The best way to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It will nab dust, pet hair and other debris from the surface before it becomes a bigger problem.
Some robots sync with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for 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 great option for households with a variety of. It vacuums and mops well, has excellent navigation with both GPS and laser sensors and offers a broad range of features and controls available via the app. It also has a handy feature that lets you create Cleaning zones for specific areas that require extra attention and Keep Out zones where you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, just like all Roomba products, that make it better over time.
It's costly however, it's also among the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping at the touch of one button. It automatically emptys the dust bin above its charging station, unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty it after every run.
It comes with a variety of other features that make it an excellent option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or trapped during a cleaning process and is also the most effective at avoiding power cables and other objects I've tested. However, it's not as effective in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Eufy, owned by Anker It has become a household name in the world of low-cost robot vacuums. But it didn't offer the option of a model that could mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that comes with a variety of features that are advanced and can compete with more expensive models.
The main selling point of Eufy's this device is its laser navigation. The 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 far more precise. It also takes significantly less time to create an accurate picture of your space and stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to easily throw debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are very 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% of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. While this is a good option for spills that aren't too big, you can't control how much water it consumes and this will reduce its effectiveness when dealing with more serious stains. That said, it does an admirable job of removing pet hair, and has a higher percentage of hair removal than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is known for its quiet, powerful appliances. It is a stunning design, a great navigation system, and excellent cleaning power. However, it does have some operational issues that prevent it from being ranked as the top overall smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 comes with a dual-sensor mapping system that makes use of LIDAR to map an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and staying clear of obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). Once the room is mapped, the app lets you designate virtual no-go zones and favorite sections that the robot will clean automatically. You can also initiate cleaning manually or 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 detect furniture and other obstructions immediately. The suction and sweeping abilities are excellent, removing surface litter from carpets of medium pile and also removing embedded dust on floors. However, it's not the most efficient robot available. As with many others, it's not a good climber and has issues with things like metal threshold transition strips.
Some people buy robot vacuums for the convenience of setting up a schedule in an app, only to forget about them for weeks. But it's important that a robot can accomplish the task and that's the reason our ZDNet staff looked over and tested a number of the most well-known models to help you select the best one for your home.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's a step up in terms of performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your home and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It's also able to 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 which keeps it away from the stairs, makes it one of the most agile vacuums we've tested.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beats the competition and it picked up 98.5 percent of the surface litter and embedded dog hair from our laboratory test samples.
The controls are less basic than those of the competition's. There's a clean button at the top and you can start it using the app or via voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up a schedule for your daily or weekly cleans, create no-go zones, and see its cleaning history. Clad in smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. The dust bin on the rear is easy to empty and cleaning the filter is just as simple.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is an excellent option for those looking for a robot vacuum that's simple and doesn't have any frills at a cost that is low. It lacks some of the more advanced features, such as digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models but if you don't need these features, you can save some cost with this model.
This robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi connection, however it does come with an remote control that allows you to select between different modes and alter the suction level. It also allows you to manually turn off the robovac on a scheduled cleaning.
During our tests during our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning pet hair and dirt from hard floors as well as in low-pile carpets. 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 get easily over thresholds of doorways and switch between floors of different types to another.
Like other robots, the 11S is able to take in some objects such as cords, drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer states that you can prevent this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using an organizer for cords if you can. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes when needed.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's costly but it's a top performer and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are something to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than the majority of its competitors, including the ability to set up virtual boundary markers with its mobile app. While find more information is a bit slow and the 980 can spin out a bit when rolling over cables, it's an extremely efficient robot vacuum.
We love the 980 because it uses its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity localisation and mapping (or vSLAM), to memorise your home's floor plan. It then uses the information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient vacuum than many high-end robotics.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which grab dirt from carpet and hard floors, along with the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. Its floor tracking sensor assists it in maneuvering through furniture as well as along edges and the stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. And it automatically returns to its base station to ensure hassle-free recharging between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't quite as impressive as other robot vacuums it's a reliable and solid machine that will keep your floors spotless for hours on end.
