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Best Robot Vacuums and Mop CombosA robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining the cleanliness of your home. It will nab dust, pet hair and other particles from the floor before it becomes a larger problem.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic choice for many households. It can be used to vacuum and mop, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of features and controls accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones where you do not want it to go. It also receives software updates, just like the other Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's costly however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It's got a huge battery that can vacuum the entire house in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the press of one button. It automatically emptys the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after every run.
It has a wide range of other features that make it an excellent choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that utilizes 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's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has made a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model which can also mop. This is changing with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features that can compete against much more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have created an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping technology is far more precise. It also takes a lot less time to construct an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very good at grabbing edges and corners. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a mopping mode that utilizes the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is a good option for spills that aren't too big however, you aren't able to limit the amount of water it uses and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more severe staining. However, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a better speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, effective appliances. It has a beautiful design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. However, it does have some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot like the RX2 has a dual-sensor mapping system that utilizes the LIDAR sensor to map out an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real time. Once the room is mapped the app allows you to designate virtual no-go zones and preferred areas that the robot will clean automatically. You can also initiate a manual clean or manually change the cleaning mode, view live feeds from the cameras onboard and more on the main screen.
The RX2's sensors are effective, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are excellent, getting rid of surface litter from carpets of medium pile and also removing embedded dust on floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. It's not the greatest climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of metal.
Some people buy a robot vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at a time. However, it's essential that a robot can accomplish the task, which is the reason why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular ones to help you find the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac that looks just like the other, but it has some extra features and a better performance. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2-D maps of your home and uses them to navigate around and stay clear of obstructions. 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 which keeps it away from stairs, makes it one of the most agile vacs we've tested.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and did not get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet was higher than the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There's a cleaning button on the top and you can choose to start it using the app or voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, create no-go zones, and view the history of its cleaning. Ion is clad in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that is both attractive and attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to access for emptying and removing the filter equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good choice if you want a robot vacuum that's simple and has no frills at a cost that is low. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in higher-end models. However, if you don't require these functions, you can save money.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with a remote control which allows you to choose between different modes and alter the suction level. It also lets you manually send the robovac off on a scheduled cleaning.
In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at getting dirt and fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile helped read more it get under furniture and other low items that larger robots could not reach. It was also able to traverse door thresholds and transition from one floor type to another.
The 11S, like other robots will also suckup some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organiser when you can. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin periodically by replacing the filters and washing or changing the brushes as required.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's costly but it's top-performing and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping are a joy to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary lines using its mobile app. While its application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
We love the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It uses this information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum cleaner than the majority of high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt from floors and carpets and a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. Its floor tracking sensors aid it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from falling down the stairs. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharging between sessions. Although 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 can keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.