Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention. It will leave your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detector) are both positives.

Make sure to check your robot's brushes frequently for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models will automatically empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin in the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust 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 are equipped with motors that are top of the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the most powerful model), they use intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans that avoid obstacles like furniture legs. They also feature carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it sees a lot of dirt on the carpet, allowing it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on floors that were bare and are especially adept at cleaning dog hair. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to become entangled in shoes and socks and can't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.

However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and works when you're at work or school. The only thing it lacks that you won't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective in mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying dock, though. If you want to, you can switch the mopping pad for dry ones in a matter of 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 dealing with larger particles, like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This top-performing mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to dodge obstacles and pet waste, and it also learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and set up zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to other models.

You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a room with carpet which prevents cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach beneath furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could sweep the entire house and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a good job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had mixed flooring types, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was top notch, and it nimbly avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is something we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.

3. iRobot Roomba X40

This mop and vacuum combination features a sleek, circular design that appears more like the regular Roomba model than the bulky models from the rivals. It's one of our most attractive looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also happens to be its smartest, with advanced features including Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can autonomously wash mop pads).

It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our testing. This is due to a mix of high-tech sensors including a structured lighting system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.

The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is simple to use. It has an intuitive mobile application interface, and it integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that it's still quite an eerily noisy device that could be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or at night as you try to fall asleep.

It's also a bit costly but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. If you're willing with a little more noise and a little more cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will delight most.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot cleaner with mop 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 that is 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, as well as washes and dries mop pads.

The smart robot vacuum that mops uses a combination of LIDAR and structured light to map out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its more expensive rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazards detection however this was not completely foolproof in our tests, and could be confused with obstructions or power cords.

The vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to accomplish the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home depending on the degree of dirt they tend to be.

For larger homes it's recommended to choose a model that has zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot vacuums best to clean a particular area of your house via the app or voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stair-mode is also a good robot vacuum option. Additionally, a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is more intelligent than its price would suggest. It's a pro at vacuuming, picking up 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using one pad and a reciprocating movement that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you mark on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or set up an automatic hoover spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. 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 also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. And you can create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit louder than the other top robot vacuums we've examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.