Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition
The best robot hoover - more helpful hints -
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and features that are high-end (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 wash them if required. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger one at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust 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 hoovers vacuums that we have tested. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the top model), they use intelligent mapping to design precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also feature carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it sees a lot of dirt on the carpet, allowing it cleaned quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept in removing hair from dogs. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is its navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's thus susceptible to become stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate through rooms with a lot of people well during our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.
It's still a good deal, especially if your home or office has a lot of bare floors and you want to save money. It's also very quiet and can be used while you're at work or at school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't stick well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 is self-emptying cradle however. If you want to change the mopping pad to dry ones in a matter of just a few seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient in taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also features an impressive suction system and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, but it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time to ensure cleaner and more efficient cleaning. You can alter the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones through the well-designed app. It comes with a battery life that is similar to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a carpeted room which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath furniture that is low and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ 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 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a good job cleaning a range of floors and rooms with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming, a feature that we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This mop and vacuum combination has a sleek, circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the bulky models of the rivals. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It has advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that scored a perfect 10 in our evaluations, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, which include cameras, a structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum best we tested that could fill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.
Like other iRobot models as well, the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only issue is that it's still quite an eerily noisy device, which can be a problem if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.
It's also a bit expensive, although it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are similarly capable and better-looking. If you're willing with a bit more noise and some additional cost this is a efficient two-in-one device that should delight most.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a lot of advanced features to help you get rid of your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine like Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum and fills up the water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and detect obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however, it wasn't 100% foolproof during our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner comes with a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates how hard the vac works and alters the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house depending on how dirty they tend to be.
For larger houses, it's worth opting for one with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean one specific area of your home using the app or via voice commands. A stairway mode is useful if you have a number of furniture. For busy families, a recharge feature and resume feature that permits your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off could be extremely useful.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It has a great vacuuming performance and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with only one pad and a rotating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've examined. And it's highly self-sufficient with a full-featured app and an auto vacuum and mop-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot application is designed to guide you through an exercise in mapping which collects information about your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or create the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app also provides access to a host of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It can also reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for pet hair. You can also set up a spot clean that intensely cleans a localized area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it's more likely to get stuck on low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuums we have tested. It also has an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.