The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot hoover will vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and will leave your floors spotless. Its surprisingly affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Clean them as needed. Some models can also automatically empty their dust bin on board into a larger one at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 Pro
The Q5 Pro and its sibling, the more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've examined. They feature motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top choice) they employ smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also feature carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it spots the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests of floors with no carpet They are also adept in cleaning hair from dogs. There are some issues, however, that prevent them from being our first choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to getting stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate densely packed rooms very well during our tests. It also doesn't come with an image sensor that lets it see the corners of a room.
It's still a great deal for those whose office or home has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also very quiet and can be used while you are at work or in school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. And it's less effective at mopping, as it relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stay on for long and don't handle dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle, however. And, if you need to, you can switch the mopping pad to a dry one in minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that can mop floors. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it simple to clean and efficient at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features a powerful suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time to offer more efficient cleaning. You can change its cleaning schedule and set up zones with the well-designed app. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when it's in a carpeted area which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It's not as efficient on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During tests, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. robot cleaner did a great cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was superb and it was able to avoid fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming, a feature that hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular design that appears much like a Roomba unit than the boxy models of the competitors. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also happens to be its smartest model, with features that are cutting-edge like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's also the sole robot vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is thanks to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
Like other iRobot models, the X40 is easy to use, offering a simple mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only real drawback is that it's still quite a noisy unit which could be a problem if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, though it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and better-looking. If you're willing to put up with a bit more noise and some additional cost it's a efficient two-in-one device that should satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features that will let you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes charge of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multifunction dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its premium competitors. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and was sometimes confused with obstructions or power cords.
The vacuum cleaner comes with an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also has an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas in the house depending on how dirty the areas are.
If you own a larger home, it's worth selecting a model with a zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you inform the robot of which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair mode is also useful. Also the recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you would expect from its price tag. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The iRobot app is designed to guide you through the mapping process, which gathers information on your floorplan and any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or to organize the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app has a range of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture more easily. It has an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. And you can set up a spot cleaning that thoroughly cleans a particular area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to getting caught on low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.