Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best scrubbing robot mop way to keep your home tidy is with a robot vacuum. It will nab pet hair, dust and other particles from the floor before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Look for models that can 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 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 controls and features available via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that need extra attention and Keep Out zones that you don’t want it to move. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It’s expensive but is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep all of your home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming with the press of the button. It automatically emptys the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after each run.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it an excellent option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It’s not often damaged or stuck during a cleaning cycle and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. However, it isn’t as accurate in detecting pet waste and other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn’t previously offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy’s main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8’s laser mapping system is far more precise. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is ideal for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to easily throw debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8’s tyres, despite their circular shape, are good at grabbing corners and edges. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is ideal for Self Vacuum spills that are not dangerous, but you are unable to control the amount of water it consumes. It does a good job in removing pet hair. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele’s RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, excellent navigation, and excellent cleaning power. It has some oddities in its operation that keep it from being considered the best smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map the space as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras for detecting and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been mapped it is possible to designate virtual no-go areas and favorite sections to the robot. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, watch live feeds from the cameras onboard and more from the main screen.
The RX2’s sensors work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are outstanding, effectively getting rid of surface litter from carpets of medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. However, it’s not the most flexible robot available. As with many others it’s not a great climber and has trouble with things like metal threshold transition strips.
Some people buy a robot vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and Self Vacuum then forgetting about it for weeks at an time. But it’s important that a machine can do the job, which is the reason why our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular ones to help you find the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robot is just like a typical robot, but it’s upgraded in performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It’s also able to detect common obstructions such as furniture legs and power cords in real time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor, and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it from falling down stairs is what makes it one of the fastest vacuums we’ve tried.
It was able to walk over thick shag carpets and was not stuck (unlike 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% of pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than those of the competition’s. There’s a clean button at the top, and you can start it with the app or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for weekly or daily cleaning, set no-go zones, and see its cleaning history. Ion is clad in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that feels and looks appealing in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good option for those looking for a robot vacuum that’s simple and simple at a reasonable price. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in higher-end models. If you don’t require these features, you could save money.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does have a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually send the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely effective at getting dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile made it easier to reach under furniture and other low objects that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was also able to pass over doorway thresholds and transition between floors and another.
Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects like cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you keep these items off the ground and using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It’s pricey, but it’s also the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its Self Vacuum navigation and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. Although its app isn’t the most responsive and the 980 can spin out a bit when moving over cables, it’s still a highly efficient robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that capture dirt from hard floors and carpets, as well as a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists it in maneuvering around furniture, along edges and on steps. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will automatically return to its base station for hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980’s battery life and bin size aren’t as good as those of some other robot vacuums, it’s a reliable and solid machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours on end.