The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and will leave your floors clean. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are positives.
Examine your robot's brush regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger one at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust that is 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 test. They have motors that are top-of-the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the top model), they use smart mapping to create detailed floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like cords and furniture leg. They also feature carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it spots the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on floors that were bare and are especially adept in cleaning hair from dogs. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to become entangled in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't come with an image sensor that lets it see the corners of an area.
It's still a good value for those whose office or home has a lot of unfinished floors and you want to save some money. Plus, it's very quiet and can work while you're at work, or at school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming that is available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective in mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have an auto-emptying dock, however. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be replaced with a wet one in seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also has an impressive suction system and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.
This highly efficient combination vacuum and mop uses advanced sensor technology to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it also learns the layout of your home over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app lets you modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to remove and extend its mops. This helps prevent cross contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach beneath furniture that is low 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+.
During testing, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on a variety of flooring and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was superb, and it avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles of 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 it supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba than the competition's compact models, this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. The latest model from iRobot happens to be its smartest, 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 also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to a combination high-tech sensors including a structured lighting system, a camera 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 its own self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It comes with a simple mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a problem in mornings prior to work or during the night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive, although it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally capable and look better. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient however, it's going to cost you more and make 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 get rid of your chores. Like Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that can take the care of vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank and washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front-mounted camera to detect hazards in real-time but this was not reliable in our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. Highly recommended Webpage has "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 the degree of dirt they are.
If you have a bigger home, it is worth choosing a model that has spot or zone cleaning mode. This lets you instruct the robot on which part of your home must be cleaned by using the app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. Also a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might think from its price. It is a good vacuum cleaner and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad that uses a reciprocating motion, which cleans better than most of the other robot mop cleaners we've tested. And it's highly self-sufficient with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot app is designed to help you navigate the mapping process which collects information about your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to set up the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to rank your most filthy areas for better performance. The app also provides access to a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It has an impressive 8000 Pascal suction, as well as intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot-clean 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, 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 a bit more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also has a less intuitive app and a small base station that can't be used as an emptying bin.