20 Myths About Robot Hoover: Busted

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.

Check your robot's brushes frequently for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Some models also self-empty their onboard dustbin into a larger one 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 tested. They feature motors that are top of the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top-rated model) they employ intelligent mapping technology to create detailed floor plans and avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also come with a feature called carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it detects the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it clean quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on floors that were bare They are also adept in cleaning dog hair. However, they do have a few flaws, however, that prevent them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. Also, it doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of the room.

It's still a good value, especially if your home or office has a lot of unfinished flooring and you're looking to save money. It's also very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or at school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on well and aren't able to take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does have a self-emptying dock, though. If you need to clean the mopping pad, it can be replaced with a wet one in minutes.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a sleek, compact package. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also has self-emptying dustbins, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, but it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.

This highly efficient mop and vacuum combination uses advanced sensor technology to dodge obstacles and pet waste, and it learns your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. You can modify the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to similar models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to take off and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect for getting under furniture that is low 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 testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot cleaner vacuum/mop which could complete the task of cleaning a whole home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on various flooring and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was great, and it avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming this feature, which hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

With a sleek circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba than the competition's boxes this mop and robot vacuum is one of the most attractive designs in our reviews. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It comes with advanced features such as enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop to score an absolute 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is thanks to a combination modern sensors, including a restructured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station and it boasts its own self-cleaning mop pads.

Like other iRobot models, 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 issue is that it's still quite loud, which can be problematic if you run it in the morning before work or at night as you try to sleep.

It's also a bit expensive but not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally impressive and attractive. If you're willing with a little more noise and a little more cost it's a powerful two-in-one that will delight most.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop, with many advanced features that will let you get rid of 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. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank and washes and dries its mop pads.

The smart robot employs a combination of LIDAR and structured light to create the floor plan and detect obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its more expensive rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time, though this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was sometimes confused with obstructions or power cords.

Its vacuum has a high suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates how hard the automatic vacuum cleaner works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home depending on how dirty they tend to be.

If you have a bigger home, you should consider choosing a model that has zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. A stair mode can be beneficial if you have lot furniture. Finally, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to continue where it left off is great for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you would expect from its price tag. It is a great job cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with one pad that has a reciprocating motion that is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've tried. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying base that is washable.

The iRobot application is designed to guide you through the mapping process that collects data on your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, set up the perfect spot for cleaning or prioritise your dirtiest rooms for better performance. The app offers a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. And you can set up a spot cleaning that intensely cleans a localized area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it is more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums that we've tested. It also has an app that is less intuitive, and a smaller base station that can't double as a bin to empty.