20 Misconceptions About Robot Hoover: Busted

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover (other) can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as a dirt detectors) are a plus.

Be sure to check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large debris, and wash them when required. Some models can also self-empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the base. This helps reduce the amount of fine dust 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 feature top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top pick), they use smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans that avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots that vacuum and mop also feature Carpet Boost, a feature that boosts 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 are especially adept in cleaning dog hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is its navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to become stuck on shoes and socks, and it couldn't navigate densely packed rooms very efficiently during our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera to look around corners.

However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly unfinished home or office. Plus, it's very quiet and can be used when you're at work or at school. The only thing it's missing 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. It relies on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle however. If you need to, the mopping pad can be changed for a wet one in minutes.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a sleek, compact 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 has strong suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensor technology that can keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time and ensure better 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 in a carpeted area which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect for getting under low-lying furniture 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+.

In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was great and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically fills up its base, and it supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature we haven't seen before on other robot vacuum/mop combination.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

The robot vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular design that appears more like the regular Roomba unit than the boxy models of the rivals. It is one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot 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 is able to wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop to score the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to a mix of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and boasts an its own self-cleaning robot mop and vacuum mop pads.

As with other iRobot models as well, the X40 is easy to use, offering a simple mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a problem in the mornings before work, or at night when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also quite expensive, but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient, but it's going to cost you more and create more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot mop and automatic vacuum and mop. It has a range of advanced features that help you forget your chores. Like Ecovacs range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that can take charge of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot hoover and mop uses LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and detect obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection, though this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.

Its vacuum has a high maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home in accordance with how dirty they are.

If you own a larger home, it is worth selecting a robot that comes with spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned using the app or voice command. If you have furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. For families with busy schedules, a recharge function and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to resume where it left off could be very useful.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd expect from its price tag. It has a great vacuuming performance, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying, washable base.

The iRobot application is designed to guide you through the mapping process that collects data on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, arrange a spot clean or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt to improve performance. The app also grants access to a host of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture more easily. It features an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it's more likely to be stuck on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums we have examined. It also has a less intuitive app and a small base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.