What Experts From The Field Want You To Know
Top Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos
While robots can't substitute for a conventional vacuum for picking up ground-in debris such as metal screws and chunks of orzo pasta, they're excellent at sweeping dust, crumbs and pet hair. The best models are equipped with intelligent navigation technology that helps them avoid cords, toys and other household obstacles.
1. iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is a great robot vacuum with a number of clever features that make it easier to maintain than many competing models. The automatic bin emptying feature is one of the most efficient features we've seen in the form of a robot and it's compatible with both hard floors and carpets. The app guides you through the entire process. It's also easy to use and set up. Another feature that is impressive is the ability to return to the spot where it was when we tested it. It did this for 77 mins on one cleaning before running out of battery.
Contrary to other robovacs we've test, the i3+ EVO comes with an automatic emptying bin that dumps debris into an external dirt compartment on its charging base when it's full. This makes it easier to maintain the unit and also helps prevent the i3+ EVO from overfilling, but it still requires manually cleaned after each cleaning session. The i3+ EVO dust bin can hold 2.4L that is enough to last four to five cleaning sessions.
Like the i7, utilizes state-of-the-art floor-tracking sensors to create maps. It also allows you to navigate in neat rows. The i3+ EVO can only store one map, while the i7 is able to store multiple. The i7 can also use its map to create no-go zones and virtual barriers, however the i3+ EVO cannot.
While the i3+ EVO is better at picking up dirt and debris from surfaces than the other robovacs we looked at, it's not the best for cleaning corners and edges. It's also a bit less gentle on furniture, despite being fairly quiet. It pushed chairs away from walls and made some collisions with the sides of our bed, and also was stuck to cords and toys during testing.
2. Black & Decker Pro Q5
If you're looking to increase your robot vacuum collection or just beginning your journey with the Q5 Pro is a great choice. It has a sleek design, powerful navigation, and useful automation at a reasonable price. It's the most affordable model for the money available right now and is even better than some Roborock models that are much more expensive in many ways.
This robot does an excellent job of cleaning floors with no dust and its avoidance system helps it stay clear of furniture legs and other obstacles. robotic hoovers performs well on carpets and scores a high score in our navigation tests. It's only downside is that it's louder than other models, and doesn't perform as well in our satisfaction of the owner and predicted reliability tests.
The Q5 Pro has a very large 770ml dust bin that means you won't need to empty it as often as some other 2-in-1 robots. The Q5 Pro's 240-minute running time is also impressive when in comparison to other 2-in-1 robots we tested. If the battery is empty it goes back to its dock and recharges before resuming cleaning where it stopped. You can manage the Q5 Pro using the app or voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
This is among the first robots we've seen to incorporate 3D mapping. This, in conjunction with other innovations, helps it excel in our mopping and vacuuming tests. You can plan cleaning schedules, create no-go zones and see the battery's status among other things. The app is easy to use, though it isn't compatible with Apple HomeKit which is slated to be added in 2025. As of early November, Apple has updated a footnote on its website to reflect that this feature will be delayed until 2025. Some other robots won't work with HomeKit however, a lot of them work with Siri Shortcuts.
3. TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus
If you want a robot vacuum cleaner that is able to mop and is very affordable, the TP Link Tapo RV30 Plus is the right option. It has a wide array of features at a reasonable cost and features a stylish design. You can control it with the buttons on the machine, via the app or even using voice commands. The device has long battery life, and the vacuum container can be automatically empty.
The TP-Link RV30 Plus does a excellent job of cleaning up messes of all kinds and is suitable for light mopping on hard floors. It comes with a sweeping brush replacement and mopping cloth, aswell as a HEPA-filter. It can be used with a smart hub like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide voice control. The TP-Link RV30 Plus is easy to set up and is connected to a range of flooring surfaces by using the automatic mode. This guarantees the best cleaning results for every area and floor type.
You can choose from three cleaning modes to suit your needs. The vacuuming mode makes use of the intelligent sensor to detect of obstacles like furniture, stairs and edges. The mopping mode can be utilized to automatically clean the floor or to get rid of stubborn stains and liquid spills. You can combine the two features to provide a thorough and deep cleaning.
With powerful suction and three settings for dry mopping, the TP Link RV30 Plus quickly picks up dust, pet hair, crumbs and other debris from all types of flooring. The device can even clean carpets without damaging them due to specially designed mops.
During its first mapping session, TP-Link RV30 Plus scans your home and saves it with its dual navigation system that consists of LiDAR and Gyro. The map can be edited within the app and you can join or divide rooms however you'd prefer. You can also create virtual walls and no-go zones to prevent the RV30 Plus from wandering into areas that you don't want to enter.
4. Eufy iMop
The Eufy iMop robot vacuum and mop is among the best full-featured robots for hard flooring. It comes with a sophisticated navigation system that does a great job of mapping your home's floor and even across several floor levels. The base station is well-designed and can automate cleaning to a large extent. It also offers incredible obstacle avoidance and navigation.
The model is equipped with an internal dToF LiDAR sensor to map out your home and design efficient cleaning routes. The iMop was rated highly for its navigation and coverage. It also did an excellent job in avoiding obstacles like furniture. It is also able to find its way back to the base station if it is unable to recharge its batteries during cleaning.
It also comes with a spot cleaning mode that lets you to clean or mop an area of your floor. It can also be manually programmed to follow a fixed path, which is useful in narrow staircases or hallways. It did a decent job of cleaning carpets in our carpet cleaning review however, it had trouble with longer pile carpets and rugs. It is able to lift the mop pad automatically when it comes in contact with carpet. This is a great feature for those who want to not have to mop their carpets.
The iMop comes with an onboard dust bin as well as a water tank that it is filled and refilled at the end of each cleaning session. The dust bin can hold up to 2.5 liters and needs to be emptied every two cleaning cycles. The water tank can handle about a dozen mopping sessions before it runs dry. The iMop requires less maintenance and cleaning than an typical robot vacuum, which can be a major selling point for busy families.
The smartphone app of iMop is easy to use and packed with options for setting up. It has multiple suction modes, mopping settings and also scheduling. It also lets you design virtual walls and no-go zones, to ensure that the robot doesn't wander into rooms that are off limits. The app also allows access to the iMop status and warnings about errors.