The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can clean and vacuum your floors with no effort. It also leaves clean. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are a plus.
Examine your robot's brush frequently for tangled debris and hair. Clean them as needed. Some models will also empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin at the base. This can reduce the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 Pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums that we have 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 pick) they utilize smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans that avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our floor tests that test for bare floors They're also particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they do have a few flaws that keep them from being our top pick. One of the flaws of the Q5 is 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 through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.
It's still a great deal particularly if your office or home has lots of unfinished flooring and you're looking to save some money. Additionally, it's quiet and you can use it while you're at work or school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't stay on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with self-emptying docks, however. If you need to, the mopping pad can be changed for one that is wet in just a few just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that can also sweep floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also features an impressive suction system and self-emptying bin. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, but it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performing mop and vacuum combination makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it also learns the layout of your home over time for more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average when compared to similar models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a room with carpet to prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It doesn't perform as well on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
In tests, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean an entire house, finishing with the battery at 66 percent left. It did a good cleaning job on various floors and rooms with different flooring types including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was great, and it avoided fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically fills up its base, and supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature that we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba unit than the boxy units of the competitors. It is one of our most attractive robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is its most advanced, with advanced features including Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology as well as future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that has an exemplary 10/10 in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.
As with other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only issue is that the X40 still a loud unit. This could be a problem in the mornings before work, or at night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, though it's not as pricey as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are equally powerful and more attractive. If you're willing to live with a little more noise and a little more cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will delight most.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot mop and vacuum. It comes with a variety of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine like Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically empty the vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, and washes and dries the mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, making it more efficient than its top rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.
Its vacuum has a high suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home according to how dirty they are.
If you have a larger home, it is worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to tell the robot which area of your house needs to be cleaned using the app or voice command. If you have furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. Also automated vacuum and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you would think from its price. It vacuums well and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most of the mop cleaners with robots that we've tested. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through a mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, plan a spot clean or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app also gives access to many options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It also has the ability to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. You can also create a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. automated vacuum has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It does a good job vacuuming, but is more prone to getting caught on low thresholds and is noisier than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that is less intuitive, and a smaller base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.