The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will vacuum and mop your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves them spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are pluses.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and wash them if required. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust that is 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 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 precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with the feature of Carpet Boost that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our floor tests that test for bare floors and are particularly effective in cleaning pet hair. There are some issues however, which prevent them from being our top option. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology and is therefore prone to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tightly packed rooms very well in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of the room.
However, it's a good choice for those who want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used when you're at work or at school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't stay on very well and can't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you need 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 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can mop floors. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features self-emptying dustbins, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, however it falls behind some competitors in terms of deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors to keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time to offer cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average compared to other models.
robot vacuum cleaners reviews can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a room with carpet which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also 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+.
During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the entire house with 66 percent of its battery left. It did a decent cleaning job on various rooms and floors with various flooring types including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it swiftly eluded fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.
It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically emptys into its base, and supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that appears more like a normal Roomba rather than the compact models, this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive designs in our tests. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It features advanced features such as Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).
It's also the only robot vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to a mix of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully self-refill and empty its base station and it has an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering an easy mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This can be a concern in the mornings before work or in the evening when you're trying to fall asleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, though it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are equally powerful and better-looking. If you're willing to put up some more volume and some extra cost this is a efficient two-in-one device that should satisfy most people.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It has a range of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner like Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the vacuum's bin, refills the water tank, and cleans and dries the mop pads.
The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards, although this wasn't quite foolproof in our testing and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vac works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house according to how dirty they are.
If you have a larger home, it's worth selecting a robot that comes with spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice control. A stairway mode is useful if you own a lot furniture. Additionally, a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price would suggest. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris we 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 mop cleaners for robots that we've tried. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or to set up a spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app offers a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
It can also reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It features an impressive 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker 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's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is louder than the other top robotic vacuums we've tested. It also comes with an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that does not double as a bin to empty.