The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention. It leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detector) are both positives.

Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Clean them as needed. Certain models also automatically empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in an additional bin at the bottom. This can reduce the amount of fine dust that gets released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive sibling the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums that we have tested. They have top-of-the-line motors that can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. And, like other premium iRobot models (including the top choice), they use smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans and avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with the feature of Carpet Boost that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on floors that were bare and are especially adept in removing hair from dogs. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is its navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's also prone to become stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate densely packed rooms very well during our tests. It also doesn't come with cameras that let it see the corners of the room.

It's still a great option, especially if you want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used while you're at work, or going to school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. And it's less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't stay on for long and don't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you need to, you can swap the mopping pad to a dry one in just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities 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 features self-emptying dustbins as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best 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 sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time and ensure more efficient cleaning. You can alter the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones with the well-designed app. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.

You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach under low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. However, it doesn't have the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.

In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did an excellent job cleaning a range of floors and rooms with different flooring types, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums it, something hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxes, this mop and robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop is among the most appealing looking in our reviews. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also among its most advanced. It features advanced features, like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's also the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is thanks to a combination modern sensors, including a restructured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum that vacuums and mops we tested that could refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.

Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is easy to use, offering a simple mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 still a loud unit. This could be a concern in the mornings before work, or at night when you're trying to sleep.

It's also quite expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally impressive and attractive. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable, but it's going to cost you more and create more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a lot of advanced features that will let you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device, similar to Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum, refills the water tank, and washes and dry mop pads.

The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and detect obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't foolproof in our tests and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.

The vacuum has a suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. 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 of the home based on how dirty the areas are.

If you have a larger home, you should consider selecting a robot that comes with spot or zone cleaning mode. This lets you tell the robot vacuum cleaner best which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice command. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. For families that are busy recharge functions and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off can be very beneficial.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd think from its price. It is a good vacuum cleaner, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating movement that cleans better that most of the mop cleaners with 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 application guides you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, set up a spot clean or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to ensure better performance. The app also provides access to a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and underneath furniture better. It also has a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. And you can set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to be stuck on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have test. It also has an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that can't double as a bin to empty.