The Best Robot Hoover
The
best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it will leave your floors clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are great features.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large particles, and wash them when required. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which reduces 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 cleaner and mop vacuums we have tested. They have top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. And, like other top iRobot models (including the top pick), they use smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. They also feature carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet in order to get it cleaned up quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept at cleaning dog hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology and is therefore prone to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of an area.
It's still a good value particularly if your office or home has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also extremely quiet and operates when you're at work or in school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. And it's less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does have self-emptying docks, however. If you want to, you can switch the mopping pad for a dry one in seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into an elegant, compact package. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets, but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors in terms of deep cleaning.
This top-performing mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it also learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It comes with a battery life that is comparable to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a carpeted area which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm is great for getting under low-lying furniture 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 most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with mixed flooring types, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically emptys into its base, and supports voice commands via 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 combinations.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that looks more like a normal Roomba rather than the compact models this mop and robot vacuum is among the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. The newest model from iRobot is among the most intelligent, with advanced features including Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's
robot vacuum cleaner reviews that is able to wash mop pads).
It's also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, with an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only drawback is that it's loud which could be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or in the evening as you attempt to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive however, not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally impressive and attractive. If you're willing to put up with a bit more noise and a little more cost it's a capable two-in-one that should satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It comes with a variety of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. Similar to Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that can take the care of mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank and cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to map out floor plans and spot obstacles, making it more efficient than some of its premium rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection, though this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner comes with the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home depending on the degree of dirt they tend to be.
If you have a bigger home, you should consider selecting a robot that comes with spot or zone cleaning mode. This lets you instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice command. If you have furniture, a stair mode is also useful. For families with busy schedules, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off can be very beneficial.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might expect from its price tag. It vacuums well and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad and a rotating motion which is cleaner than the majority mop cleaners for robots that we've tried. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects 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, arrange a spot clean or to prioritize your most filthy rooms to ensure better performance. 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 that mop vacuums, which means it can get to corners and underneath furniture better. It features an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. And you can create a spot-clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to getting caught on low thresholds and is noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've examined. It also has an app that is less intuitive, and a smaller base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.