The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will vacuum and mop your floors without having to be involved. It will also leave the floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are both positives.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for tangled hair as well as large debris and clean them as required. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger bin at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive cousin the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have examined. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top choice) they employ smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and 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.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests of floors with no carpet, and they are particularly adept in removing dog hair. However, they do have a few flaws however, which hinder them from being our top choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera to see around corners.
It's still a good value for those whose home or office has a lot of unfinished floors and you want to save some money. It's also very quiet and can be used while you're at work or school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on for long and don't handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you need to, you can swap the mopping pad for dry ones in a matter of seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean and effective in dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with a powerful suction 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 combination vacuum and mop makes use of advanced sensors to dodge obstacles and pet waste, and it learns the layout of your home over time for more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is comparable to other models.
You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when it's in a carpeted room to prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It's not as effective 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 sweep the entire house, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on various flooring and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that is automatically empty into the base. cheap robot vacuum supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular look that looks more like a regular Roomba unit than the boxy units of the rivals. It is one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features such as Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads on its own).
It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is thanks to a mix of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can fully self-refill and empty its base station, and it has an the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40 as with other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It has an intuitive mobile application interface, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only real drawback is that it's still quite an eerily noisy device, which can be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.
It's also quite expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally impressive and attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient however, it will cost you more and make more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best robot vacuum and mop. 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 cleaner that is similar to Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the vacuum's bin, refills the water tank, and cleans and drys the mop pads.
The smart robot uses a combination of LIDAR and structured light to map out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than some of its premium rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with an option called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas in the house depending on how dirty those areas tend to be.
If you own a larger home, it is worth selecting a robot that comes with the option of cleaning zones or spots. This lets you instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice command. If you have a lot of furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. Finally, a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you'd think from its price. It vacuums well, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating movement which is cleaner than the majority of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, arrange an area for cleaning or to prioritize your most filthy rooms for better performance. The app offers a variety of features, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, which means it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It also has strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for hair of pets. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit louder than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also has an app that is less intuitive and has a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.