Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best method to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other particles on the surface.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Look for models that can recharge and then resume cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It comes with a fantastic navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also has numerous 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 require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones that you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, similar to all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can clean an entire home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming with the touch of one button. It automatically empties the trash bin that is above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after every run.
It also has a number of other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes a camera along with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or entrapped during a cleaning process, and it's the best in avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it isn't as accurate in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker is now an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. But it didn't offer an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of modern features and can compete with more expensive models.
The laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The previous Eufy devices have built up an approximate map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into objects, but the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to build a comprehensive map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is ideal for multi-floored homes.
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. Its tyres are also very adept at hugging corners and edges, despite being circular. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. This is ideal for spills that aren't serious, but you cannot control the amount of water it uses. That said, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, gorgeous design and great navigation. There are a few niggles in its operation, which prevent it from being ranked as the top smart robot vacuum.
Like iRobot's latest models and models, the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping which uses an LIDAR sensor to map out a room and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to identify and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is identified it is possible to assign virtual no go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also start a manual clean or manually change the cleaning mode, view a live feed from the onboard cameras and more on the main screen.
The sensors of the RX2 work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line cleaning up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. However, it's not the most flexible robot available. As with many others it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It is essential that a robot is able to do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and examined some of the most popular models to help you pick the right one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that is similar to other, but comes with several more features and is more efficient. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It is able to detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector and an click here infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it easily moved over large shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors topped the competition, and it took in 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than the competition; there's an uniform cleaning button on the top and you can launch it via the app, or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for your daily or weekly cleaning, set no-go zones, and view the history of its cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that is both attractive and beautiful in your home. Its rear dustbin is easily accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and doesn't have any frills at a reasonable price. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in higher-end models. However, if you don't need these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to set up and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does have an remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually send the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.
During our tests, the 11S was extremely effective in cleaning dirt and pet hair from hard floors and carpets with low pile. Its slim profile helped it get under furniture and other objects that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was able to pass effortlessly over door thresholds and transition between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will suck up some objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can prevent this by keeping these items off the floor and using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also suggests that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters and wash or change the brushes when needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the best robot vacuum that you can purchase. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than its competitors, including the ability to create virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. It's a powerful robot vacuum, even if its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins out when it comes across cables.
We love the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It will then use the information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each 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 rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy charging between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors clean for hours on end.