10 Things We Hate About Robot Hoover

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are both positives.

Check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Some models can also self-empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in an additional bin at the base. This can reduce the amount of fine dust released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart, the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have tested. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. 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. They also have carpet boost, a feature that boosts the robot's performance when it spots the presence of dirt on the carpet, allowing it clean quickly.

Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our bare floor tests They're also particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to getting stuck on shoes and socks, and it couldn't navigate densely packed rooms very well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.

Still, it's very good to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also quiet and can be used when you're at work or 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 floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective in mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't hold on well and aren't able to take on dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you need to, you can swap the mopping pad for a dry one in minutes.

2. IRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into an elegant, compact 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 comes with a powerful suction and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the best robot hoover for carpets but it falls behind some competitors in terms of deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensor technology that can keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time and offer more efficient cleaning. You can alter its cleaning schedule and set up zones using the app that is well-designed. Its battery life is average when compared to other models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to remove and extend its mop. This helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be utilized to reach under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.

In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did a good job cleaning a range of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically empties into its base, and also supports voice commands using 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 combos.

3. iRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba rather than the boxy units this robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most attractive designs in our evaluations. The newest 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 vacuums that mop that is able to wash mop pads).

It's also the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station and it has an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 as with other iRobot products, is simple to use. It comes with a simple mobile app interface that integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only real drawback is that it's still quite an eerily noisy device, which can be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or in the evening as you try to sleep.

It's also quite expensive however, not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. If you're willing with a little more noise and some additional cost it's a capable two-in-one that should satisfy most people.

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 let you forget about your chores. Similar to Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that takes charge of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank and washes and dries its mop pads.

The smart robot cleaner with mop uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its premium competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection however, it wasn't 100% foolproof during our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and also adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home according to the degree of dirt they are.

For bigger homes it's recommended to choose one that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house by using the app or voice controls. If you have furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Additionally, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to continue 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 the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using a single pad that uses a reciprocating motion, which does a better job cleaning than the other robot mop cleaners we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you mark on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, arrange an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app has a range of features, such as seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

It also has the ability to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It is equipped with a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs to remove pet hair. And you can set up a spot cleaning that scours a specific area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute little eyes. It does a good job vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to getting caught on low thresholds and is a bit louder than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that can't be used as a bin for emptying.