Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention. It will leave your floors spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are pluses.
Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and wash them if required. Some models also self-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 sibling, the more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've tested. They have motors that are top-of-the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the top model) they utilize smart mapping to produce precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like furniture legs. The robots also come with Carpet Boost, a feature that boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our tests on floors that are bare, and they're particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is its navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to get stuck on socks and shoes, and it couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people efficiently during our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.
It's still a good robot vacuum deal for those whose home or office has a lot of unfinished flooring and you're looking to save money. It's also quiet and can be used while you are at work or school. The only thing it doesn't have that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with a self-emptying dock, though. If you're in need of it mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for a wet one in seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek automatic vacuum and mop robot cleaner that also has the ability to sweep floors. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also features a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, though it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensor technology that can avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and provide cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app lets you modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.
You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when it's in a room with carpet to prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. It's not as effective on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ 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 home, and it did so with the battery at 66 percent left. It did a decent cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various flooring types including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds and cables.
It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen on other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that looks much like a Roomba model than the boxy models from the competitors. It's among our most attractive robot vacuums. The latest model from iRobot happens to be its smartest model, with features that are cutting-edge like enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored an exemplary 10/10 in our testing, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, which include a camera, structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can completely self-refill and empty its base station, and it has an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to use. It has an intuitive mobile app interface that integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This can be a concern in the mornings prior to work or during the night when you're trying to fall asleep.
It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. If you're willing to live 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 automatic vacuum and mop robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of advanced features that will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device like Ecovacs 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 fills up the water tank, and washes and drys the mop pads.
The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite 100% foolproof during our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum cleaner has an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the house based on how dirty those areas are.
If you own a larger home, it is worth selecting a model with a spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to inform the robot vacuum that vacuums and mops of which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. A stairway mode is useful if you own a lot furniture. For families that are busy, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to resume where it left off could be very beneficial.
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 mopses using one pad and a reciprocating motion which is cleaner than the majority of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to create a spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for greater efficiency. The app has a range of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, which means it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It features a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction as well as intelligent combs to remove pet hair. And you can create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized 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, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, however it is more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that can't double as a bin to empty.