Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can clean and vacuum your floors with no effort. It also leaves clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are pluses.
Examine your robot's brush regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger bin at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart, the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have examined. They are equipped with motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the top model) they employ smart mapping to create detailed floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture leg. They also come with carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it detects the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on floors that were bare and are especially adept in removing hair from dogs. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to getting hung up on shoes and socks and can't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. Also, it doesn't have an image sensor that lets it see the corners of the room.
It's still a good deal for those whose office or home has a lot of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also very quiet and operates while you're at work or at school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. And it's less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on for long and don't handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you have to change the mopping pad for a dry one in seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a powerful suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets, however it falls behind some competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performing mop and vacuum combo uses advanced sensor technology to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it will learn the layout of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and customize zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to similar models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could sweep the entire house with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did an excellent job cleaning a variety of floors and rooms with various flooring types, such as some area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-notch, and it nimbly avoided fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically fills up its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen on other robotic automatic vacuum cleaner and mop/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
The robot vacuums that mop vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba unit than the boxy models of the rivals. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The newest model from iRobot is among the most intelligent, 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 also the only robotic vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to the combination of modern sensors, including a restructured light system, a camera 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 the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
As with other iRobot models like the X40 is user-friendly, offering an intuitive mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only issue is that it's a noisy unit that could be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work or at night as you try to sleep.
It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally capable and better looking. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's extremely powerful however, it's going to cost you more and produce more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It comes with a variety of features that are advanced and will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner, similar to Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It features a multi-functional dock that can automatically empty the vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, as well as washes and drys the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazards detection, though this wasn't foolproof in our tests and was sometimes confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum has a high suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also has an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts cleaning frequency for various areas of the home based on how dirty those areas tend to be.
For larger homes it's worth looking for models with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home via the app or voice controls. A stairway mode is useful if you own a large furniture. 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.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It does a stellar job cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad that has a reciprocating motion that is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've examined. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured application and a self-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you mark on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to organize the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app also grants access to many features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It can also reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It has an impressive 8000 Pascal suction as well as intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robotic vacuums we've examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that doesn't double as an emptying bin.
