Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robot vacuum. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other particles on the surface.

Some robots can sync with smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Find models that recharge and pick up the area they left.

1. iRobot S8

This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It features a superb navigation system with GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with numerous features and controls accessible via the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you add cleaning zones to certain areas that require more attention, and also to keep Out zones that you don't want it to move. It also gets software updates, like the other Roomba products, which make it better over time.

It's costly, but it's is also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It also switches between mopping and vacuuming at the push of a button. It automatically emptys the bin of dust above its charging station, unlike other self emptying robots which require you to empty it after each run.

It also has many other options, like intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes a camera along with processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning cycle. 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 Hybrid X8

Although Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it's not yet an all-in-one model that can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features that can compete against more expensive models.

The most significant selling point for Eufy with this device is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have built up an outline of your home by using infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping system is more precise. It also takes a lot less time to build up an accurate map of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is great for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It can easily sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are good in grabbing corners and edges. It's not a great kitty litter scooper, however our tests have shown it only removes about 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.

The basic mopping mode utilizes the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is ideal for spills that are not too serious, but you can't regulate the amount of water it consumes. That said, it does an excellent job of removing pet hair, and has a higher pickup rate than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. However, it does have a few operational oddities that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.

Like the latest models from iRobot like the RX2 has a dual-sensor mapping system that uses an LIDAR sensor to map out 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 initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, watch live feeds from the onboard cameras, and more on the main screen.

The sensors of the RX2 work well by registering furniture and obstructions in real-time. The suction and sweeping power are top-of-the-line, picking up surface litter from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust in bare floors. It's not the fastest robot available. Like many others, it's not a good climber and has trouble with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.

Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the hands-off convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at an time. It's important for a robot capable of doing the job so our ZDNet staff has tested and looked over some of the most popular models to help you choose the right one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This round, budget robovac looks just like your typical robot but it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 2D and 3-D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real time. This combination of sensors along with a bump detector and an infrared sensor that keeps the vacuum robot away from the stairs makes it one of our most flexible vacuums.

In our tests, it easily moved over large shag rug and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beats the competition and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of the dirt and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.

The controls are simpler than competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top. You can launch it via the app, or by voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, create no-go zones and view the history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that feels and looks attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also a breeze.

5. Eufy 11S

Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for a robot vacuum that's simple and has no frills at a reasonable price. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. If you don't need these functions, you can save money.

This robot is simple to use and set up. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with a remote control that allows you to select between various modes and adjust the suction level. It also lets you manually take the robovac off for scheduled cleaning.

During our tests, the 11S was extremely efficient in removing pet hair and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to fit under furniture with low hanging and other items that some heavier robots were unable to get at. It was also able to easily traverse door thresholds and transition from one type of floor to another.

The 11S, as with other robots will also suckup some items, including cords and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can stop this by keeping these objects off the floor and using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin regularly by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as needed.

iRobot Roomba 990

The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive however it's a top performer and, in some ways, smart robot vacuum the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigation feature and environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It has more advanced automation than most of its competitors, such as the capability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile application. While its app isn't the most responsive and the 980 can spin out a bit while moving over cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.

We love the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors as well as visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM) to remember your home's floor plan. It will then use that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.

The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from hard floors and carpet as well as an ejector brush that moves debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate around furniture and along edges, while Cliff Detect helps to prevent the Roomba from slipping down stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as impressive as some other robot vacuums, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep your floors clean for hours at a time.