Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its low cost and top-of-the-line functions (such as a dirt detector) are a plus.

Be sure to check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large particles and wash them if needed. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin at the bottom. This reduces the amount 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 test. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobot models (including the top-rated model) they utilize smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. They also have carpet boost, a feature that increases the robot's power when it detects an abundance of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests of floors with no carpet, and they are particularly adept in removing dog hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top pick. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is its navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's also prone to become stuck on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with lots of people efficiently during our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.

It's still a great option, especially if you want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot, and you have a bare-floored home or office. Additionally, it's quiet and you can use it while you're at work or school. The only thing it's missing that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. And it's less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on for long and don't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you have to, you can swap the mopping pad to dry ones in a matter of just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a sleek, compact package. 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 comes with strong suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best automatic vacuum robot vacuum for carpets, though it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.

This top-performing mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it also learns your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is similar to other models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross contamination. Its flex arm is ideal to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It's not as effective on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could sweep the entire house, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on a variety of floors and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was excellent, and it avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles cables.

It's 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 through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant, circular design that looks more like a normal Roomba rather than the boxes this robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most appealing looking in our reviews. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features such as enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company's robot cleaner with mop that is able to wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's also the only robot vacuum or mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is thanks to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot vacuum cleaner uk we tested that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station and it boasts the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 as with other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It comes with a simple mobile application interface, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that it's still quite a noisy unit, which can be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you attempt to sleep.

It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally powerful and more attractive. It's a dual-purpose vacuum mop cleaner robot that's very capable, but it will cost you more and produce more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It has a number of advanced features that make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner like Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It features a multi-functional dock that can automatically emptys the vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, and cleans and dries mop pads.

The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not foolproof in our testing and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum cleaner has the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to do the job. It also has an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the house depending on how dirty the areas tend to be.

If you own a larger home, it's worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This lets you tell the robot which area of your house needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. A stairway mode is beneficial if you have lot furniture. Additionally the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum 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 does a stellar job vacuuming, 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 cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've examined. It's self-sufficient too, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying washable base.

The iRobot app is designed to guide you through a mapping run, which gathers information on your floorplan and any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to improve performance. The app has a range of options, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It is equipped with a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction as well as clever combs for removing 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 more sleek more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It does a good job vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is more noisy than the other top robotic vacuums we've examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.