The Best robot vacuum cleaner UK Robot Hoover

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

Be sure to check your best robot cleaner's brushes for hair that is tangled and large particles, and wash them when required. Some models will also empty the onboard dust bin and place it in a larger bin located 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 more expensive cousin the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we've examined. They have motors that are top-of-the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the most powerful model), they use smart mapping to create detailed floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like furniture legs. The robots also have the feature of Carpet Boost which boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept in cleaning hair from dogs. There are some issues however, which prevent them from being our first option. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tightly packed rooms very well in our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of the room.

However, it's a good choice, especially if you want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly bare-floor home or office. Additionally, it's quiet and can work while you're at work or going to school. The only thing it doesn't have that you won'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, using disposable wet wipes that don't hold on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle however. If you're required to mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for an awe-inspiring one in a matter of just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into an elegant, compact package. Its smart cleaning maps and nimble navigation make it easy to clean and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also has strong suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, but it falls behind some competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time and offer more efficient cleaning. You can alter its cleaning schedule and set up zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average compared to other models.

You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when it's in a carpeted area, which helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach under low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. It doesn't perform as well on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on various rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was great, and it avoided 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 dustbin on board that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combinations.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

This mop and vacuum combination is sleek and has a circular design that looks much like a Roomba model than the boxy units of the competition. It's one of our most attractive looking robot vacuums. The newest 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 best robot vacuum that can wash its own mop pads).

It's the only robotic mop or vacuum to score a perfect 10 in our testing, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple 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 its own self-cleaning mop pads.

As with other iRobot models like the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This could be a problem in the mornings before work, or during the night when you're trying to sleep.

It's also quite expensive, but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally capable and better looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's extremely powerful, but it will cost you more and make more noise.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum cleaner vacuum and mop, with a lot of advanced features that let you forget about 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 charge of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of an array of LIDAR and structured light to map out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than some of its premium competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazards detection but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.

Its vacuum has a suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to get the job done. It also has a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the home based on how dirty the areas are.

If you have a larger home, it is worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to 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 number of furniture. Also, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might think from its price. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating movement that is more efficient than most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, plan an area for cleaning or to sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app also grants access to a host of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it can get to corners and underneath furniture better. It features a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also set up a spot-clean that thoroughly cleans a specific area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive, and a smaller base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.