Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

A robot vacuum is a great tool for maintaining an orderly home. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.

Some robots connect to smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.

1. iRobot S8

This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic choice for many households. It vacuums and mops well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors and comes with a variety of features and controls that are accessible via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention, as well as Keep Out zones where you do not want it to be. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, which enhance it over time.

It's costly, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large area in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of a button. And, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.

It's got a range of other features that make it a great choice for homes of all sizes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as 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 is not as accurate at detecting pet waste or other dangers.

2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8

Eufy owned by Anker It has become an iconic name in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. However, it did not offer the option of a model that could mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of modern features and can compete with much more expensive models.

Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an approximate map of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things but the X8's laser mapping technology is much more accurate. It takes less time to create an extensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. Its tyres are also very adept at securing edges and corners despite being circular. It's not a fantastic cat litter scooper, however our tests have shown it can only remove about 90% of the fur from hard floors.

The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for loose spills however, you aren't able to regulate the amount of water it is using and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious staining. That said, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a better pickup rate than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, effective appliances. It has a beautiful design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has some operational issues which prevent it from being considered as the top overall smart robot vacuum.

The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping system that uses a LIDAR to map the space as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is defined, you can assign virtual no-go zones and preferred sections to the robot. You can also change the cleaning check here modes, start cleaning manually, or view a live feed of the cameras onboard from the main screen.

The RX2's sensors work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top of the line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors with no floor. It's not the most powerful robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of metal.

Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial that a robot can accomplish the task and that's why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most popular models to help you find the right one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This budget robovac that is similar to other, but comes with some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even 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 the stairs, makes it one of the most flexible vacs we've tried.

It was able to climb over thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were impressive as well and its overall score 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 those of the competition's. There's a clean button at the top and you can start it with the app or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also create a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, set no-go zones, and see its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is accessible for emptying and removing the filter equally easy.

5. Eufy 11S

Eufy 11S is a good option for those looking for a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and doesn't have any frills at a cost that is low. It isn't equipped with some of the advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, found in more expensive models, however, if you don't require these functions, you can save a little cost with this model.

This robot is very easy to setup and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with a remote control which lets you select between different modes and alter the suction level. It also lets you manually take the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.

In our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning dirt and pet hair from hard floors and carpets with low pile. Its slim profile made it possible to get under low-hanging furniture and other objects that larger robots are unable to reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doorways and transition between floors of different types to another.

The 11S, as with 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 items off the ground and by using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, replace the filters and clean or change the brushes when required.

Roomba 990 from iRobot

The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's the most powerful robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It has more advanced automation than the majority of its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. Although its application is a bit slow and the 980 can spin a bit when crossing cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.

One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (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 cleaner vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.

Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on carpets and hard floors, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The floor tracking sensor assists in navigating around furniture, along edges and on steps. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It can also return automatically to the base station to allow for recharges between sessions. While the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a solid and reliable machine that can keep your floors clean for hours on end.