Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best method to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It can pick up dust, pet hair and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots connect to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great choice for many households. It vacuums and mops well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of controls and features accessible via the app. It also has a handy feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas where you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, which improve the quality of the product over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum an entire home in less than two hours. It also switches between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of the button. It automatically emptys the bin of dust above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run.
It also has many other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective in avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While Anker-owned Eufy has made a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of features that are advanced and can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have created an approximate map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It can easily sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are very adept in grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is ideal for spills that aren't too serious, but you cannot regulate the amount of water that it uses. However, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, beautiful design, and a great navigation. However, it does have some operational issues that keep it from ranking as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models, the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping technology which uses the LIDAR sensor to map out an area and three 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room is mapped the app allows you to designate virtual no-go zones and favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also manually change cleaning options, begin cleaning manually or watch a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line, picking up surface litter from carpets with medium piles and dust in bare floors. But best cheap robot vacuum 's not the most flexible robot available. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with metal threshold transition strips.
A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting a schedule on an app and not thinking about it for weeks at a time. It is essential that a robot is capable of doing the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but comes with some extra features and is more efficient. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and uses to navigate and avoid obstructions. It's even able to spot common obstacles such as power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it away from stairs is what makes it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
In our tests, it was able to climbed over thick shag rugs 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 was higher than the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5% of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top and you can access it via the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to empty and cleaning the filter is the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for a robot vacuum that's simple and simple at a reasonable price. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in higher-end models. If you don't need these features, you could save money.
The robot is easy to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, but 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. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in getting rid of pet hair and dirt on hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to get under low-hanging furniture and other items that some larger robots are unable to reach. It was also able to easily traverse door thresholds and change between floors and another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects, such as cords drawstrings for hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can avoid this by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests that you clean the dustbin, change the filters, and change or wash the brushes as required.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, such as the capability to set up virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins out when it is pushed over cables.
One thing we really like about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent, 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 brushes that capture dirt on carpets and hard floors 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 keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It can also return automatically to the base station to allow for charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours on end.