What Experts Say You Should Know

top robot vacuum cleaner Robot Vacuums and Mop Combos

While robots aren't able to replace a traditional automated vacuum in picking up dirt-in particles like metal screws and chunks of orzo pasta, they are excellent in sweeping dust, crumbs and hair from pets. The most effective models come with smart navigation technology, which assists them in avoiding cords, toys and other household obstacles.

1. Roomba iRobot i3+ from iRobot EVO

The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is a great robot vacuum that has a variety of clever features that make it easier to maintain than many competing models. The automatic floor cleaning machine bin emptying feature is one of the most impressive features we've encountered in a robotic floor scrubber vacuum. It's great on both carpets and hard floors. It's also easy to set up and operate and the app will guide you step-by-step through the procedure. Another impressive feature is the ability to return to where it began in our tests. It did this for 77 minutes in one cleaning, before running out of battery.

The i3+ EVO, unlike some of the other robot vacuums that we tested comes with a self-emptying bin that automatically disposes of debris into an external dirt compartment on its charging base when it's full. The i3+ EVO can be prevented from overfilling thanks to a self-emptying container. However, it must still be emptied manually at the end of each cleaning session. The i3+ EVO dustbin can hold 2.4L which will last for four to five cleaning sessions.

Like the i7model, this model also uses the latest floor sensors to create maps and navigate neat rows. The i3+ EVO can only store one map, whereas the i7 can store multiple. The i7's map is used to create virtual barriers and no-go zones, but not for the i3+ EVO.

Although the i3+ EVO is better in removing dirt and debris from surfaces than the other robovacs that we tested, it's not the best when it comes to cleaning edges and corners. 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 got stuck on cords and toys during our testing.

2. Black & Decker Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro is an excellent option, whether you're expanding your robot vacuum collection or are just beginning to get started. It packs serious power, smart navigation, and handy automation into a sleek and stylish design at a price that is affordable. It's the best pound-for-pound model currently available and even matches Roborock's higher-priced models in many ways.

This robot is great at cleaning floors that are dirty, and its avoidance tech helps it to steer away from furniture legs and other obstacles. It also excels on carpets, and earns an excellent score in our navigation tests. The only drawback is that it's more raucous than the other models we test, and it doesn't fare similarly in our user satisfaction and predicted reliability tests.

The Q5 Pro comes with a large dust bin of 770ml, meaning that you won't have to empty it as often as other 2-in-1 robots. The 240-minute runtime is extremely generous when compared to other models we've tried. When the battery is low, it automatically returns to its dock, where it recharges and resumes cleaning from where it left off. You can manage the Q5 Pro via the app and also use voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

This is one of the first robots we've seen incorporate 3D mapping. That, combined with some other innovations, makes it excel in our vacuuming and mopping tests. It allows you to schedule cleanings, set no-go zones and see the battery's status as well as other things. The app is easy to use, but it isn't compatible with Apple HomeKit; that feature is slated to be added in 2025. Apple updated its footnote on its website in early November to reflect the fact that this feature has been delayed until 2025. HomeKit is not compatible with other robots, but Siri Shortcuts are.

3. TP-Link Tapo RV30 Plus

The Tapo RV30 Plus TP-Link robot vacuum cleaner is a fantastic option if you're looking for a vacuum that is able to mop and is affordable. It comes with a plethora of features for the cost and features a stylish design. You can control it using the buttons on the machine, via the app or even by using voice commands. The device is powered by batteries and the vacuum container can automatically empty itself.

The TP-Link RV30 Plus is a excellent vacuum cleaner that can handle standard messes. It can also be used to lightly mop on hard floors. It comes with mopping cloths that can be replaced and a the sweeping brush and a HEPA filter. It can be used in conjunction with a smart home hub such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for easy voice control. The TP-Link RV30 Plus can be easily set up, and connected to various floor surfaces by using the automatic mode. This ensures that the most effective results are achieved for every room and flooring.

Three cleaning modes are available to suit your needs. The vacuuming mode cleanses the entire room and utilizes the smart sensor to identify edges furniture, stairs, and other obstacles. The mopping mode is used to automatically clean the floor or to get rid of stubborn liquid spills and stains. Another option is to combine the two functions for a deep and thorough cleaning.

The TP-Link RV30 Plus has a powerful suction, 3 settings for dry mopping and can quickly remove dust, pet hairs, crumbs and other debris from floors of any kind. It can clean carpets without damaging the material thanks to special mops.

In the initial mapping run the TP-Link RV30 Plus scans and stores the layout of your home by using its LiDAR and Gyro dual navigation system. You can edit the map within the app and combine or split rooms according to your preferences. You can also create virtual walls and no-go zones to stop the RV30 Plus from wandering into areas that you don't want to be in.

4. Eufy iMop

The Eufy iMop is one of the top full-featured robot vacuum and mop combos for hard floors. It has a high-tech navigation system that does an excellent job of mapping your home's floor, even across multiple floors. And the extremely well-designed base station virtually automates the cleaning process. It also provides incredible navigation and obstacle avoidance.

This model uses a dToF internal LiDAR sensor to identify your home's location, and create efficient cleaning routes. The iMop awed us with its navigation efficiency and coverage evaluations and was good at eliminating obstacles, like furniture. It can also find its way to the base station if it is unable to recharge its batteries during an exercise of cleaning.

The spot cleaning mode lets you to clean a particular area on your floor. It can also be programmed to follow a predetermined path, which is beneficial in narrow staircases or hallways. In our carpet cleaning test it performed well cleaning carpets. However, it struggled to clean rugs and carpets with thick piles. It is also possible to set it to automatically raise the mop pad when it encounters carpet, which is a wonderful feature to avoid mowing your carpets.

The iMop comes with an onboard dust container and an water tank that empties and refills at the end of each cleaning session. The dust bin that is onboard can hold up to 2.5 liters of debris. It should only need emptying every couple of cleaning cycles. The water tank can handle half a dozen mopping sessions before it runs dry. The iMop is easier to clean and maintain than the average robot cleaner, which could be a major benefit for busy households.

The iMop's smartphone app is easy to use and comes with a variety of options for setting up. It comes with various suction settings, mopping settings and scheduling. It also lets you create virtual walls and no-go zones, so that the robot isn't able to wander into rooms that aren't allowed. The app also allows access to iMop status and warnings about errors.