What The Heck What Exactly Is Best Robot Vacuums?

Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

The best way to keep your home tidy is with a robot vacuum. It will pick up dust, pet hair and other particles on the surface.

Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. 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 a fantastic option for a wide range of households. It can be used to vacuum and mop and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of controls and features accessible through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you don't want it to be. Like all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it even better over time.

It's expensive but is also among the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It has a high-powered battery that can sweep a large area in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of a button. It automatically emptys the trash bin that is above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after each run.

It also has a number of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes a camera along with processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable in detecting pet waste or other dangers.

2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid

While the Anker-owned Eufy has earned its name in low-cost robot vacuums it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive suite of advanced features that can compete against more expensive models.

The main selling point of Eufy's this device is its laser navigation. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to build an accurate map of your home. It also has the ability to store multiple maps. This is perfect for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is still a decent vacuum on bare floors and can sling debris over its side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin with relative ease. Its tyres are adept at securing corners and edges even though they are circular. It's not a great kitty litter picker, though, with our tests showing it can only remove about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.

There's a basic mopping option that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. This is great for spills that aren't too serious, but you cannot control the amount of water it consumes. That said, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, with a better percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, efficient appliances. It has a beautiful design, excellent navigation and a powerful cleaning power. However, it does have some operational hiccups that keep it from ranking as the top overall smart robot vacuum.

The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping technique which uses LIDAR to map a room, and a pair 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once mapped the app allows you to create virtual no-go zones as well as favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning modes, initiate a manual clean or see a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.

The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions immediately. Its sweeping and suction power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust in bare floors. However, it's not exactly the most flexible robot mop vacuum combo available. It's not the greatest climber and has issues with metal threshold transition strips.

A lot of people purchase a robotic vacuum for the ease of setting a schedule on an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at an time. It is essential for a robot able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has tested and reviewed some of the most popular models to help you select the best one for your house.

4. Shark ION

This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but has some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses those to navigate around obstacles and most Powerful robot Vacuum avoid them. It is able to detect common obstacles like 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 vacuums we've tested.

In our tests, it was able to could climb over the thick shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive as well and its overall score on carpet and bare floors beat out the competition. It picked up 98.5 percent of surface pet hair and litter from our lab test samples.

Its controls are a bit more basic than those of competitors. There's a round cleaning button on the top, and you can start it from the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, set up no-go zones, and look up its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter is the same.

5. Eufy 11S

Eufy 11S is a great choice if you want a robot vacuum that's simple and doesn't have any frills at a low cost. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you don't require these features, you could save money.

This robot is simple to set up and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does have a remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust the suction level. You can also assign the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.

In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient in getting dirt and fur from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile made it possible to pass under furniture that is low-hanging and other objects that larger robots are unable to reach. It could also easily get over thresholds for doors and transition between floors and another.

The 11S, just like other robots, will also eat certain objects, like cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these objects off the ground and by using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, change the filters and clean or change the brushes as necessary.

Roomba 990 by iRobot

The Roomba is the flagship model of iRobot's robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can buy. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than most competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although its application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin a bit when moving over cables, it's a highly efficient robot vacuum.

One thing we love about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to store 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 the majority of high-end deebot robot vacuum vacuums.

The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The floor tracking sensor helps it navigate through furniture, along edges and up the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for simple recharging in between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't quite as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours on end.