Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detector) are positives.

Make sure you regularly examine the brushes of your robot for tangled hair as well as large debris and clean them as needed. Some models will also empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in an additional bin at the base. This can 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 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 employ smart mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also have carpet boost, a feature that increases the robot's power when it spots a lot of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept at cleaning hair from dogs. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is its navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's therefore prone to getting stuck on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate densely packed rooms very well during our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera that would let it see the corners of a room.

However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. Plus, it's very quiet and can work when you're at work or at school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on well and aren't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has self-emptying docks, however. If you're in need of it mop, the mopping pad can be replaced with a wet one in just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can also sweep floors. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features strong suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, but it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to provide better cleaning. The app lets you modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.

You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a room with carpet which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach 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+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum cleaners best vacuum/mop which could complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did a good job cleaning a variety of rooms and floors with various flooring types, such as certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.

It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming, a feature that we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the bulky models of the competition. It is one of our most attractive looking robot vacuum cleaner best vacuums. The latest model from iRobot is its most advanced and has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology as well as future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).

It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.

Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is easy to use, offering a simple mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only issue is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a problem in mornings prior to work or during the night when you're trying 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 powerful and more attractive. If you're willing with a little more noise and some extra cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will satisfy most people.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with many advanced features that will let you forget about your chores. Like Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes care of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot uses the combination of LIDAR and structured light to create the floor plan and detect obstacles, making it more efficient than some of its premium rivals. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.

Its vacuum has a high suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also has a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the automatic vacuum cleaner and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the home based on how dirty the areas are.

For bigger homes it's worth looking for one with zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home using the app or voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Finally, a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might think from its price. It has a great vacuuming performance and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad and a rotating motion which is cleaner than the majority of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured application, and a self emptying base that is washable.

The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt to improve performance. The app comes with a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for pet hair. It also has the ability to create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is excellent at vacuuming, but it is more likely to be stuck on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums that we have examined. It also has a less intuitive app and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.