Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

A robot vacuum is a great device to keep the cleanliness of your home. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other debris on surfaces.

Some robots can sync with smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning the area they left.

1. iRobot S8

This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent option for a wide range of households. It comes with a fantastic navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require more attention and Keep Out zones that you don’t want it to move. As with all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it better over time.

It’s expensive, but it’s also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can clean an entire home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the press of the button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically empties into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.

It also has a number of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses cameras in conjunction with processor-powered smarts to identify obstacles. It’s not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. However, it isn’t as reliable at detecting pet waste or other hazards.

2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8

Although Anker-owned Eufy has made an impact in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it’s not yet an all-in-one model that can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of modern features and can compete with much more expensive models.

The most significant selling point for Eufy with this device is its laser navigation. The previous Eufy devices have created an outline of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into things however the X8’s laser mapping system is much more accurate. It takes less time to build an extensive map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at securing corners and edges, even though they’re circular. Our tests revealed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.

There’s a basic mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. While this is great for spills that are not too large, you can’t limit the amount of water it uses and most powerful robot vacuum this will reduce its effectiveness on more serious stains. It is effective at picking up hair from pets. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances Miele’s RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, stunning design, and a great navigation. However, it has a few operational oddities which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.

Like iRobot’s latest models, the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping technology which uses an LIDAR sensor to map the space 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 mapped, the app lets you assign virtual no-go areas and favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also begin a manual clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the cameras onboard and more from the main screen.

The sensors of the RX2 work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are outstanding, effectively getting rid of surface litter from carpets with medium pile as well as embedded dust on floors. It’s not the fastest robot available. It’s not the greatest climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.

Some people buy a robot vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting a schedule in an app and forgetting about it for weeks at an time. It’s important for a robot able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models to help you pick the best cheap robot vacuum one for your house.

4. Shark ION

This budget robot is just like your standard robot, however it’s an upgrade in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and stay clear of obstructions. 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 detector, and an infrared sensor to keep the vacuum away from stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.

It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and didn’t get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5% of dirt and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.

The controls are more basic than the competitors. There is a cleaning button on the top and you can either start it using 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. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also simple.

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 Eufy 11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in higher-end models. If you don’t need these features, you could save money.

This robot is simple to install and use. It does not require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with an remote control that lets you select different modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac during scheduled cleaning.

During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient in removing dirt and pet fur from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile helped it reach under furniture and other items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn’t reach. It was also able to easily traverse door thresholds and move from one floor type to another.

The 11S, as with other robots, can also eat some objects, such as cords and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can avoid this by keeping these items off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes when needed.

iRobot Roomba 990

The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It’s costly, but it’s the most powerful robot vacuum you can buy. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are something to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than many competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. It’s a powerful robot vacuum, even if its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins out when rolling over cables.

One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It then uses the information to create an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than many high-end robotics.

Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as the 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 keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. And it automatically returns to its base station for easy charging between sessions. Although the 980’s battery lifespan and bin size aren’t quite as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it’s a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.