Why We Enjoy Robot Hoover And You Should Too
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and will leave your floors clean. Its low cost and top-of-the-line functions (such as a dirt detectors) are a plus.
Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large particles and wash them if needed. Some models will also empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin located at the base. This helps reduce the amount of fine dust that gets 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 have 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 utilize smart mapping to produce precise floorplans that avoid obstacles like furniture leg. They also have a feature called carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it detects the presence of dirt on the carpet in order to get it cleaned quickly.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our bare floor tests and are particularly effective in cleaning pet hair. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is that its navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's also prone to become stuck on shoes and socks, and it couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people efficiently during our tests. It also doesn't have an image sensor that lets it see the corners of a room.
It's still a good deal for those whose office or home has a lot of bare flooring and you're looking to save some money. It's also extremely quiet and operates while you're at work or in school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere very well and cannot handle 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 a wet one in just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and nimble navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles like pet hair. It also features a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, though it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This highly efficient mop and vacuum combo makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it also learns the layout of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can modify the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to similar models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to take off and extend its mops. This will help prevent cross contamination. The flex arm is ideal for getting under furniture that is low 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 testing during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the entire house with the battery at 66 percent left. It also did an excellent job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had different flooring types, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a little 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 via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is something we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek, circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxes, this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our tests. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also its smartest. It has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads autonomously).
It's also the only robot vacuum cleaners best vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can fully self-refill and empty its base station and it has an its own self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40 as with other iRobot products, is easy to use. It comes with an easy mobile application interface and integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 is still a noisy unit. This can be a concern in the mornings before work, or in the evening when you are trying to sleep.
It's also quite expensive however, not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally capable and better looking. If you're willing with a little more noise and a little more cost it's 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 variety of sophisticated features that let you forget about 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 care of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction 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 map out floorplans and identify obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its competitors with premium features. It also comes with a front-mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time however this was not completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with obstructions or power cords.
The vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also features "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates how hard the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home in accordance with the degree of dirt they tend to be.
If you own a larger home, it is worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to inform the robot cleaner with mop of which area of your home must be cleaned using the app or voice control. A stair mode can be useful if you own a lot furniture. For busy families, a recharge feature and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to pick up where it left off can be very useful.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more intelligent than the price suggests. It does a stellar job cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using only one pad and a reciprocating motion which is cleaner than the majority mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying washable base.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate an exercise in mapping, which gathers information on your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. You can use it to make cleaning schedules, plan an area for cleaning or to prioritize your most filthy rooms for better performance. The app also gives access to many features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It can also reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also organize a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute little eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it is more likely to be caught in low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot mop vacuums we've examined. It also has an app that's not as intuitive and has a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.