A robot vacuum is a great tool to maintain the cleanliness of your home. It will nab dust, pet hair, and other debris from the surface before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and pick up where they left off.1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is a fantastic option for households with a variety of. It has a great navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with many features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also has a handy feature that allows you to 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, like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's expensive but is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of a button. It automatically empties the bin of dust above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after every run.
It also has a number of other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses a camera along with processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the best vacuum mop robot combo in avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as reliable at detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy owned by Anker is now an established brand in the world of robots that are budget-friendly vacuums. But it didn't offer an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that has a wide range of advanced features, and is able to compete with more expensive models.
The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of a laser mapping system that is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your home and can store multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is still a decent vacuum for floors that are not clean that can carry debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with ease. The Tyres of the X8, despite their circular shape, are very good at grabbing edges and corners. It's not the best cat litter eater, however, with our tests showing it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is good for spills that aren't too big, you can't limit the amount of water it uses, which will limit its effectiveness on more serious staining. It does, however, do an admirable job of picking up pet hair, and has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, beautiful design and excellent navigation. There are a few niggles in its operation, which prevent it from being named the best smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot and models, the RX2 features dual-sensor mapping which uses an LIDAR sensor to map out a room and two 3D scanning cameras that can 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 favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also manually change cleaning modes, initiate a manual clean, or view live feeds from the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors are effective in registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. Its sweeping and suction powers are exceptional, taking away surface debris from medium pile carpeting and also removing dust that has been deposited on floors. It's not the fastest robotics on the market. Like many others it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of metal transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. However, it's essential that a machine can get the job done that's the reason our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most well-known models to help you find the right one for your home.
4. Shark IONThis budget robovac looks just like a typical robot, but it's an upgrade in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2D maps of your house and uses to navigate and avoid obstructions. It is able to detect common obstacles such as furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors together with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it off the stairs make it one of the most flexible vacuums 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 navigational skills were impressive as well; its composite score in carpet and bare floors beat out the competition. It was able to pick up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than competitors. There's a round cleaning button on the top. You can launch it via the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, designate no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to empty and cleaning the filter is equally easy.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a basic robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low cost, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. If you don't require these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to set up and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with the remote control that allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. You can also set the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient at getting pet fur and dirt from carpets and floors with low pile. Its slim profile helped it reach under furniture and other low objects that larger robots could not reach. It was also able to easily get over thresholds for doors and transition between floors and another.
Like other robots, the 11S can be able to suck up objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies, and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you avoid this by keeping these objects off the ground and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin regularly replacing the filters, and washing or changing the brushes as needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is iRobot's most popular robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's top-performing and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum available. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is something to behold. It has more advanced automation than the majority of its competitors, including the capability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile application. It's a dependable robot vacuum, even if its app is a bit sluggish and the 980 spins when it is pushed over cables.
We really like the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to store your home's floor plan. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes which grab dirt on carpets and hard floors, as well as the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The sensor for floor tracking assists in navigating around furniture as well as along edges and steps. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size aren't as impressive as other robot vacuums it's a reliable and solid machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours at a time.
