The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can clean and vacuum your floors without your involvement. It also leaves clean. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as dirt detectors) are both positives.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes frequently for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models can also self-empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in an additional bin at the bottom. This helps 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 test. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model), they use smart mapping to create detailed floorplans and avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture leg. They also feature a feature called carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet, allowing it cleaned up quickly.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our tests on floors that are bare, and they're particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they do have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that its navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to get stuck on socks and shoes, and it couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. Also, it doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of an area.
Still, it's very good for those who want to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. Plus, it's very quiet and can be used while you're at work or going to school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you need to change the mopping pad to a dry one in seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can also sweep floors. Its smart cleaning maps and fluid navigation make it simple to clean and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also features strong suction and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, though it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This highly efficient combination vacuum and mop utilizes advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it will learn your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average when compared to similar models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mop. This helps prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath 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 during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean an entire house, finishing with the battery at 66 percent left. It also did an excellent job cleaning a variety of floors and rooms with mixed flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, shoes and 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 fills up its base, and also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
The robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba unit than the boxy units of the competition. It's among our most attractive looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is among the most intelligent model, with features that are cutting-edge like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 in our tests due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can completely autonomously refill and empty its base station and boasts an its own 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 loud that could be problematic if you run it in the morning before work or at night as you try to fall asleep.
It's also a bit expensive, but not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. If you're willing to put up with a little more noise and a little more cost it's a powerful two-in-one that will satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It has a range of advanced features that help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine like Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically empty the vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, and cleans and dry mop pads.
The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floor plans and spot obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its premium competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner comes with an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also has a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the house based on how dirty those areas tend to be.
For larger houses it's worth looking for one that has zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean one particular area of your house using the app or via voice commands. A stairway mode is useful if you have a number of furniture. For busy families, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows 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 would suggest. It is a great job vacuuming, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than 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 well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you mark on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, arrange an area for cleaning or to prioritize your most filthy rooms to improve performance. The app has a range of features, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
It can also reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. autonomous vacuum can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.