How we tested
Mashable product reviewers (especially our vacuum specialist, Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart) have been testing popular robot vacuums in their homes since 2020. Our hands-on tests of hybrid robot vacuums have included everything from budget models under $200 that just cover just the basics to $1,500 premium models that are highly advanced in the way that they clean, navigate, and take care of their own recurring maintenance. In 2024 so far, Stodart has tested the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Roomba Combo j5+, and Narwal Freo X Ultra, most recently evaluating the Yeedi M12 Pro+.
Stodart says: At this time, I’m choosing to leave the Yeedi M12 Pro+ off of the recommendation list. On paper, it checks a ton of premium boxes at a really digestible price point — most notably its self-washing and drying mopping pads and 11,000 Pa in suction power, which (if it actually worked that well in testing), would be some of the most powerful suction power on the market, beating the 10,000 Pa of the $1,799.99 Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. Given the Yeedi M12 Pro+’s sub-$1,000 price point (as low as sub-$700 on sale), it was a budget-friendly rising star that I had to get my hands on ASAP.
While its dry vacuuming performance on rice, kitty litter, and long hair on multiple carpet piles has been mostly in line with other vacuums I’ve tried, I wasn’t necessarily getting “most powerful suction money can buy” vibes. Then, the eerily low price point starts showing itself each time the plastic-y build struggles to hoist itself over bath mats and my living room rug from the tile or hardwood, often getting stuck. A mopping pad even popped completely off at one point. In terms of mopping itself, again, it was fine, but nothing amazing. Between mediocrely satisfactory cleaning, overall flimsiness, and obstacle avoidance technology that kept running right over my phone charger, I’m definitely recommending the $799.99 Eufy X10 Pro Omni as the budget pick.
The next vac on the testing docket is the new Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock.
How we assess a robot vacuum’s performance
Ranking 2-in-1 robot vacuums requires testing of all of the factors we consider for regular robot vacuums, plus a few additional bullet points specific to mopping. For this list, we tested bots’ ability to sweep and mop on hardwood, rug, and tile surfaces. When cleaning up dry waste, we scattered debris (read: Cocoa Pebbles, intentionally smashed potato chips) around the floor and along the edges of a wall to test suction and edge cleaning. When that process was complete, we then stained the floor with something more stubborn, like a small patch of syrup or dried drops of soy sauce. If these vacs would simply drive over the stain without mopping it up, what’s the point of getting a hybrid vac versus a normal vac, after all?
We found that in order to effectively mop, the best hybrid models need to do more than drag a wet mop pad lightly across your floor. Ideally, the mopping pad will vibrate or wipe back and forth rather than being stationary, and it will scrub with downward pressure to mimic human elbow grease. Compatibility with a cleaning solution is always preferred over being restricted to mopping with just water.
However, to earn a spot in our guide to the best robot vacuum/mop hybrids, these cleaning machines had to do more than satisfactorily vacuum and mop. We also tested their navigation capabilities when it comes to furniture and walls and smart mapping accuracy, as well as considered whether they self-empty and detect and avoid small obstacles like charging cords or pet waste. Because what good is a robot mop if it can never reliably make its way to the spots that require mopping?