Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention. It will leave your floors spotless. Its low cost and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are pluses.

Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models will also empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin located at the base. This helps reduce the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive sibling the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we've tested. They have motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the most powerful model) they utilize smart mapping to produce precise floorplans that avoid obstacles like cords and furniture leg. The robots also feature Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept in removing dog hair. There are some issues however, which prevent them from being our first option. One of them is that the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to getting hung up on shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tight spaces very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera that would let it see the corners of a room.

It's still a good value for those whose office or home has lots of unfinished floors and you want to save money. Additionally, it's quiet and can be used when you're at work or at school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming feature that's offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective when it comes to mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with a self-emptying dock, though. If you want to, you can swap the mopping pad for dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and fluid navigation make it simple to clean and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with strong suction and an automatic vacuum cleaner and mop bin for emptying. 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 highly efficient mop and vacuum combo makes use of advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. The app lets you set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average compared to similar models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to take off and extend its mops. This will help prevent cross contamination. The flex arm can be used to reach under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It's not as effective 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 that could complete an entire house, finishing with the battery at 66 percent left. It did a good cleaning job on various rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was superb, and it avoided fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles of cables.

It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically empties into its base, and it supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming, a feature that we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

With an elegant, circular design that looks like a regular Roomba than the competition's boxy units this mop and robot vacuum is among the most appealing looking in our tests. The latest model from iRobot is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features, like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads on its own).

It's also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is due to a combination modern sensors, including a restructured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully self-refill and empty its base station, and it boasts the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.

Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is easy to use, offering an easy mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only real drawback is that it's still quite a noisy unit which could be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or in the evening as you try to fall asleep.

It's also somewhat expensive, but it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally capable and look better. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient, but it's more expensive and produce more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the Best robot vacuum uk robot mop and vacuum. It has a range of advanced features that make 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-off cleaning machine that can take the care of vacuuming and mopping, with a multi-function dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank, cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of a combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out floor plans and identify obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its more expensive rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and was sometimes 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 an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the house depending on how dirty the areas are.

If you have a bigger home, it is worth choosing a model that has zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you instruct the robot on which part of your house needs to be cleaned using the app or voice control. If you have a lot of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. 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 a cleaner with more intelligence than you would imagine from its price. It does a stellar job vacuuming, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with one pad that has a reciprocating motion, which is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've examined. It's self-sufficient too, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying washable base.

The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate a mapping run 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 design cleaning schedules or to set up the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for better performance. The app offers a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, which means it can reach corners and under furniture more easily. It also has a powerful suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for 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 less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that isn't able to double as an emptying bin.