Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

The best method to keep your home clean is to use a robot vacuum. It will remove dust, pet hair and other particles from the floor before it causes a bigger problem.

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

1. iRobot S8

This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent choice for many households. It can be used to vacuum and mop and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors, and has a wide range of controls and features available via the app. It has a handy feature which allows you to create cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas where you don't want it to be. It also gets software updates, just like the other Roomba products, which enhance it over time.

It's expensive but is also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It has a high-powered battery that can clean an entire home in less than two hours. It can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing a button. And, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the trash bin after each run, this one automatically empties into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.

It also has a number of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance, which utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize obstacles. It is rarely derailed or stuck during a cleaning cycle. In my tests it was the most effective at avoiding objects like power cables. However, it's not as accurate in detecting pet waste and other hazards.

2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid

While Anker-owned Eufy has made an impact in low-cost robot vacuums it's not yet an all-in-one model which can also mop. That changes with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive set of modern features and is able to compete against more expensive models.

The main selling point of Eufy's this machine is its laser navigation. Previous Eufy devices have built up an approximate map of your home using infrared sensors and bumping into objects however the X8's laser mapping technology is more precise. It takes less time to create an accurate map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is ideal for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are efficient at grabbing edges and corners. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.

The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is great for spills that are not too large but you cannot regulate the amount of water it is using which can limit its effectiveness for more serious stains. That said, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, with a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

The company is known for its quiet home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, stunning design and excellent navigation. There are a few niggles in its operation that prevent it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.

The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that uses a LIDAR to map an area, and a pair 3D scanning cameras for detecting and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room has been defined, you can designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also start an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see live feeds from the cameras onboard and more on the main screen.

The RX2 has excellent sensors that detect furniture and other obstructions in a flash. 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. However, it's not the most flexible robot available. Like many other robots it's not a very good climber and has issues with things like thresholds made of steel transition strips.

Many people purchase a robot vacuum to enjoy the convenience of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at a time. But it's important that a machine can get the job done, which is the reason why our ZDNet staff examined and reviewed a few of the most popular ones to help you select the right one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This best robot vacuum for dog hair budget robovac that looks just like the other, but comes with some extra features and a better performance. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors, together with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor that keeps it off steps, makes it one of the fastest vacs we've tried.

It was able to walk 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 was higher than the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5% of dirt and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.

The controls are less basic than the competition's. There is a cleaning button on the top and you can start it using the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for daily or weekly cleans, create areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a sophisticated dark gray plastic that is both attractive and beautiful in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also easy.

5. Eufy 11S

If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low cost, the Eufy11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping found in higher-end models. If you do not need these features, you can save money.

This robot is simple to set up and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with an remote control that allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction levels. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac for scheduled cleaning.

During our tests, we found that the 11S was extremely effective at getting dirt and pet fur from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other low items that some of the more bulkier robots couldn't reach. It was able to get easily over thresholds of doors and transition between floors of different types to another.

Like other robots, the 11S can suck up some objects, such as cords hoodie drawstrings, and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organiser when you can. It also suggests that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters and clean or change the brushes when necessary.

6. iRobot Roomba 980

The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's an excellent performer and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum available. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its rivals, for instance the ability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile application. While its app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit when crossing cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.

One thing we really like about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes 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 will then use this information to design a consistent and efficient cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.

Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that capture dirt on floors and carpets and an ejector brush that spins to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum’s bin. The sensors for floor tracking help it navigate between furniture and around edges, and Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling down stairs. It also automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free charging between sessions. Although the 980's battery lifespan and bin size isn't as good as those of other robot vacuums it's a reliable and solid machine that will keep your floors clean for hours at a time.