Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the best tool to maintain a clean home. It will nab dust, pet hair, and other debris from the surface before it causes a bigger problem.
Some robots connect to smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a great option for a wide range of households. It is able to vacuum and mop well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and offers a broad range of features and controls available via the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you don't want it to be. It also receives software updates, just like the other Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping by pressing one button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after every run.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it an excellent choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or entrapped during a cleaning process, and it's the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy, owned by Anker is now a household name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it did not provide an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of modern features and can compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the most important feature of this machine. The X8 uses a laser mapping system that is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is perfect for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. Its tyres are also very adept at securing corners and edges, even though they are circular. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is a good option for spills that are not too large however, you aren't able to control how much water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more severe staining. It does, however, do an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. self emptying robot vacuum RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, efficient appliances. It is a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has some operational hiccups which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping technology that utilizes a LIDAR sensor to map out the space and two 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room has been defined, you can designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also manually change cleaning modes, start an automatic clean or see live feeds from the cameras onboard from the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping power are top-notch and cleans up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. However, it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the greatest climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Some people buy a robot vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting a schedule on an app and forgetting about it for weeks at a time. It's crucial that a robot can do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular ones to help you choose the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robot is just like your typical robot but it's an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It can even detect common obstacles such as power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors, along with a bump sensor and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it from falling down the stairs make it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were also impressive; its composite score in carpet and bare floors topped the competition and it took in 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit simpler than the competitors. There's a round cleaning button on the top and you can access it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones and view its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. If you don't need these features, you could save money.
The robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include an remote control that allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to set the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient in getting dirt and pet fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to pass effortlessly over door thresholds and move between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to suck up some objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can stop this by keeping these items off the floor and using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive however it's a top performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigation as well as environmental mapping is something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if the application is a bit slow and the 980's wheels spin out when it comes across cables.
We really like the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses this information to design a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on floors and carpets and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The floor tracking sensor assists in navigating through furniture, along edges and up stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station to allow for recharging in between sessions. The bin capacity and the battery life of the 980 aren't as impressive as other robot vacuums. However, it's a solid and reliable machine that will keep floors clean for a long time. hours.