The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will clean and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It will also leave the floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line functions (such as a dirt detectors) are positives.
Make sure to 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 bin in the base, which decreases 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 feature motors that are top of the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other top iRobot models (including the top-rated model) they employ smart mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept at cleaning dog hair. However, autonomous vacuum have some flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tight spaces very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't come with cameras that let it see the corners of the room.
It's still a great option to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or going to school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has an auto-emptying dock, however. If you want to, you can swap the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few minutes.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and efficient at taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, however it isn't as effective as some of its competitors in terms of deep cleaning.
This top-performing mop and vacuum combo uses advanced sensor technology to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it will learn your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when it's in a carpeted area 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 efficient 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 only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did an excellent job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.
It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming this feature, which we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant circular design that looks like a regular Roomba than the competition's compact models This mop and robot vacuum is among the most appealing looking in our evaluations. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also the most intelligent. It has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads on its own).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop to score 100% in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, including a camera, structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only issue is that it's still quite an eerily noisy device which could be a problem if you run it in the morning before work or at night as you try to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, but it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally powerful and look better. If you're willing with a little more noise and some additional cost this is a efficient two-in-one device that should please almost everyone.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of advanced features that will make you forget about your chores. Like 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 charge of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was sometimes confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner has an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with a feature known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the house depending on how dirty those areas tend to be.
If you have a larger home, it's worth selecting a robot that comes with spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to instruct the robot on which part of your house needs to be cleaned using the app or voice control. A stairway mode is useful if you have a number of furniture. For busy families, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off can be very beneficial.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you would expect from its price tag. It is a great job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've examined. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self emptying, washable base.
The iRobot app is designed to guide you through an exercise in mapping that collects data on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app also gives access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, which means it can get to corners and under furniture more easily. It is equipped with an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction, as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that thoroughly cleans the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It is great at vacuuming, however it is more likely to be caught on low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuums we have tested. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.