Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is the ideal tool to maintain an orderly home. It can remove dust, pet hair and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find robot vacuum mops robotvacuummops that recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent choice for many households. It can be used to vacuum and mop, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and comes with a variety of features and controls that are accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that need extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, like all Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep a large area in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of one button. It will automatically empty the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after every run.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good option for most homes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It isn't often entangled or stuck during cleaning and is also the most effective in avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Although Anker-owned Eufy has earned an impact in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features and can compete well against more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into objects, but the X8's laser mapping system is far more precise. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very adept at grabbing corners and edges. It's not a great kitty litter scooper, however, with our tests showing it only removes about 90% of the fur from hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is good for spills that are not too large, you can't control how much water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness for more serious staining. It is effective in removing pet hair. It has a higher pick-up rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It has a beautiful design, excellent navigation and an impressive cleaning power. There are a few niggles in its operation that keep it from being considered the top smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map the space as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you designate virtual no-go zones and favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras, and more from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top of the line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. However, it's not the most agile robot on the market. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Some people buy robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's important for a robot to be capable of the task and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you select the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's upgraded in performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It is able to detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum off steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't end up stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded dog hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are less basic than the competitors. There's a cleaning button on the top and you can choose to 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, create areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its history of cleaning. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic, no-frills robot vacuum at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It's not equipped with some advanced features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in higher-end models. If you don't require these functions, you can save money.
This robot is easy to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include the remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. You can also manually assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient at cleaning dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to get under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It could also easily pass over doorway thresholds and change between floors and another.
The 11S, just like other robots, will also eat some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes when needed.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's an excellent performer and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins when it comes across cables.
One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will then use that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from carpets and hard floors and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate between furniture and around edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It also automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharging between sessions. The battery life and bin capacity of the 980 aren't as good as some other robot vacuums. However, it is an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that can keep floors clean for many hours.