The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are great features.
Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and wash them if required. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger one at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust 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 tested. They are equipped with motors that are top of the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top pick), they use intelligent mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature the feature of Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our floor tests that test for bare floors and are particularly effective in removing pet hair. However, they do have a few flaws however, which hinder them from being our first option. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's thus susceptible to get stuck on shoes and socks and couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people efficiently during our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.
However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also quiet and works while you're at work or school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming feature that's offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has an auto vacuum and mop-emptying dock, however. If you're in need of it mop, the mopping pad can be changed for an awe-inspiring one in a matter of minutes.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and efficient in dealing with larger particles such as 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-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensor technology that can stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time to provide better cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath furniture that is low and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could sweep the entire house with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on various rooms and floors with various flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was excellent, and it avoided fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles of cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically fills up its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that looks more like the regular Roomba unit than the boxy units of the competition. It is one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is among the most intelligent and has advanced features like enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that scored an exemplary 10/10 in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is 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 use. It has an easy mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that the X40 still a loud unit. This can be a problem in mornings before work, or at night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive however, not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient, but it's more expensive and produce more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot mop and vacuum. It comes with a variety of advanced features that make 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-off cleaning machine that can take charge of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, and cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot vacuum that vacuums and mops uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation 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 could be confused with obstructions or power cords.
The 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 power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the home based on how dirty these areas tend to be.
For bigger homes it's worth looking for one with zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a particular area of your home by using the app or voice controls. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair-mode is also a good option. Finally, a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum continue where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you would think from its price. It is a great job cleaning, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. And it's highly self-sufficient with a full-featured application and a self-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, plan an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app also provides access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, which means it is able to reach corners and underneath furniture better. It features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. And you can set up a spot cleaning that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is more noisy than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that's not as intuitive and has a tiny base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.