The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention. It will leave your floors clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large debris, and wash them when required. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger one at the base, which reduces 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 have top-of-the-line motors that can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model) they utilize smart mapping to create detailed floorplans and avoid household obstacles like furniture legs. They also come with carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet in order to get it cleaned up quickly.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our tests on floors that are bare, and they're particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that its navigation system doesn't have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to get stuck on socks and shoes, and it couldn't navigate rooms with lots of people efficiently during our tests. It also doesn't come with cameras that let it see the corners of a room.
It's still a great option, especially if you want to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also extremely quiet and can be used when you're at work or school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective in mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't stick well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying dock, though. If you're required to mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for a wet one in seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with strong suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, although it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to provide better cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average when compared to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to take off and extend its mops. This will help prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm is great for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During tests, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to clean an entire home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms that had various flooring types, such as certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds and 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 it supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums it, something hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular design that appears much like a Roomba unit than the boxy units of the competition. It's among our most appealing looking 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 can autonomously wash mop pads).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 in our tests due to a mix of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a 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 as well as self-cleaning mops.
The X40 as with other iRobot products, is simple to use. It comes with an easy mobile application interface, and it integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that it's loud which could be a problem if you run it in the morning before work or in the evening as you try to fall asleep.
It's also a bit costly, but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally powerful and more attractive. If you're willing with a bit more noise and some extra cost, this is a very capable two-in-one that should satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of advanced features that will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner like Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It features a multi-functional dock that can automatically empty the vacuum's bin, refills the water tank, and cleans and dry mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not completely foolproof in our tests, and was sometimes confused with power cords or obstructions.
Its vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also features "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vac works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home depending on how dirty they tend to be.
For bigger homes it's recommended to choose a model with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean one specific area of your home using the app or voice commands. A stairway mode is beneficial if you have lot furniture. For families that are busy, a recharge feature and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off can be very useful.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you'd imagine from its price. It has a great vacuuming performance and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating movement that is more efficient than most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you set on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, arrange the perfect spot for cleaning or sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app also gives access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It is equipped with a powerful 8000 Pascal suction, as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that thoroughly cleans a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble cute little eyes. It is great at vacuuming, however it is more likely to be caught in low thresholds. Highly recommended Online site has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums that we've tested. It also comes with an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.