A robot vacuum is the best tool for maintaining an orderly home. It will pick up dust, pet hair, and other debris on surfaces.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that recharge and pick up where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a fantastic choice for many households. It has a great navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and controls accessible via the app. It comes with a useful feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require more attention, and also to create Keep Out zones in areas you don't wish it to go. As with all Roomba devices, it gets new software updates that make it even more efficient over time.
It's costly however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has evaluated. It comes with a powerful battery that can clean an entire home in less than two hours, and it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch 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 the bin after each run.
It also comes with a variety of other features, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses a camera along with processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or entrapped during a cleaning cycle, and it's the best at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
While Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it hasn't previously 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 laser navigation is the most important feature of this machine. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It also takes a lot less time to build up a comprehensive picture of your home and can store multiple maps, which is ideal for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are very good in grabbing corners and edges. It's not the best cat litter scooper, however, with our tests showing it is able to remove around 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for spills that are not too large, you can't regulate the amount of water it is using, which will limit its effectiveness on more severe stains. That said, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, with a better percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. vacuum and mop combo RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, powerful appliances. It has a beautiful design, superb navigation and a powerful cleaning power. But it has some operational issues that keep it from ranking as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technology that makes use of LIDAR to map the space as well as a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and eliminating obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once mapped the app allows you to designate virtual no-go zones and areas that you want to clean. will automatically clean. You can also change the cleaning modes, start cleaning manually or see a live feed of the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has superior sensors that detect furniture and other obstructions immediately. And its sweeping and suction power are top-notch, picking up surface litter from medium-pile carpeting and embedded dust on floors with no floor. However, it's not exactly the most flexible robot available. As with many others, it's not a good climber and is prone to problems with things like metal threshold transition strips.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. It's crucial that a robot can do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most well-known models to help you select the perfect one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac is a robot that looks just like the other, but it has some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system creates 2D and 3D maps of your home and uses them to avoid obstacles and navigate. It can even 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 from stepping on steps makes it one our most agile vacuums.
In our tests, it easily could climb over the thick shag rugs and didn't get stuck on them (like the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690). Its navigation skills were impressive as well; its composite score in carpet and bare floors beat out the competition. It picked up 98.5 percent of surface litter and embedded pet hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are simpler than competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top and you can start it from the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, create no-go zones, and see its history of cleaning. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and removing the filters is also a breeze.
5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking to buy a basic low-cost robot vacuum for a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S could be a good choice. This model lacks some smart features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping found in more expensive models. However, if you don't require these functions, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to install and use. It doesn't require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include a remote control which allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
In our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient in cleaning pet fur and dirt from carpets with low pile and hard floors. Its slim profile made it easier to reach under furniture and other low items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It was able to pass effortlessly over door thresholds and switch between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects, such as cords drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests you keep these items off the ground and by using a cord organizer whenever possible. It also recommends that you regularly clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes when necessary.
Roomba 990 by iRobot
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the best robot vacuum that you can buy. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also comes with more advanced automation features than its competitors, such as the ability to set virtual boundary lines through its mobile application. Although the app isn't the most responsive, and the 980 does spin out a bit when crossing cables, it's a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it makes use of its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneous mapping and localisation technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will use this information to create a consistent, efficient cleaning path through each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a cleaner vacuum than other high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that capture dirt on floors and carpets and a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensors help it navigate around furniture and along edges, and Cliff Detect keeps the Roomba from falling down stairs. It also automatically returns to the base station for easy recharges between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as good as other robot vacuums. However, it is an extremely reliable and sturdy machine that can keep floors clean for a long time. hours.
