The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot hoover will clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its surprisingly affordable price and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are pluses.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models also self-empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 pro
The Q5 Pro and its sibling, the pricier Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've tested. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the most powerful model) they utilize smart mapping to produce precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also have the feature of Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our floor tests that test for bare floors They're also particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they do have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is its navigation system doesn't have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to become stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate through rooms with a lot of people efficiently during our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of an area.
However, it's a good choice for those who want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used when you're at work or school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't stay on for long and don't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be changed for one that is wet in just a few minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. cheap robot vacuum and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, but it's not as good as other hoovers when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performing mop and vacuum combination makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it also learns your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. You can alter the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average compared to other models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to remove and extend its mops. This will help prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath furniture that is low 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+.
In the course of testing, 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. It did a decent cleaning job on various rooms and floors with various flooring types including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was superb, and it avoided fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles cables.
It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically emptys into its base, and supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming this feature, which we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With an elegant circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most appealing looking in our reviews. The latest model from iRobot is among the most intelligent, with advanced features including enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop that has a perfect 10 in our testing due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including a camera, structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to use. It comes with an easy mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only real drawback is that it's an eerily noisy device, which can be a problem if you run it in the morning before work, or at night when you attempt to sleep.
It's also a bit costly, but not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable however, it's going to cost you more and create more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a lot of advanced features that let you forget about your chores. Similar to Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that can take the care of mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and detect obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection but this wasn't foolproof in our tests and could be confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also comes with an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas in the house depending on how dirty these areas tend to be.
For bigger homes it's worth looking for models with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean one particular area of your home via the app or voice controls. If you have lots of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Also a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might expect from its price tag. It does a stellar job vacuuming, removing 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion, which does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've examined. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying base that is washable.
The iRobot app is designed to help you navigate a mapping run that collects data on your floorplan and any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, set up the perfect spot for cleaning or sort out your rooms with the most dirt to ensure better performance. The app also provides access to a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture better. It features a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. It also has the ability to create a spot-clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is noisier than the other top robotic 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.