Guide To Robot Hoover: The Intermediate Guide For Robot Hoover
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and clean them as required. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger bin in 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've examined. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the most powerful model) they employ intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature a feature called Carpet Boost which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our bare floor tests They're also particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it's prone to getting hung up on shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera to see around corners.
It's still a great option to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a iRobot Roomba and you have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and operates when you're at work or in school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has self-emptying docks, however. If you want to, you can switch the mopping pad for dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles like pet hair. It also has a powerful suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time to ensure cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a carpeted area, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect for getting under furniture that is low 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 testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the entire house with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did an excellent job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms that had mixed flooring types, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch, and it nimbly avoided fake dog socks, turds and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that appears like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units, this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. The latest model from iRobot is its most advanced and has advanced features 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 hoovers vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of modern sensors, including a restructured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can completely autonomously 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 simple to operate. It comes with a simple mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that it's still quite loud which could 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, though it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally capable and more attractive. If you're willing to live 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 mop and vacuum. It has a range of advanced features that will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine, 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 washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot vacuums best makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floorplans and identify obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards, though this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to do the job. It also features "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vac works and alters the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house depending on the amount of dirt they tend to be.
If you have a bigger home, it is worth choosing a model that has spot or zone cleaning mode. This lets you tell the robot vacuums that mop which area of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice control. A stair mode can be useful if you have a number of furniture. Additionally the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd expect from its price tag. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying washable base.
The iRobot app is designed to help you navigate a mapping run that collects data on your floorplan, as well as any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to ensure better performance. The app also grants access to a host of 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 reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It is equipped with a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that thoroughly cleans an area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to be caught on low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuums that we've tested. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that isn't able to double as an emptying bin.