Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as a dirt detectors) are both positives.

Check your robot's brushes frequently for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust 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 have examined. They have motors that are top of the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the most powerful model) they employ intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have a feature called Carpet Boost which boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests of floors with no carpet and are especially 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 does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. It also doesn't come with an image sensor that lets it see the corners of a room.

It's still a good value, especially if your home or office has lots of unfinished floors and you want to save money. It's also very quiet and works while you're at work or at school. The only thing it doesn't have that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. And it's less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't stay on well and aren't able to take on dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you have to, you can switch the mopping pad for a dry one in minutes.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles, like pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying dustbin with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, although it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensor technology that can avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time and provide more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average when compared to similar models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to take off and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm is great for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It's not as effective on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could complete the task of cleaning a whole home and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a decent cleaning job on different flooring and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including certain area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is something we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With a sleek circular design that looks like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units This mop and robot vacuum is among the most attractive designs in our tests. The latest 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 on its own).

It's also the only robotic hoovers vacuum/mop to score the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to a combination high-tech sensors including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum cleaner uk we tested that could fill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.

The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to use. It comes with an intuitive mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a concern in the mornings before work or in the evening when you are trying to sleep.

It's also a bit expensive, although it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are similarly capable and look better. If you're willing with a bit more noise and some extra cost this is a capable two-in-one that should delight most.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best robot vacuum that mops robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of features that are advanced and will 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 takes charge of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, and cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot vacuum cleaner uses LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also has a camera mounted on the front to detect hazards in real-time but this was not reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum has a high suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also comes with a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house depending on how dirty those areas are.

For larger houses it's worth looking for a model that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean one specific area of your home via the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be beneficial if you have number of furniture. Also a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might expect from its price tag. It is a great job vacuuming, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad that uses a reciprocating motion, which does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've tested. And it's highly self-sufficient with a full-featured app and a self-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, plan a spot clean or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt to improve performance. The app comes with a variety of features, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture more easily. It has an impressive 8000 Pascal suction, as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also set up a spot-clean that will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute little eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to get stuck on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums that we have test. It also has an app that's less intuitive and a small base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.