Best Robot Vacuums: 10 Things I'd Like To Have Known Sooner
Best Robot Vacuums: 10 Things I'd Like To Have Known Sooner
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Best Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
The best method to keep your home tidy is to use a robotic vacuum. It can pick up pet hair, dust, and other debris on surfaces.
Some robots are able to sync with smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience. Look for models that can recharge and pick up the area they left.
1. iRobot S8
This smart robot mop and vacuum is a great option for households with a variety of. It has a great navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also comes with a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It also comes with a useful feature that lets you add Cleaning zones for certain areas that require extra attention, and also to keep Out zones where you don't want it to be. It also receives software updates, like the other Roomba products, which make it better over time.
It's expensive, but it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can vacuum a large home in under two hours, and it can switch between mopping and vacuuming at the touch of one button. And unlike other self-emptying robots that require you to empty the dust bin after each run, it automatically empties into the larger waste container that is above its charging dock.
It's got a range of other features that make it a good choice for homes of all sizes, including intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses the camera as well as processor-powered smarts to detect obstacles. It's rarely tripped up or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the best at avoiding objects such as power cables. It's not as precise in detecting pet waste, or other dangers.
2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8
Although Anker-owned Eufy has earned a name for itself in budget robot vacuums, it hasn't previously offered an all-in-one model which can also mop. The X8 Hybrid is a new model that offers a range of advanced features, and can compete with more expensive models.
Eufy's main selling point with this device is its laser navigation. The X8 uses the laser mapping system, which is more precise than the previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to build up a comprehensive picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is great for multi-floor homes.
The X8 is a great vacuum cleaner for floors with no dust. It is able to effortlessly sling 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. Our tests showed that it could only remove 90% of the fur on hard floors.
There's a mopping mode which uses the same water tank as the vacuuming one. This is great for spills that are not too serious, but you can't control the amount of water that it uses. However, it does an admirable job of picking up pet hair, and has a higher pickup rate than the Roborock S7.
3. Miele RX2
The company is known for its quiet home appliances, Miele's RX2 robot vacuum is a great choice because of its cleaning power, beautiful design and great navigation. However, it does have some operational hiccups which prevent it from being considered as the best overall smart robot vacuum.
Like the latest models from iRobot like the RX2 comes with dual-sensor mapping that uses the LIDAR sensor to map the space and two 3D scanning cameras that can detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once mapped, the app lets you designate virtual no-go zones and favorite sections that the robot will automatically clean. You can also initiate cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, view live feeds from the onboard cameras, and more on the main screen.
The RX2 is equipped with excellent sensors that can detect furniture and other obstructions instantly. The suction and sweeping 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 agile robot on the market. It's not the greatest climber and has issues with transition strips made of metal.
Many people purchase a robot vacuum for the ease of setting up a schedule using an app and not thinking about it for weeks at a time. It's crucial that a robot is capable of doing the job, so our ZDNet team has tested and examined some of the most popular models to help you choose the right one for your house.
4. Shark ION
This round, budget robot looks like a typical robot, but it's upgraded in performance and features. Its smart mapping system generates 2D and 3-D maps of your house and uses them to navigate around and avoid obstacles. It's also able to 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 steps make it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.
It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and didn't get stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigation abilities were also impressive. Its composite score for carpet and bare flooring beat the competition, and it was able to pick up 98.5% of dirt and embedded dog hair from our lab test samples.
The controls are simpler than the competitors. There's a cleaning button at the top and you can choose to start it by using the app or via voice commands using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule weekly or daily cleanings, create no-go zones, and look up its history of cleaning. Covered in stylish dark gray plastics, Ion feels sturdy and is attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible to empty, and the removal of the filters is also easy.
5. Eufy 11S
Eufy 11S is a great option for those looking for a robot vacuum that's simple and has no frills at a reasonable price. It's not equipped with some advanced features such as Alexa integration and digital mapping that are found in higher-end models. However, if you don't require these features, you can save money.
The robot is easy to install and use. It does not require smartphone application or Wi-Fi pairing. However it does include an remote control that allows you to choose between various modes and adjust the suction level. You can also set up a manual schedule to assign the robotvac to the schedule of cleaning.
During our tests, we discovered that the 11S was extremely efficient in removing pet fur and dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its slim profile allowed it to reach under furniture and other items that more bulkier robots were unable to reach. It was able to go easily over thresholds of doors and switch from one type of floor to another.
Like other robots, the 11S will be able to suck up objects, such as cords drawstrings on hoodies and cat toys. The manufacturer suggests that you can stop this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using a cord organizer if possible. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and wash or change the brushes when required.
6. IRobot Roomba 980
The Roomba is iRobot's flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey but it's top-performing and is arguably the most sophisticated robot vacuum you can purchase. Its self-navigating features and environmental mapping are truly a marvel to behold. It also has more advanced automation features than most competitors, including the ability to set virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although the app isn't the most responsive and the 980 may spin out a bit while moving over cables, it's still a very capable robot vacuum.
One thing we really like about the 980 is that it uses its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to remember the floor plan of your home. It will then use this information to design an efficient and consistent cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and robot mop a cleaner vacuum than the majority of high-end robot vacuums.
Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface brushes that grab dirt on carpets and hard floors and a spinning brush to sweep debris into the robotic vacuum's bin. Its floor tracking sensor helps it navigate around furniture as well as along edges and stairs. Cliff Detect prevents the Roomba from falling. It will also return to the base station to allow for recharging in between sessions. The bin capacity and battery life of the 980 aren't as great as other robot vacuums. However, it is a solid and reliable machine that will keep floors clean for many hours.