Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

The best robot vacuum for hardwood floors way to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It can remove dust, pet hair, and other surface debris.

Some robots can sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a environment that is hands-free. Find models that recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.

1. iRobot S8

This smart robot vacuum and mop combo is a great choice for many homes. It is able to vacuum and mop well and is extremely navigable using both GPS and laser sensors, and comes with a variety of features and controls accessible through the app. It also has a handy feature that allows you to create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require extra attention and Keep Out zones that you don't want it to go. Like all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it better over time.

It's expensive but it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It comes with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of a button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after each run.

It has a wide range of other features that make it an excellent choice for homes of all sizes that include intelligent obstacle avoidance, which 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 best at avoiding objects like power cables. However, it isn't as effective in detecting pet waste and other dangers.

2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8

Eufy owned by Anker, has become an iconic name in the world of budget robot vacuums. However, it didn't offer an option to mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of modern features and can compete with more expensive models.

The laser navigation system is the primary selling point of this machine. Previous Eufy devices have constructed an outline of your home utilizing infrared sensors and bumping into things, but the X8's laser mapping system is more precise. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is great for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is still a good vacuum on bare floors that can carry debris under its side brushes and into the 400ml dust bin with ease. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are efficient in grabbing corners and edges. It's not the best cat litter eater, however, with our tests showing it can only remove about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.

The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that are not too serious, but you can't control the amount of water that it uses. That said, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a better percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It features a stunning design, excellent navigation, and excellent cleaning power. But it has some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.

Similar to the latest models of iRobot, the RX2 has a dual-sensor mapping system which uses an LIDAR sensor to map 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 has been mapped and assigned, you can assign virtual no-go zones and favorite sections to the robot. You can also begin an automatic clean or manually change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the onboard cameras, and more on the main screen.

The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. Its sweeping and suction powers are exceptional, getting rid of surface litter from carpets of medium pile and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the best climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of metal.

Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's crucial that a machine can accomplish the task, which is why our ZDNet staff tested and reviewed several of the most popular models to help you select the best one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This round, budget robot looks like your typical robot but it's upgraded in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and uses them to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even identify common obstacles such as 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 off stairs is what makes it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.

In our tests, it effortlessly climbed over thick shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it picked up 98.5 percent of pet hair that we tested in our lab samples.

Its controls are a bit simpler than the competition; there's a round cleaning button on the top and you can access it via the app, or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for weekly or daily cleans, set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned, and check its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a stylish dark gray plastic that is both attractive and appealing in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easily accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also easy.

5. Eufy 11S

Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for an automated vacuum cleaner that is simple and has no frills at a cost that is low. This model lacks some smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in higher-end models. However, if you don't need these features, you could save money.

This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However, it does come with the remote control that lets you choose between different modes and adjust suction level. It also lets you manually turn off the robovac during scheduled cleaning.

During our tests during our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning dirt and pet hair from hard floors as well as in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It was also able to easily pass over doorway thresholds and move between floors and another.

Like other robots, the 11S will suck up some objects like cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can prevent this by keeping these items off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes as required.

6. iRobot Roomba 980

The Roomba 980 is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's costly however it's top-performing and Self vacuum robot is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can buy. Its Self Vacuum Robot-navigation as well as environmental mapping is a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than many competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines with its mobile app. Although the application is a bit slow and the 980 can spin a bit when crossing cables, it's still an extremely efficient robot vacuum.

We really like the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM), to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a better robot vacuum than most high-end robots.

The 980's other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes, which grab dirt from carpet and hard floors and an ejector brush that moves debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate between furniture and around edges, while Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down the stairs. It will automatically return to its base station to ensure hassle-free charging between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as great as those of other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.