The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot hoover will vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and will leave your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
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 onboard dust bin into a larger one at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 Pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive cousin, the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we've test. They feature motors that are top-of-the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other premium iRobots (including the most powerful model) they employ intelligent mapping to design precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like furniture leg. The robots also come with a feature called Carpet Boost that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our floor tests that test for bare floors and are particularly effective in removing pet hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top pick. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it's prone to become entangled in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.
It's still a great deal, especially if your home or office has a lot of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also extremely quiet and can be used when you're at work or school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle however. If you want to change the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time to offer better cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It comes with a battery life that is comparable to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be utilized to reach under low-lying furnishings 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 the entire house with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a good job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen before on other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular look that looks much like a Roomba model than the bulky models from the rivals. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It comes with advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop to score an exemplary 10/10 in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and it boasts its own self-cleaning mop pads.
Like other iRobot models like the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This can be a problem in mornings before work, or in the evening when you are trying to fall asleep.
It's also quite expensive, but it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally capable and better-looking. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable however it will 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 many advanced features to help you get rid of 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 takes care of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of the combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than some of its premium rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite reliable in our tests and was occasionally confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vac works and alters the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house according to the degree of dirt they tend to be.
For bigger homes it's worth looking for a model that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a particular area of your home using the app or via voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Also, a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more intelligent than the price suggests. It vacuums well and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a rotating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've examined. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self emptying base that is washable.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate a mapping run 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 design cleaning schedules, or to set up an automatic spot-clean. affordable robot vacuum can also use it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for greater efficiency. The app has a range of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it can reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. And you can create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to be caught in low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less intuitive app and a small base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.