Image: Roborock
So you thought your new robot vacuum with its self-emptying bin and LiDAR navigation was state of the art? Well, not anymore.
Robot vacuum technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year alone. Besides simply emptying their own bins and mapping your rooms with lasers (that’s so 2022), the latest robot vacuums can hoist themselves over door thresholds, extend robotic arms to reach dust particles tucked in corners, apply elbow grease to stubborn floor stains, and more.
[ Today is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Our editorial team lists the best tech deals here.
]
Read on for seven of the hottest features coming to the latest robot vacuums and mops, starting with…
‘Monster truck’ wheels
Ever watch your robot vacuum struggle to crest a door threshold that’s barely an inch tall? It’s a sad sight, not to mention a barrier (literally) to achieving total vacuum coverage for your floors.
Well, good news. We’ve already seen a pair of robot vacuums that boast ”monster truck” wheels (that’s what we’re calling them, anyway), perfect for helping the bots hoist themselves over door thresholds, high-pile rugs, and other obstacles that conventional bots can’t scale.
These robot-lifting wheels are coming to Shark’s PowerDetect Self-Empty Robot Vacuum in the form of “NeverStuck” technology, while Roborock is calling its version “AdaptiLift.”
Don’t expect these power-lifting wheels to allow a robot vacuum to leap tall buildings in a single bound; for its part, Roborock says its AdaptiLift tech will help the new Qrevo Curv clear standard door thresholds up to 3cm high or “complex” double-layer thresholds up to 4cm tall.
Still, just that little extra can make a big difference in terms of your robovac making it over, say, the bathroom door threshold without a human assist.
Has “monster truck” wheels: Qrevo Curv
Pros
Not yet reviewed
Cons
Not yet reviewedPrice When Reviewed:$1,399.99Best Prices Today: $1,599.99 at Amazon$1599.99 at Roborock
Read our Roborock Qrevo Curv news story
Anti-tangle roller brushes
One chore that robot vacuum owners hate is pulling thick, knotted tangles of hair off the roller brushes. If a member of the household has long hair or—worse—you’ve got four-legged furry friends at home, you may find yourself cutting the hair off with scissors.
Well, good news, pet lovers. The latest crop of robot vacuums includes models with anti-tangle roller brushes.
These brushes come with metal teeth (generally integrated into the brush guard) that cut any swept-up hair before it has a chance to wrap itself around the rollers, allowing the vacuum to suck the strands directly into its dust bin.
It’s a terrific idea, and one that cuts down on one of the biggest robot vacuum pain points.
Detangles its own roller brush: Eufy X10 Pro Omni
Pros
Thorough, balanced vacuuming and moppingExcellent obstacle avoidanceAuto-detangling brushRequires little hands-on attention from user
Cons
Large base stationSelf-cleaning functions are noisyPrice When Reviewed:$799.99Best Prices Today: $549.99 at Amazon Prime$789.98 at Eufy US$799.99 at Amazon
Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni review
Robot vacs that come with hand vacs
As good as the latest robot vacuums are, there are some spaces where even the highest-end models simply can’t reach—under sofa cushions, within tight corners, on countertops, and so on.
That’s why we’re seeing more robot vacuums that come with their own hand vacs. These combo units typically offer integrated charging for both the robot and the hand vacuum—and in some cases, the base will empty both the bot and the hand vac.
Just like standard hand vacs, the ones that come bundled with robot vacuums often come with their own attachments, including different-sized heads and even stick accessories.
Of course, getting a robot vaccum-and-hand vac combo means you’ll have to settle for the handheld model the manufacturer gives you, so if you have particular needs when it comes to a cordless hand or stick vacuum, you might be better off purchasing the component separately.
That said, these combo models cut down on clutter by allowing you to use a single charging station for both units—and the self-emptying functionality is priceless.
Comes with its own hand vac: Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo
Pros
Great vacuuming and mopping performanceHot water mop wash prevents cross-contaminationBoth robot vacuum and hand vacuum are auto emptied in dockIntegrated voice assistant
Cons
Base station is hugeMinimal features on hand vacuumExpensivePrice When Reviewed:$1,199.99Best Prices Today: $649.99 at Amazon Prime$999.99 at Amazon$1199.99 at Ecovacs
Read our full Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo review
Self-washing mop heads
Got a robot vacuum that doubles as a mop? Not bad, but do you have to wash the mop heads manually? Time for an upgrade.
The latest robot vacuum and mop combos can wash their own mop heads, first detaching them from the bot before conveying them to the base station for a thorough, hands-free cleaning.
Even better, higher-end robot mops will wash their mop heads with hot water, perfect for cleaning stubborn grime as well as stopping bacteria in its tracks.
Finally, the best robot mops will dry the just-washed mop heads as well, thus keeping mold from getting a foothold.
Washes its own mop heads: Roborock Qrevo S
Pros
Excellent vacuuming and moppingAutomated maintenanceReasonable price
Cons
Mop pads often get caught on edges and snap offNo hot-water wash for mopsDock takes up a fair amount of floor spacePrice When Reviewed:$799.99Best Prices Today: $519.99 at Amazon Prime$799.99 at Amazon$799.99 at Roborock
Read our Roborock Qrevo S review
Extendable side brushes and mop heads
For years, a spindly side brush was the best way for a robot vacuum to clean the squared-off corner of a room. But as ingenious as they are, side brushes still can’t reach into the very back of a corner, leaving small but stubborn traces of debris behind. If only those little brushes could reach out a tiny bit further…
Well, now they can. The latest robot vacuums and mops come with extendable robotic arms that can extend side brushes and mop heads ever so slightly from the bot’s chassis, allowing them to clean even closer to the edges of a room and deeper inside corners.
Watch a state-of-the-art robot vac and mop now, and you’ll see its mop heads extending a tad as the bot navigates around a table leg or floats along a baseboard, allowing it to scrub within a millimeter from the edge.
Can extend its mop heads: Dreame X40 Ultra
Pros
Excellent vacuuming and mopping performanceEmpties its dustbin and sanitizes its mopsAccurately detects and avoids obstacles
Cons
Mop heads tend to get stuck on carpet edgesExpensivePrice When Reviewed:$1,899.99Best Prices Today: $1,399.99 at Amazon Prime$1,899.99 at Amazon$1899.99 at Dreame
Read our full Dreame X40 Ultra review
Dirt detection
Most robot vacuums and mops clean rooms by methodically scouring every possible inch of floor space, as opposed to actively seeking out dirt and grime.
The most advanced models, however, actually can look for dirt—and when they spot a mess, they can adjust their schedules or slow down to apply some extra elbow grease.
IRobot’s Dirt Detective technology, for example, keeps track of where the robot has encountered dirt before and essentially creates a dirt map of your home, noting the rooms and areas that tend to get the dirtiest. Using the map, the robot can create custom automations for tackling your grimiest rooms.
Other robots, like models from Dreame and Roborock, use AI to scan your floors in real time, allowing them to slow down, boost their suction, increase water flow, and take other measures for a more thorough cleaning when they spot a mess.
Detects dirt: iRobot Roomba Combo J9+
Pros
Retractable mop arm keeps carpets dryNew Clean Base design blends in with home furnishingsRecognizes and prioritizes dirtiest areas
Cons
Companion app’s maps are basic and many controls are buried in sub-menusMop pads must be cleaned manuallyExpensivePrice When Reviewed:$1,399.99Best Prices Today: $999 at Amazon$1399.99 at iRobot
Read our full iRobot Roomba Combo J9+ review
Back-and-forth scrubbing
Remember when robot mops did little more than drag a damp cloth across the floor? Now, most robot mops boast rotating mop heads that apply downward pressure as they clean—but even so, nothing really beats a hard, back-and-forth scrub for those really stubborn stains.
The good news is we’re starting to see robot mops that mimic that back-and-forth motion, employing mopping pads that vibrate thousands of times a minute.
Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra, for example, has a VibraRise 3.0 mopping pad that vibrates at up to 4,000 times a minute, while the Shark Matrix Plus applies a tough, back-and-forth scrubbing motion.
Can scrub side-to-side: Shark Matrix Plus
Pros
Vaccums and mops wellApplies scrubbing motion during moppingSelf-emptying dustbinMatrix clean delivers deep cleaning
Cons
Can’t use self-emptying feature with mopping attachmentPet hair tends to ball up and prevent to debris from being sucked out of dustbinRuns over cordsPrice When Reviewed:$699.99Best Prices Today: $349.99 at Amazon$525 at Walmart Electronics$699.99 at SharkNinja
Read our full Shark Matrix Plus review
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined our sister site TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben’s articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men’s Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master’s degree in English literature.
Recent stories by Ben Patterson:
I switched to a robot mop: The highs, lows, and ewws
