Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are a plus.
Examine your robot's brush regularly for tangled debris and hair. Clean them as needed. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 pro
The Q5 Pro and its sibling, the pricier Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've examined. They have top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the top model) they employ smart mapping to create detailed floorplans that avoid obstacles like furniture leg. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature that boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept in cleaning dog hair. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that 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 a camera that would let it see the corners of the room.
However, it's a good choice for those who want to save money on a iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. Additionally, it's quiet and can work while you're at work, or at school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be swapped for an awe-inspiring one in a matter of minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek auto vacuum and mop cleaner that also has the ability to sweep floors. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, but it falls behind some competitors in terms of deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and offer more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is similar to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach under furniture with low levels 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+.
In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could clean an entire home and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a good job cleaning a variety of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes 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 empty into the base. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature that we haven't seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that appears more like a normal Roomba rather than the boxy units This mop and robot vacuum is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also its smartest. It has advanced features such as Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum to score a perfect 10 in our testing due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including a camera, structured light system, and multiple 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.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a problem in the mornings before work or at night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive, though it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and more attractive. If you're willing some more volume and some additional cost this is a capable two-in-one that should satisfy most people.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a lot of advanced features that let you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that can take charge of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, and cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazards detection, though this wasn't 100% reliable in our tests and could be 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 comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house according to the degree of dirt they tend to be.
If you have a larger home, it is worth choosing a model that has spot or zone cleaning mode. This allows you to inform the robot of which area of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice control. A stairway mode is useful if you have a lot furniture. For busy families recharge functions and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off could be very useful.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most mop cleaners for robots that we've tried. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to create an automatic spot-clean. It can also be used to it to rank your most filthy areas for better performance. The app also provides access to a host of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It has a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. It also has the ability to set up a spot clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble adorable eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it is more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top Best robot vacuum cleaner UK vacuums that we've examined. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that can't be used as an emptying bin.
