15 Terms That Everyone Within The Robot Hoover Industry Should Know
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line functions (such as dirt detector) are positives.
Examine your robot vacuum cleaner's brush regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin at the base. This can 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 tested. They have motors that are top-of-the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top choice), they use smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have a feature called Carpet Boost that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept in removing dog hair. They do have some flaws, however, that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that its navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to get stuck on shoes and socks and couldn't navigate densely packed rooms very well in our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.
However, it's a good choice, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used while you are at work or at school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on very well and can't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you have to, you can swap the mopping pad to a dry one in minutes.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its smart cleaning maps and fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and efficient in dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with a powerful suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets but it's not as good as other hoovers when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performing combination vacuum and mop uses advanced sensor technology to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average in comparison to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a room with carpet to prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be utilized to reach under low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. It doesn't perform as well on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
In tests, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean the entire house with 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms with different flooring types, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes and 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 through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature that we haven't seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant circular design that appears like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units, this mop and robot vacuum is one of the most attractive looking models in our tests. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also its smartest. It has advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).
It's the only robotic automatic vacuum and mop/mop to score an exemplary 10/10 in our tests, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, including a camera, structured light system, 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 mops.
Like other iRobot models, the X40 is user-friendly, with an easy mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that it's still quite a noisy unit which could be a problem if you run it in the morning before work or in the evening as you attempt to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive, but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally capable and better looking. If you're willing to put up with a little more noise and some additional cost this is a powerful two-in-one that will please almost everyone.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features that 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-off cleaning machine that can take the care of mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank and washes and dries its mop pads.
The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and spot obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera to detect hazards in real-time but this was not reliable in 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 get the job done. It also comes with an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house based on how dirty those areas tend to be.
If you have a bigger home, it's worth selecting a model with a the option of cleaning zones or spots. This lets you tell the robot which area of your home must be cleaned using the app or voice command. A stairway mode is useful if you own a number of furniture. For families that are busy recharge functions and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to resume where it left off could be very beneficial.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might think from its price. It's a pro at vacuuming, removing 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using a single pad and a reciprocating motion which is cleaner than the majority of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. And it's highly self-sufficient with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you set on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, arrange an area for cleaning or to prioritize your most filthy rooms for better performance. The app offers a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. You can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that's not as intuitive and a small base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.