feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. It also gets software updates, like all Roomba products, which enhance it over time.
It's costly however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It has a high-powered battery that can vacuum a large area in less than two hours. It can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of a button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically empties into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it a great option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or entrapped during a cleaning cycle and is the best in avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. However, it's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has made a name for itself in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's never offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features and is able to compete against more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have constructed an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to build an accurate map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This 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 the best cat litter eater, however, with our tests showing it only removes about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for loose spills, you can't regulate the amount of water it uses, which will limit its effectiveness on more severe staining. It is effective in removing pet hair. It has a higher pick-up rate 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, gorgeous design, and a great navigation. But it has some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping technology which uses a LIDAR sensor to map out an area and two 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room is identified it is possible to designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the cameras onboard and more on the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions in a flash. The suction and sweeping power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust on floors that are unfinished. It's not the fastest robotics available. Like many other robots, it's not a good climber and is prone to problems with things like metal threshold transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. It is essential for a robot capable of the task and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you pick the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that is similar to other, but comes with several more features and better performance. Its smart mapping system creates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses those to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It can even detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it off the stairs make it one of the fastest vacuums we've tried.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were also impressive as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors was better than the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a clean button on the top and you can start it by using the app or voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, create no-go zones, and view its history of cleaning. Ion is clad in a smart dark gray plastic that is both attractive and attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to access for emptying and cleaning the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. It doesn't have many of the advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models, but if you don't need these functions, you can save money with this model.
This robot is simple to setup and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does have the ability to control the remote with a remote that lets you select different modes and alter the suction level. You can also manually assign the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at cleaning pet fur and dirt from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other items that larger robots could not reach. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and move from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will take in some objects such as cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. 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 expensive but it's a top performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than many 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's wheels spin out when rolling over cables.
We love the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to store your home's floor plan. It will use this information to more info create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station for simple recharging in between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as good as other robot vacuums. However, it is an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.