"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Best Robot Vacuums
Best Robot Vacuums and Mop CombosA robot vacuum is the ideal tool to maintain the cleanliness of your home. It will pick up 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 environment. Find models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot vacuum and mop combination is an excellent option for a wide range of homes. It is able to vacuum and mop well and has a great navigation system that includes both GPS and laser sensors and offers a broad range of features and controls accessible via the app. It also comes with a useful feature that allows you to add cleaning zones to certain areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones that you don't want it to move. It also receives software updates, similar to all Roomba products, that enhance it over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums that ZDNet has tested. It has a high-powered battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours. Additionally, it can switch between vacuuming and mopping with the press of a button. It will automatically empty the bin of dust above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after every run.
It also comes with a variety of other features, including intelligent obstacle avoidance which uses cameras and processor-powered smarts in order to identify obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best in avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Although Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in the field of low-cost robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. That's changed with the X8 Hybrid, which has an impressive array of modern features that can compete against more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with the X8 is its laser navigation. The X8 utilizes laser mapping technology that is more accurate than previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home and can store multiple maps. This is ideal for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a decent vacuum cleaner for floors that are clean. It is able to easily throw debris under the side brushes and into its 400ml dust bin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are adept at grabbing corners and edges. It's not a fantastic cat litter picker, though as our tests show it only removes about 90 percent of the fur off hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. This is great for spills that aren't too dangerous, but you are unable to limit the amount of water that it uses. It does, however, do an admirable job of removing pet hair, and has a higher speed of pickup than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Known for quietly effective home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, beautiful design and excellent navigation. It has some oddities in its operation, which prevent it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.
The RX2 is equipped with a dual-sensor mapping technique that makes use of LIDAR to map a room, and a pair 3D scanning cameras for detecting and avoiding obstacles (such as furniture legs or pet waste). After the room has been defined it is possible to designate virtual no-go areas and preferred sections to the robot. You can also change the cleaning options, begin cleaning manually or see live feeds from the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2 has excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions in a flash. The suction and sweeping capabilities are excellent, taking away surface debris from medium pile carpeting and also removing embedded dust on bare floors. It's not the most powerful robot on the market. It's not the most efficient climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase robot vacuums because of the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It's crucial for a robot capable of doing the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and examined some of the most popular models to help you pick the right one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like your standard robot, however it's a step up in performance and features. Its intelligent mapping system creates 3D and 2D maps of your house and makes use of to navigate and avoid obstacles. It can even detect common obstructions 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 the stairs is what makes it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.
It was able to climb over carpets with thick shags and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation skills were impressive as well as its score for composite tests on carpet and bare floors topped the competition. It took in 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.
Its controls are a bit more basic than the competitors. There's an uniform cleaning button on the top, and you can start it from the app, or by voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, create no-go zones, and look up its cleaning history. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks attractive in your home. Its rear dust bin is easy to access for emptying and cleaning the filter is the same.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a good choice if you want a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use and doesn't have any frills at a cost that is low. This model lacks some smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping, which are available in more expensive models. However, if you don't require these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to setup and use. It does not require a smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does come with an remote control that allows you to choose between different modes and adjust suction levels. You can also manually assign the robotvac to a cleaning schedule.
During our tests, the 11S was very effective at removing dirt and pet hair from hard floors and carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to reach under furniture and other items that some of the larger robots could not reach. It was able to pass effortlessly over door thresholds and move from one floor type to another.
Like other robots, the 11S can take in some objects such as cords, drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and using more info a cord organiser whenever possible. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin periodically replacing the filters, and changing or washing the brushes as needed.
6. iRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba 980 is the flagship robot vacuum. It's costly, but it's the best robot vacuum that you can purchase. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, including the ability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although its application is a bit slow, and the 980 does spin out a bit while moving over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
We love the 980, because it makes use of its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to remember your home's floor plan. It then uses that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for every 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 grab dirt from floors and carpets and the spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensor helps it navigate around furniture as well as along edges and steps. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. And it automatically returns to its base station for hassle-free recharges between sessions. Although the 980's battery life and bin size aren't as efficient as some other robot vacuums, it's a sturdy and reliable machine that can keep your floors spotless for hours on end.