20 Myths About Robot Hoover: Busted

The best robot cleaner Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.

Make sure you regularly check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large particles and wash them if needed. Some models will automatically empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin in the base, which decreases 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 tested. They have top-of-the-line motors that can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the most powerful model), they use smart mapping to produce precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also feature a feature called carpet boost which boosts the robot's power when it spots the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned quickly.

Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our tests on floors that are bare They're also particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology which means it's susceptible to getting hung up on shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.

It's still a great deal particularly if your home or office has a lot of unfinished flooring and you're looking to save some money. Plus, it's very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or at school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. And it's less effective at mopping, as it relies on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does have a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you have to, you can swap the mopping pad for dry ones in a matter of seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its smart cleaning maps and nimble navigation make it easy to clean and effective in dealing with larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors in terms of deep cleaning.

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

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mops. This can help avoid 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 during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete an entire house, finishing with the battery at 66 percent left. It did a decent cleaning job on a variety of rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including certain area rugs. Its obstacle detection was great and it stayed clear of fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles of cables.

It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically fills up its base, and also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums it, something we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combinations.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

This mop and vacuum combination features a sleek, circular design that appears much like a Roomba unit than the boxy models of the competition. It is one of our most attractive robot vacuums. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It features advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads on its own).

It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored an exemplary 10/10 in our evaluations due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully self-refill and empty its base station and it has an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

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

It's also a bit expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally impressive and attractive. If you're willing to put up with a bit more noise and some extra cost, this is a very efficient two-in-one device that should please almost everyone.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. Similar to Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes the care of mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank and washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to create floorplans and identify obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its top competitors. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time hazard detection however, it wasn't 100% foolproof during our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home according to how dirty they tend to be.

For larger homes, it's worth opting for a model with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a particular area of your home via the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be beneficial if you have large furniture. Finally a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might expect from its price tag. It has a great vacuuming performance, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most of the Best robot vacuum uk mop cleaners that we've tried. And it's highly self-sufficient with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying washable base.

The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, plan the perfect spot for cleaning or prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app also gives access to a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It is equipped with a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction, as well as sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to be caught by low thresholds and is more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.