Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and will leave your floors clean. Its low cost and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are great features.

Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large debris and clean them as required. Some models can also self-empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the base. This can reduce the amount of fine dust that is 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 examined. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the top model) they employ smart mapping to produce precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like furniture leg. The robots also have the feature of Carpet Boost that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept in cleaning dog hair. However, they do have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to getting hung up on shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera to see around corners.

Still, it's very good to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also quiet and operates when you're at work or in school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on well and aren't able to take on dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. If you want to, you can swap the mopping pad for dry ones in just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors in terms of deep cleaning.

This highly efficient mop and vacuum combination makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. You can alter its cleaning schedule and set up zones with the well-designed app. It comes with a battery life that is comparable to other models.

You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a carpeted room, which helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach beneath furniture that is low and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean an entire house, finishing with 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms with different flooring types, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, 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 dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and supports voice commands using 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 robot vacuum/mop combination.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

With an elegant circular design that looks like a regular Roomba than the competitors' compact models, this robot vacuum mop cleaner robot and mop combo is one of the most appealing looking in our evaluations. The latest model from iRobot is among the most intelligent model, with features that are cutting-edge 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 only robotic vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is thanks to a mix of high-tech sensors including a structured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.

Like other iRobot models like the X40 is easy to use, offering an intuitive mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This can be a concern in the mornings prior to work or at night when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive, but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally capable and better looking. If you're willing to put up with a bit more noise and some extra cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will delight most.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best robot mop and vacuum. It has a number of advanced features that will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device, similar to Ecovacs' top-of-the-range 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, and cleans and drys the mop pads.

The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't 100% reliable in our tests and could be confused with obstructions or power cords.

Its vacuum has a suction maximum 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 vac works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house according to the amount of dirt they are.

For larger homes, it's worth opting for a model that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home using the app or via voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair mode is also a good option. Also, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you'd think from its price. It vacuums well, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using one pad and a reciprocating movement which is cleaner than the majority of the robot cleaner with mop mop cleaners that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured app and a self-emptying, washable base.

The iRobot app is designed to guide you through an exercise in mapping that collects data on your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, plan an area for cleaning or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt to ensure better performance. The app also gives access to many options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture more easily. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean the area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like adorable eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is noisier than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also has an app that's not as intuitive, and a smaller base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.