20 Myths About Robot Hoover: Busted

The Best Robot Hoover

The best automatic vacuum cleaner robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detectors) are a plus.

Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large particles, and wash them when needed. Some models can also automatically empty their dust bin on board into a larger one at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro and its sibling the more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've examined. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top choice) they employ smart mapping technology to design precise floor plans and eliminate home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.

Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very excellent 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 choice. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is that its navigation system doesn't have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to getting stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.

Still, it's very good to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a bare-floored home or office. It's also quiet and operates while you are at work or in school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have an auto-emptying dock, however. If you want to, you can switch the mopping pad to a dry one in just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can also mop floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles, like pet hair. It also features an impressive suction system and a self-emptying bin. It's the best automatic vacuum and mop robot hoover for carpets but it falls behind some 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 provide better cleaning. You can alter its cleaning schedule and set up zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average compared to other models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to remove and extend its mops. This helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. However, it doesn't have the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ 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, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on various floors and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was superb, and it avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

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

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

This best robotic mop and vacuum and vacuum combination is sleek and has a circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba unit than the boxy models of the competitors. It's among our most attractive looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is among the most intelligent model, with features that are cutting-edge like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology as well as future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can autonomously wash mop pads).

It's the only robot vacuum/mop to score 100% in our tests, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, which include a camera, structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot 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 robot mop and vacuum mops.

Like other iRobot models like the X40 is easy to use, 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 the mornings before work or in the evening when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also quite expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. If you're willing to put up some more volume and some extra cost, this is a very efficient two-in-one device 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 get rid of your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine like Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum and fills up the water tank, and washes and dries mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards, although this wasn't quite 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 features "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time 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 worth opting for a model with zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home using the app or voice controls. A stairway mode is beneficial if you have lot furniture. Finally a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is more advanced than its price would suggest. It is a great job cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a rotating motion that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or set up an automatic spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas to improve performance. The app also gives access to many features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

It can also reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean a specific 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 appear like cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to be caught in low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums that we've tested. It also has an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.