The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot vacuum will sweep and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It will also leave the floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are both positives.
Check your robot's brushes frequently for tangled debris and hair. Clean them as needed. Some models will also empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the bottom. 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 more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've test. They have motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top-rated model), they use smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans that avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature 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 are particularly effective at cleaning pet hair. However, they do have a few flaws however, which prevent them from being our first option. One of the flaws of the Q5 is its navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's therefore prone to get stuck on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well during our tests. Also, automated vacuum cleaner doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of the room.
However, it's a good choice, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a bare-floored home or office. Additionally, it's quiet and can work when you're at work or going to 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. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be swapped for one that is wet in just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean and effective in dealing with 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 falls behind some competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and offer more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a carpeted room to prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It's not as efficient on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
In tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete an entire home, and it did so with 66 percent of its battery left. It did a decent cleaning job on different floors and rooms with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was superb and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a bit 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 also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is something we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant circular design that appears like a regular Roomba rather than the compact models This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive designs in our reviews. The latest model from iRobot is its most advanced, with advanced features including enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that has a perfect 10 in our testing due to a mix of high-tech sensors, which include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and it boasts its own self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has an intuitive 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 which could be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work or in the evening as you attempt to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, although it's not as pricey as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally capable and more attractive. If you're willing to live with a bit more noise and some extra cost it's a efficient two-in-one device that should satisfy most people.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a lot of advanced features that let you get rid of 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 features a multi-functional dock that can automatically empty the vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, and washes and dries mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and spot obstacles, making it more efficient than some of its premium rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was sometimes confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for various areas of the house based on how dirty these areas tend to be.
For bigger homes it's worth looking for a model that has zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house by using the app or voice controls. If you have furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. For families with busy schedules, a recharge feature and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off can be very beneficial.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It does a stellar job cleaning, removing 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 rotating motion which is cleaner than the majority mop cleaners for robots that we've tried. And it's highly self-sufficient with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through a mapping run that gathers information 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 sort out your rooms with the most dirt to ensure better performance. The app also provides access to many features, such as 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 underneath furniture better. It has an impressive 8000 Pascal suction and sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot cleaning that thoroughly cleans a particular area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to be caught on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums that we have tested. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that can't double as a bin for emptying.