20 Myths About Robot Hoover: Busted

The best robot vacuum Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention. It will leave your floors clean. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are positives.

Be sure to check your robot's brushes for tangled hair as well as large debris and wash them if required. Some models will also empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin located at the base. This helps 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 examined. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the most powerful model) they utilize intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like cords and furniture leg. They also have carpet boost, a feature that boosts the robot's performance when it spots the presence of dirt on the carpet in order to get it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept in cleaning hair from dogs. However, they do have a few flaws however, which hinder them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology, so it's prone to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. Also, it doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of an area.

It's still a good deal, especially if your office or home has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. Plus, it's very quiet and can be used while you're at work, or going to school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming feature that's offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective in mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't hold on for long and don't handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with a self-emptying dock, though. If you need to, the mopping pad can be changed for a wet one in just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can also sweep floors. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient in taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also features strong suction and an automatic vacuum cleaner and mop bin for emptying. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, but it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This highly efficient mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it also learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average in comparison to similar models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to remove and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with 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+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job cleaning a variety of rooms and floors with various flooring types, such as some area rug. Its obstacle detection was great and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums, a feature that we haven't seen in other robotic cleaner and mop vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant, circular design that looks like a regular Roomba rather than the boxes this mop and robot vacuum is among the most attractive looking models in our tests. The newest model from iRobot happens to be its smartest and has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).

It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored 100% in our tests, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors that include a camera, structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can completely self-refill and empty its base station, and boasts an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is easy to use. It comes with an easy mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 is still a noisy unit. This can be a problem in mornings before work or during the night when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive but not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally impressive and attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient however, it will cost you more and produce 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 will let 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-free cleaning machine that can take care of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multifunction dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot employs the combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out floor plans and spot obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its more expensive competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not 100% foolproof during 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. It also comes with an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the house based on how dirty these areas are.

For bigger homes it's recommended to choose models with spot or zone cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home by using the app or via voice commands. A stairway mode is useful if you own a lot furniture. Also, a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It has a great vacuuming performance 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 reciprocating movement which is cleaner than the majority of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying base that can be washed.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through a mapping session that collects data about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you mark on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or create an automatic spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas for better performance. The app has a range of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, which means it can reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for pet hair. And you can set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit louder than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that can't be used as an emptying bin.