A robot vacuum is the ideal device to keep a clean home. It can remove pet hair, dust, and other particles on the surface.
Certain robots can connect to smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Find models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.
1. iRobot s8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a fantastic choice for many households. It features a superb navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also has numerous features and controls that are accessible through the app. It comes with a useful feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require additional attention, and Keep Out zones in areas that you do not want it to go. As with all Roomba devices, it is updated with new software updates that make it even more efficient over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most sophisticated robot vacuums ZDNet has ever tested. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours. It can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one button. And unlike other self-emptying robotics that require you to empty the bin after each run, this one automatically emptys into a larger waste container above its charging dock.
It has a wide range of other features that make it a great choice for homes with a lot of space with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses both a camera and processor-powered intelligents to identify obstacles. It rarely gets derailed or entrapped during cleaning, and it's the best at avoiding power cables and other objects in my tests. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.
2. Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid
Eufy, owned by Anker is now a household name in the world of budget robot vacuums. However, 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 advanced features, and can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this machine is its laser navigation. The X8 makes use of a laser mapping system that is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. It takes less time to create a comprehensive map of your home. It can also store multiple maps. This is great for multi-floored homes.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It can easily sling debris through the side brushes and into the 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite their circular shape, are efficient at grabbing corners and edges. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90 percent of the fur from hard floors.
The basic mopping mode uses the same reservoir of water as the vacuuming mode. While this is good for spills that are not too large but you cannot regulate the amount of water it consumes which can limit its effectiveness on more serious stains. It does, however, do an excellent job of picking up pet hair, and has a higher pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
Awarded for its quiet and efficient home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum has excellent cleaning power, stunning design, and a great navigation. It has a few oddities in its operation, which prevent it from being named the top smart robot vacuum.Like iRobot's latest models like the RX2 has dual-sensor mapping technology that utilizes the LIDAR sensor to map out an area and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once mapped the app allows you to create virtual no-go zones as well as preferred areas that the robot will automatically clean. You can also alter the cleaning modes, initiate a manual clean or watch live feeds from the onboard cameras from the main screen.
The RX2's sensors work well, registering furniture and other obstructions in real-time. And its sweeping and suction power are top-of-the-line, picking up surface litter from carpets of medium pile and dust on floors that are unfinished. But it's not the most flexible robot available. It's not the most efficient climber, and it has problems with transition strips made of steel.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and then forgetting about it for weeks at a time. It's important for a robot able to do the job and that's why our ZDNet staff has tested and reviewed some of the most popular models in order to help you select the best one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This budget robovac looks just like your typical robot but it's a step up in performance and features. Its smart mapping system creates 2D and 3D maps of your home, and uses them to navigate around obstacles and avoid them. It can even detect common obstacles like power cords and furniture legs in real-time. This combination of sensors, along with a bump sensor, and an infrared sensor for dropping that keeps it off stairs, makes it one of the fastest vacs we've tested.
It was able to walk over carpets with thick shags and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s or Roomba 690-). Its navigation capabilities were impressive. Its composite score for flooring and carpet beat the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5 percent of pet hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are more basic than those of the competitors. There's an oblong cleaning button at the top, and you can start it from the app, or by voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, create no-go zones, and look up its history of cleaning. In a smart dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and looks stylish in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and taking out the filters is also a breeze.5. Eufy 11S
If you're looking for a simple robotic vacuum that is simple and has no frills at a low cost, the Eufy 11S is a great option. The model isn't equipped with smart features like Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in more expensive models. If you do not need these functions, you can save money.
This robot is very easy to install and use. It doesn't require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, however it does come with a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also manually set the robotvac to an cleaning schedule.
During our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning pet hair and dirt on hard floors and in carpets with low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to get under furniture and other items that 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, such as cords drawstrings for hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you prevent this from happening by keeping these items off the ground and using a cord organizer when you can. It also recommends cleaning the dustbin on a regular basis by replacing the filters and changing or washing the brushes when needed.
Roomba 990 from iRobot
The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's expensive but it's top-performing and arguably the most advanced robot vacuum you can buy. Its self-navigating capabilities and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It is more sophisticated in its automation than its competitors, such as the ability to create virtual boundary markers through its mobile app. It's a capable robot vacuum, even if the app isn't the most responsive and the 980 spins when it comes across cables.
We love the 980 due to its iAdapt2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneity mapping and localisation (or vSLAM) to store the floor plan of your home. It will use this data to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path in every cycle. The result is cleaner floors and a more efficient robot vacuum than most high-end robots.
Other features include dual multi-surface rubber brushes that pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors and a spinning brush that sweeps debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. The sensor for floor tracking helps it navigate through furniture as well as along edges and stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will automatically return to its base station for hassle-free recharges between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as good as those of other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.
