The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot vacuum will vacuum and mop your floors with no effort. It also leaves clean. Its price is surprisingly low and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Be sure to regularly examine the brushes of your robot for hair that is tangled as well as large debris and 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 that is released into the air.
1. best automatic vacuum and its sibling, the more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've tested. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the most powerful model) they utilize smart mapping to produce precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like cords and furniture leg. They also come with carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it detects an abundance of dirt on the carpet to get it clean quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept in removing dog hair. They do have some flaws, however, that prevent them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. Also, it doesn't have an image sensor that lets it see the corners of an area.
It's still a good value for those whose office or home has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save money. It's also very quiet and can work when you're at work or going to school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at 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 want to, you can swap the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a sleek, compact package. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with self-emptying dustbins as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, but it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performing combination vacuum and mop makes use of advanced sensors to dodge obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is comparable to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to remove and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross-contamination. The flex arm can be utilized 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+.
During tests, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to clean an entire home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on various floors and rooms with different flooring types, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes and cables.
It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums it, something we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular look that looks more like a regular Roomba model than the bulky units of the competitors. It's among our most attractive robot vacuums. 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 can wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored an exemplary 10/10 in our testing thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, which include cameras, a structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mops.
As with other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, with a simple mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 still a loud unit. This could be a concern in the mornings prior to work or at night when you are trying to sleep.
It's also a bit costly, but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. If you're willing to live some more volume and some extra cost, this is a very capable two-in-one that should delight most.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. Like Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes care of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, and washes and dries its mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and spot obstacles, navigating more intelligently than some of its premium rivals. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time however this was not 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 has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vac works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house depending on the degree of dirt they are.
For bigger homes, it's worth opting for one that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home using the app or via voice commands. If you have lots of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Additionally the recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to continue where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more intelligent than its price would suggest. It has a great vacuuming performance and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad and a rotating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot application is designed to guide you through an exercise in mapping that collects data on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or to organize the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize your dirtiest areas to improve performance. The app offers a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
It can also reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that thoroughly cleans an area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive, and a smaller base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.