Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best way to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other surface debris.
Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that are rechargeable and continue 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 features a superb navigation system that includes GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with numerous features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require extra attention and Keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. 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 that ZDNet has tested. It has a high-powered battery that can clean a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping by pressing a button. It will automatically empty the bin of dust above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after every run.
robot vacuum for pet hair comes with a variety of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance, which uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste and other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy is owned by Anker is now an iconic name in the world of budget robot vacuums. But it didn't offer the option of a model that could mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of features that are advanced and can compete with more expensive models.
Laser navigation is the main selling point of this machine. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to create a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are adept at securing edges and corners, even though they're circular. Our tests revealed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.
There's a basic mopping option that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming. While this is a good option for spills that are not too large however, you aren't able to limit the amount of water it is using and this will reduce its effectiveness for more serious staining. It does, however, do an excellent job of picking up pet hair, and has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, efficient appliances. It features a stunning design, superb navigation, and excellent cleaning power. But it has a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technology that uses a LIDAR to map a room, and a pair 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 preferred areas that the robot will clean automatically. You can also start an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, view live feeds from the onboard cameras and more from the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions immediately. And its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line and cleans up surface debris from carpets of medium pile and dust in bare floors. But it's not the most agile robot on the market. It's not the greatest climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting a schedule in an app and forgetting about it for weeks at an time. It's crucial that a robot is able to accomplish the task and that's the reason why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular models to help you choose the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that is similar to other, but has a few more features and is more efficient. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses those 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 sensor and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it off steps make it one of the fastest vacuums we've tried.
In our tests, it easily climbed over thick shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of the pet hair that we tested in our lab samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than the competition; 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 daily or weekly cleanings, create no-go zones and check its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin 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 robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low cost, the Eufy11S might be your best bet. It doesn't have many of the smart features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models however, if you don't require these functions, you can save a little cost with this model.
This robot is very easy to install and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with the remote control that lets you choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually take the robovac off on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, the 11S was very effective at getting rid of pet hair and dirt on hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to get under furniture and other objects that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was also able to get over thresholds for doors and transition between floors and another.
Like other robots, the 11S will suck up some objects like cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can prevent this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using an organizer for cords if you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's a top performer and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum available. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It has more advanced automation than the majority of its competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. While its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin out a bit while crossing cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses that information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features include two multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will also return to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as efficient as other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that will keep your floors clean for hours and hours.