Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
A robot vacuum is a great tool to maintain an orderly home. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other surface debris before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots can sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
- 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, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and has a wide range of controls and features accessible via the app. It has a handy feature that lets you create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas you do not want it to go. Like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it better over time.
It's costly, but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It has a high-powered battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping by pressing a button. It automatically empties the bin of dust 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 great choice for homes with a lot of space with its intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests, it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn't as effective in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
- Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy is owned by Anker, has become an iconic name in the world of budget robot vacuums. But it didn't offer a model that could also mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features that can compete against more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The X8 uses laser mapping technology that is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to build up an accurate picture of your space and stores multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at securing corners and edges even though they are circular. It's not the best robot vacuum mop combo cat litter scooper, however as our tests show it is able to remove around 90% of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode utilizes the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is great for spills that aren't too big, you can't regulate the amount of water it is using and this will reduce its effectiveness on more severe staining. However, it does an excellent job of picking up pet hair, with a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
- Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. However, it has some operational hiccups that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot like the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping that utilizes an LIDAR sensor to map out an area and two 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once mapped the app allows you to assign virtual no-go areas and areas that you want to clean. will automatically clean. You can also start an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, watch live feeds 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. Its sweeping and suction power are top-notch cleaning up surface debris from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust on floors that are unfinished. But it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the best climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot capable of the task so our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models in order to help you choose the right one for your house.
- Shark ION
This budget-friendly robovac looks just like your typical robot but it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and makes use of them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum from stepping on steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it easily could climb over the thick shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair that we tested in our lab samples.
The controls are simpler than competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can access it via the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones, and look up its cleaning history. Ion is clad in a stylish dark gray plastic that looks and feels attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter is the same.
- Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good option if you're looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and has no frills at a low cost. It doesn't have many of the smart features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in higher-end models, however, if you don't require those functions you can save a little money with this model.
This robot is simple to use and set up. It doesn't 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 levels. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac for scheduled cleaning.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in cleaning dirt and pet hair from hard floors and carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other items that more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was also able to easily traverse door thresholds and transition from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will suck up some objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings, and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can avoid this by keeping these objects off the floor and using an organizer for cords if you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the best robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary markers through its mobile application. Although its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin a bit when moving over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will then use that information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from hard floors and carpets, as well as a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. Its floor tracking sensor assists it in maneuvering around furniture, along edges and up stairs. 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 quite as good as those of other robot vacuums, it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours at a time.