best affordable robot vacuum Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

The best method to keep your home tidy is to use a robot vacuum. It will nab dust, pet hair, and other particles from the floor before it becomes a bigger problem.

Some robots sync with smart assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant for a hands-free experience. Look for models that can be recharged and continue cleaning where they left off.

1. iRobot s8

This smart robot mop and vacuum combo is an excellent option for a wide range of households. It features a superb navigation system that incorporates GPS and laser sensors. It also has a lot of features and control options that can be accessed through the app. It has a handy feature which allows you to create Cleaning zones in areas that require extra attention, as well as Keep Out zones in areas that you do not want it to go. It also gets software updates, like the other Roomba products, that improve the quality of the product over time.

It's costly however, it's also one of the most advanced robot vacuums ZDNet has evaluated. It's equipped with a powerful battery that can sweep an entire home in less than two hours. It can switch between mopping and vacuuming by pressing one button. It automatically empties the dust bin above its charging station, in contrast to other self emptying robots which require you to empty the bin after each run.

It's got a range of other features that make it a good option for most homes with its intelligent obstacle avoidance that uses both a camera and processor-powered smarts to see obstacles. It's not often tripped or stuck during a cleaning process. In my tests it was the most effective in avoiding objects such as power cables. It is not as accurate in detecting pet waste or other hazards.

2. Eufy RoboVac Hybrid X8

While Anker-owned Eufy has made its name in budget 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 suite of advanced features that can compete against more expensive models.

The laser navigation system is the main selling point of this machine. The X8 makes use of a laser mapping system that is more accurate than the previous Eufy devices. It also takes significantly less time to construct a comprehensive picture of your living space and also stores multiple maps, which is ideal for homes with multiple floors.

The X8 is a good vacuum cleaner on bare floors. It is able to effortlessly sling debris through the side brushes and into its 400ml dustbin. The X8's tyres, despite having a circular shape, are adept in grabbing corners and edges. Our tests showed that it was able to remove 90 percent of the fur on hard floors.

The mopping mode that is the basic one uses the same water reservoir as the vacuuming mode. This is ideal for spills that are not too serious, but you can't regulate the amount of water it consumes. It does a good job in removing hair from pets. It has a higher rate of pick-up than the Roborock S7.

3. Miele RX2

Miele's RX2 robotic vacuum is renowned for its quiet, effective appliances. It is a stunning design, a great navigation system and a powerful cleaning power. But it has 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 has a dual-sensor mapping system that uses a LIDAR sensor to map out the space and a pair of 3D scanning cameras to detect and avoid obstacles (like furniture legs or pet waste) in real-time. Once the room has been identified, you can designate virtual no-go areas and sections that you would like to be the robot. You can also begin cleaning manually or change the cleaning mode, see a live feed from the cameras onboard and more from the main screen.

The RX2 has excellent sensors that can identify furniture and other obstructions immediately. The suction and sweeping abilities are outstanding, effectively taking away surface debris from carpets of medium pile and also removing dust that has been deposited on floors. But it's not the most efficient robot available. It's not the most efficient climber and has issues with transition strips made of steel.

Many people purchase robot vacuums due to the ease of setting up a schedule using an app, and then forgetting about them for weeks. It is essential for a robot able to do the job so our ZDNet staff has compared and examined some of the most popular models to help you pick the best one for your home.

4. Shark ION

This budget robovac is a robot that looks like any other, but comes with some extra features and is more efficient. Its smart mapping system generates 3D and 2-D maps of your house and uses to navigate and avoid obstructions. It's also able to detect common obstacles like furniture legs and power cords in real-time. This combination of sensors along with a bump sensor and an infrared drop sensor which keeps it from falling down stairs, makes it one of the most flexible vacuums we've tried.

It was able to walk over the thick shag carpets and was not stuck (unlike the RoboVac 11s, or Roomba 690-). Its navigational skills were impressive as well and its overall score on carpet and bare floors beat out the competition, and Robot Vacuums it took in 98.5 percent of the surface pet hair and litter from our laboratory test samples.

The controls are more basic than those of the competition's. There is a cleaning button at the top, and you can either start it by using the app or voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also schedule daily or weekly cleanings, create no-go zones and view its history of cleaning. Ion is covered in a smart dark gray plastic that looks and feels attractive in your home. Its rear dustbin is accessible for emptying, and Robot Vacuums removing the filters is also simple.

5. Eufy 11S

If you're looking for a basic, no-frills robot vacuum at a reasonable price, the Eufy 11S might be your best bet. It lacks some of the advanced features, like digital mapping and Alexa integration, which are found in higher-end models, but if you're not looking for these features, you can save money with this model.

The robot is simple to set up and use. It does not require a smartphone app or Wi-Fi pairing, but it does come with a remote control that lets you select various modes and adjust the suction level. It also allows you to manually take the robovac off during scheduled cleaning.

In our tests during our tests, the 11S was very effective at cleaning dirt and pet hair from hard floors and in carpets with a low pile. Its slim profile made it easier to reach under furniture and other items that larger robots could not reach. It was also able to traverse door thresholds and transition from one floor type to another.

The 11S, just like other robots, will also eat certain objects, like cords and cat toys. The manufacturer says that you can avoid this by keeping such objects off the floor and by using the possibility of a cord organizer. It also suggests that you periodically clean the dustbin, change the filters and change or wash the brushes when needed.

iRobot Roomba 990

The Roomba is iRobot’s flagship robot vacuum. It's pricey, but it's also the most powerful robot vacuum you can buy. Its self navigation and environmental mapping are a wonder to behold. It has more advanced automation than most of its competitors, including the ability to set up virtual boundary markers using its mobile app. Although the application is a bit slow and the 980 may spin out a bit when crossing cables, it's still a highly efficient robot vacuum.

One thing we love about the 980 is the fact that it utilizes its iAdapt 2.0 navigation sensors and its visual simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (or vSLAM) to memorise the floor plan of your home. It will then use that information to create a consistent and efficient cleaning path for each cycle. The result is cleaner floors, and a more efficient vacuum than most competing high-end robot vacuums.

Other features of the 980 include dual multi-surface rubber brushes which pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors as well as an ejector brush that moves debris into the bin of the robotic vacuum. The floor tracking sensor assists in navigating around furniture as well as along edges and the stairs. 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 lifespan and bin size aren't as efficient as some other robot vacuums, it's a reliable and solid machine that can keep your floors clean for hours on end.