The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can sweep and vacuum your floors without your involvement. It also leaves the floors spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Examine robot vacuum cleaners for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models will 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 tested. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top-rated model), they use smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have the feature of Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our tests on floors that are bare, and they're particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to become entangled in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. Also, it doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of a room.
It's still a great deal for those whose home or office has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also quiet and works while you are at work or in school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective in mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle however. And, if you need to, you can switch the mopping pad for dry ones in just a few minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that can mop floors. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and a self-emptying bin. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets but it's not as good as other hoovers in terms of deep cleaning.
This highly efficient mop and vacuum combo makes use of advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste, and it also learns the layout of your home over time for more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average compared to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when it's in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect for getting under furniture that is low 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 to complete an entire home, and it did so with 66 percent of its battery left. It did a great cleaning job on different flooring and rooms with different flooring types including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature that we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek, circular design that looks like a regular Roomba rather than the boxes This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our tests. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 in our tests, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that is fully self-refill and empty its base station and it boasts the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering an easy mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only real 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 a bit expensive, but it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally capable and better-looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient however, it's more expensive and create more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of advanced features that will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device 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 refills the water tank, and washes and dries the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of a combination of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and identify obstacles, making it more efficient than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also comes with a feature known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas in the home based on how dirty these areas tend to be.
For bigger homes it's worth looking for one with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a particular area of your house using the app or voice commands. A stairway mode is useful if you have a number of furniture. Also, a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you would expect from its price tag. It's a pro at vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying base that can be washed.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to set up a spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for better performance. 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 also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for hair of pets. And you can set up a spot cleaning that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it's more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have test. It also has a less intuitive app and a small base station that can't be used as an emptying bin.
