Pay Attention: Watch Out For How Robot Hoover Is Taking Over And How To Stop It
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum can clean and vacuum your floors with no effort. It will also leave the floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detectors) are a plus.
Be sure to regularly check your robot's brushes for tangled hair as well as large debris and wash them if required. Some models can also self-empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the bottom. This can reduce the amount of fine dust that is 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 examined. They feature motors that are top of the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. And, like other top iRobot models (including the top-rated model) they employ smart mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our floor tests that test for bare floors, and they're particularly adept in removing pet hair. There are some issues, however, that prevent them from being our first choice. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is that its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's therefore prone to become stuck on shoes and socks, and it couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't have an image sensor that lets it see the corners of the room.
It's still a great deal particularly if your home or office has a lot of bare floors and you're looking to save some money. It's also quiet and can be used while you are at work or at school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you have to, you can switch the mopping pad for dry ones in a matter of minutes.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles, like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This top-performing mop and vacuum combination makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to remove and extend its mops. This will help prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach beneath furniture with low levels 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, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could sweep the entire house and had 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with various flooring types, such as 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 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 even cleans the floor after it vacuums it, something hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This mop and vacuum combination features a sleek, circular design that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the boxy units of the competition. It is one of our most attractive 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 only robot vacuum/mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our evaluations. This is due to the combination of modern sensors, including a restructured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and boasts an the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
Like robot vacuum cleaners reviews like the X40 is easy to use, offering an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only issue is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This could be a problem in mornings before work, or in the evening when you are trying to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, but it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally capable and more attractive. If you're willing with a little more noise and a little more cost it's a capable two-in-one that should please almost everyone.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a variety of sophisticated features to help you get rid of your chores. Like Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that takes care of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empties the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, 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, and navigates more effectively than its more expensive rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection however this was not completely foolproof in our tests, and was sometimes confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum has a high maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also has an option known as "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 these areas tend to be.
For bigger homes it's recommended to choose one that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean one specific area of your home by using the app or voice controls. If you have lots of furniture, a stair mode is also useful. Finally the recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It is a good vacuum cleaner and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using one pad and a reciprocating motion that is more efficient than most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tried. 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 have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, plan the perfect spot for cleaning or prioritize your most filthy rooms to ensure better performance. The app comes with a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. It also has the ability to set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit louder than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that's not as intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.