Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is with a robot vacuum. It can pick up dust, pet hair and other surface debris.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and pick up the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a fantastic choice for many households. It is able to vacuum and mop well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of controls and features accessible via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to add Cleaning zones for certain areas that need extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones that you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, just like the other Roomba products, which improve the quality of the product over time.
It's costly however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. 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 one button. It will automatically empty the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It isn't often entangled or entrapped during a cleaning cycle and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables as well as other objects in my tests. It is not as accurate at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
While the Anker-owned Eufy has made a name for itself in low-cost robot vacuums it's not yet an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of advanced features, 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 created an approximate map of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a good vacuum on floors with no dust that can carry debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with relative ease. The tyres are adept at hugging corners and edges despite being circular. It's not a fantastic cat litter picker, though as our tests show it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is great for spills that are not too large, you can't limit the amount of water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness for more serious stains. It is effective in removing hair from pets. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. There are a few niggles in its operation that keep it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models and models, the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping that utilizes a LIDAR sensor to map out an area 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 areas that you want to clean. will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start cleaning manually, or view a live feed of the onboard cameras 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 excellent, taking away surface debris from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. It's not the fastest robot on the market. It's not the greatest climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models in order to help you select the best one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot is just like a typical robot, here 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 and stay clear of obstructions. It is able to 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 that keeps the vacuum away from stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it was able to climbed over thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button at the top and you can either start it with the app or voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. Its rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low cost, the Eufy11S is a great option. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. If you don't need these functions, you can save money.
This robot is simple to install and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with a remote control that lets you select different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also send the robotvac on the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient at getting dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other low items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It could also easily traverse door thresholds and transition from one floor type to another.
The 11S, just like other robots will also suckup some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you prevent this from happening by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, replace the filters and wash or change the brushes when required.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive however it's an excellent performer and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation and environmental mapping is something to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. Although its app is a little sluggish and the 980 may spin a bit when rolling over cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpet and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It also automatically returns to its base station for easy recharging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.