For nearly a decade, the “robot vacuum and mop combo” was the industry’s greatest compromise. As a senior reviewer who has lived with over 30 of these machines in my own apartment, I remember the early 2020s models vividly. They were essentially vacuums with a damp rag Velcroed to the…

The modern smart home market is increasingly crowded with hybrid “combo” cleaners that promise to vacuum and mop simultaneously. While these dual-purpose machines are popular, they often introduce unnecessary complexity, higher price points, and maintenance headaches. Having independently tested over 150 robot vacuums at Vacuum Wars, we’ve found that for…