Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its surprisingly affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are great features.

Be sure to check your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and wash them if needed. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger bin at the base, which decreases 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 have test. They feature motors that are top of the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model) they employ smart mapping to create detailed floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots that vacuum and mop also come with a feature called Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our bare floor tests They're also particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they do have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to become entangled in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera that would let it see the corners of an area.

Still, it's very good to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or school. The only thing it's missing that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective in mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with an auto-emptying dock, however. If you're in need of it clean the mopping pad, it can be replaced with an awe-inspiring one in a matter of just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and efficient in dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features a powerful suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.

This high-performing combination vacuum and mop utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it will learn the layout of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can change its cleaning schedule and set up zones using the app that is well-designed. Its battery life is average when compared to similar 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. Its flex arm is ideal for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It's not as efficient on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the entire house with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a good job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms that had different flooring types, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was great and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically empties into its base, and it supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is something we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

The robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that appears much like a Roomba model than the bulky units of the rivals. It is one of our most attractive looking robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is its most advanced model, with features that are cutting-edge like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology as well as future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).

It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors that include a camera, structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot vacuum with mop we tested that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and boasts an its own self-cleaning mop pads.

As with other iRobot models, 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 is still a noisy unit. This can be a problem in the mornings before work or at night when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also quite expensive, though it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally powerful and more attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's extremely powerful, but it will cost you more and create more noise.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a variety of sophisticated features that let you get rid of 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 charge of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multi-function dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, and washes and dries its mop pads.

The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and spot obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its top rivals. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time detection of hazards, although this wasn't quite reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

The vacuum cleaner has the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to do the job. It also comes with a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the house depending on how dirty the areas tend to be.

If you have a bigger home, it is worth selecting a robot that comes with zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. A stair mode can be useful if you own a large furniture. For busy families, a recharge function and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off could be extremely useful.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It vacuums well and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad and a rotating motion that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or create an automatic spot-clean. It can also be used to it to rank your most filthy areas to improve performance. The app also gives access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It has an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction as well as intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it's more likely to get caught in low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuum reviews vacuums we have examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that isn't able to double as an emptying bin.