Why We Why We Robot Hoover And You Should Too
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can sweep and vacuum your floors without your involvement. It also leaves them spotless. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Check your robot vacuum that vacuums and mops's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them when necessary. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in a larger bin at the bottom. 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 top-of-the-line motors which can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top pick) they employ smart mapping technology to design detailed floor plans and avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also have a feature called carpet boost which boosts the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our tests on floors that are bare and are particularly effective in cleaning pet hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's also prone to get stuck on shoes and socks and could not navigate rooms with lots of people well during our tests. Also, it doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of a room.
It's still a great option, especially if you want to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a bare-floored home or office. It's also quiet and can be used when you're at work or school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective in mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't stay on well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has self-emptying docks, however. And, if you have to change the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, but it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors that help it stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. 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 it's in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be utilized to reach under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.
During testing during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete an entire home, and it did so with 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a great job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of 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 emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums it, something hasn't been seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular design that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the boxy models of the competition. It's among our most attractive looking robot vacuums. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also its smartest. It features advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads autonomously).
It's also the only robotic autonomous vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is due to a mix of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is simple to use. It has an easy mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that it's an eerily noisy device 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 however, not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally impressive and attractive. If you're willing to live with a bit more noise and a little more cost this is a efficient two-in-one device that should satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot mop and vacuum. It has a number of advanced features that make you forget about 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 has a multifunction dock which automatically empty the vacuum's bin, refills the water tank, and cleans and drys mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its more expensive rivals. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not foolproof in our testing and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum has a high suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates how hard the vacuum works and also adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house depending on how dirty they tend to be.
If you have a larger home, it is worth choosing a model that has zones or spot cleaning modes. This allows you to tell the robot vacuums with mop which area of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. For busy families, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off could be extremely useful.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is more intelligent than its price would suggest. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion, which is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've tested. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, 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 mark on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or create the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas to improve performance. The app offers a variety of features, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. And you can create a spot-clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that can't be used as a bin for emptying.