20 Myths About Robot Hoover: Busted

The Best Robot Hoover

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

Examine your robot cleaner with mop's brush regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Some models also self-empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive sibling the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have examined. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top choice) they utilize smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also feature carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it spots a lot of dirt on the carpet in order to get it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests of floors with no carpet, and they are particularly adept in removing hair from dogs. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's therefore prone to getting stuck on shoes and socks and could not navigate through rooms with a lot of people well during our tests. It also doesn't come with cameras that let it see the corners of an area.

Still, it's very good for those who want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. Additionally, it's quiet and can work while you're at work, or school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming that is offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle, however. If you want to change the mopping pad for dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles, like pet hair. It also has self-emptying dustbins as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performing mop and vacuum combo makes use of advanced sensors to dodge obstacles and pet waste, and it will learn the layout of your home over time for more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is comparable to other models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to take off and extend its mop. This can help avoid cross contamination. Its flex arm is also great for getting under furniture that is low 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+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could sweep the entire house and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job cleaning a range of rooms and floors with mixed flooring types, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was great, and it avoided 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 offers superior suction and an onboard bin that is automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums it, something we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With a sleek circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba than the competition's boxes, this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It features advanced features such as enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).

It's also the sole robot vacuum or mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to the combination of modern sensors, including a restructured light system, camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.

Like other iRobot models, the X40 is user-friendly, with an intuitive mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that it's loud that could be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or in the evening as you try to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive, although it's not as pricey as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and look better. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient, but it's going to cost you more and make more noise.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It has a number of advanced features that will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device, similar to Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum and refills the water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of the combination of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and spot obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its more expensive competitors. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time, though this wasn't foolproof in our tests and was often confused with obstructions or power cords.

Its vacuum cleaner has the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with an option known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the house depending on how dirty those areas tend to be.

If you have a bigger home, it is worth choosing a model that has spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to instruct the robot on which part of your house needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. For families with busy schedules recharge functions and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off could be very useful.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might think from its price. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating movement that is more efficient than most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through a mapping session that collects data about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app comes with a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.

It also has the ability to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got 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 more noisy 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.