Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

A robot vacuum is the best tool to maintain an orderly home. It will nab pet hair, dust and other surface debris before it causes a bigger problem.

Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free environment. Find models that are rechargeable and continue cleaning the area they left.

1. iRobot s8

This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent choice for many homes. It comes with a fantastic navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with a lot of features and controls accessible via the app. It also comes with a helpful feature that allows you to create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require more attention and Keep Out zones where you don't want it to move. As with all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even better over time.

It's expensive however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can clean a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping by pressing one button. And, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the dust 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 good option for most homes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It's not often damaged or entrapped during cleaning and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables as well as other objects I've tested. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.

2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid

Although Anker-owned Eufy has made a name for itself in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it's never offered an all-in-one model that can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of features that are advanced and can compete with much more expensive models.

The most significant selling point for Eufy with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 utilizes laser mapping technology that is more precise than previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to construct a comprehensive picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which 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 under the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are efficient in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter eater, however as our tests show it is able to remove around 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.

There's a mopping mode that uses the same water tank as the vacuuming. 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 when dealing with more serious staining. However, it does an excellent job of picking up pet hair, with a better percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Known for quietly effective home appliances Miele's RX2 robot vacuum comes with outstanding cleaning power, gorgeous design and great navigation. But it has some operational hiccups that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.

The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technology which uses LIDAR to map the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been identified, you can assign virtual no go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also initiate cleaning manually or 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 power are top-of-the-line and cleans up surface debris from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust on floors that are unfinished. But it's not the most agile robot on the market. Like many others, it's not a good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.

Some people buy robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, only to forget about them for weeks. But it's important that a robot is able to get the job done and that's the reason our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular ones to help you choose the perfect one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but comes with several more features and a better performance. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and makes use of them to navigate and avoid obstructions. It is able to detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. The combination of sensors with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum from stepping on stairs makes it one of our most agile vacuums.

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

Its controls are a bit more basic than those of the competition; there's an oblong cleaning button at the top. You can start it from the app or via voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, set up no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish 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 just as simple.

5. Eufy 11S

If you're looking to buy a basic low-cost robot automatic vacuum robot for a reasonable cost, the Eufy11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in more expensive models. If you don't require these functions, you can save money.

This robot is easy to use and set up. 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 adjust suction levels. You can also manually assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.

In our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely efficient in cleaning dirt and pet fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to fit under furniture with low hanging and other objects that larger robots are unable to reach. It was able to pass effortlessly over door thresholds and transition between floors of different types to another.

Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects, such as cords drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you keep these objects off the ground and using a cord organizer when you can. It also recommends that you clean the dustbin, replace the filters, and change or wash the brushes when necessary.

Roomba 990 by iRobot

The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's a top performer and, in some ways, the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its rivals, for instance the ability to create virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although the app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.

We love the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It uses this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than most high-end robots.

Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and an ejector brush that moves debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate across furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from slipping down stairs. And it automatically returns to its base station for easy charging between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as great as some other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and smart robot vacuum reliable machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.