Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as a dirt detector) are a plus.
Examine your robot's brush frequently for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models will also empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the bottom. 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 more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've tested. They feature motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other top iRobot models (including the top pick) they utilize smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also come with a feature called carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it detects an abundance of dirt on the carpet to get it clean quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept at cleaning hair from dogs. There are some issues however, which hinder them from being our first option. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system doesn't have AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.
It's still a good deal particularly if your office or home has a lot of unfinished floors and you're looking to save some money. Additionally, it's quiet and you can use it when you're at work or school. The only thing it doesn't have 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 at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on well and aren't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has self-emptying docks, however. 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 vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it simple to clean and efficient at taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also features a powerful suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robotic hoovers hoover for carpets, but it isn't as effective as some of its 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 patterns of your home over time to provide cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is comparable to other models.
You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a carpeted room, which helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach beneath low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same 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 fastest robot vacuum/mop to clean an entire home and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had mixed flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically empties into its base, and it supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming it, something we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum mop cleaner robot and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that appears more like the regular Roomba model than the bulky models from the competition. It's among our most attractive looking robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also its smartest. It comes with advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads on its own).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop that has an exemplary 10/10 in our testing thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, which include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has a simple mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only real drawback is that it's still quite a noisy unit that could be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, although it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally powerful and look better. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's extremely powerful however it's going to cost you more and make more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with many advanced features to help you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine, 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 vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, as well as washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and detect obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its premium competitors. It also has a front-mounted camera to detect hazards in real-time but this was not 100% foolproof during our tests and was occasionally confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum has a suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home according to the degree of dirt they are.
If you own a larger home, it is worth selecting a model with a the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to inform the robot of which area of your home must be cleaned by using the app or voice command. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair mode is also useful. Also a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd think from its price. It is a good vacuum cleaner and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most of the robot mop cleaners that we've examined. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate an exercise in mapping, which gathers information on your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, arrange a spot clean or to prioritize your most filthy rooms to ensure better performance. The app also grants access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and under furniture more easily. It is equipped with a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to get stuck on low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuums we have examined. It also has an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.