The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will vacuum and mop your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves the floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are positives.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Clean them as needed. Some models can also self-empty the onboard dust bin and place it in a larger bin at the base. This can reduce the amount of fine dust that gets 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 line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. And, like other top iRobot models (including the top pick), they use intelligent mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with a feature called Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept at cleaning dog hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top pick. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to become entangled in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tightly packed rooms very well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.
However, cheap robot vacuum 's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also quiet and operates when you're at work or in school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. If you want to change the mopping pad to a dry one in just a few seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can also sweep 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 best robot hoover for carpets, but it's not as good as other hoovers in terms of deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensor technology that can stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and set up zones using the app that is well-designed. Its battery life is average compared to other models.
You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a carpeted room to prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete an entire home, and it did so with only 66 percent of its battery left. It did a great cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-notch, and it nimbly avoided fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically emptys into its base, and it supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature that we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that appears like a regular Roomba rather than the compact models this robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most appealing looking in our tests. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It features advanced features like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum to score an exemplary 10/10 in our tests due to a mix of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station and it has an the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
As with other iRobot models like the X40 is user-friendly, offering an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only issue is that it's loud which could be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work or in the evening as you try to sleep.
It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally impressive and attractive. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient however it's more expensive and produce more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features that will let you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner that is similar to Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum and refills the water tank, as well as washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and detect obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection but this wasn't 100% reliable in our tests and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner has an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to accomplish the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home according to the amount of dirt they tend to be.
For bigger homes it's recommended to choose a model with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house via the app or via voice commands. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. For families with busy schedules, a recharge function and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to resume where it left off can be very beneficial.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might think from its price. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using one pad that has a reciprocating motion, which does a better job cleaning than the other robot mop cleaners we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot app is designed to guide you through the mapping process that collects data on your floorplan, as well as any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, arrange the perfect spot for cleaning or sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app also grants 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, meaning it can get to corners and under furniture more easily. It has an impressive 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the 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, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to be caught on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums we've examined. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.
