The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will vacuum and mop your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are great features.
Be sure to regularly check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large debris and wash them if needed. Some models can also automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. automated vacuum and its sibling, the pricier Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've test. They are equipped with motors that are top-of-the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other top iRobot models (including the top-rated model) they utilize smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept at cleaning hair from dogs. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the weaknesses of the Q5 is its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's thus susceptible to get stuck on shoes and socks and could not navigate densely packed rooms very efficiently during our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.
However, it's a good choice, especially if you want to save money on an Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also extremely quiet and can be used while you are at work or in school. The only thing it's missing that you can't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're in need of it mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for one that is wet in just a few minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles like pet hair. It also has self-emptying dustbins, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. 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 high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensor technology that can avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and ensure cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is similar to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to remove and extend its mops. This helps prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm is also great for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.
During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the entire house with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did an excellent job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms that had different flooring types, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds and cables.
It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that is automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming, a feature that we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
This mop and vacuum combination has a sleek, circular look that looks much like a Roomba unit than the boxy models of the rivals. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It comes with advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).
It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that has 100% in our testing, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors, which include a camera, structured light system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.
The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It has an easy mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This can be a problem in mornings before work, or at night when you are trying to fall asleep.
It's also a bit costly, but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's extremely powerful however, it's more expensive and create more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It comes with a variety of features that are advanced and will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device, similar to Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically emptys the vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, and washes and drys mop pads.
The smart robot employs a combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its top rivals. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum has a suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also has an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for various areas of the home based on how dirty the areas are.
If you have a bigger home, you should consider selecting a robot that comes with zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice control. A stair mode can be useful if you own a number of furniture. Also the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It's a pro at vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion, which cleans better than most of the other mop cleaners for robots we've tried. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot application is designed to guide you through an exercise in mapping which collects information about your floorplan, as well as any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules or set up an automatic spot-clean. You can also use it to rank your most filthy areas to improve performance. The app has a range of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom 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 intelligent combs to remove pet hair. It also has the ability to set up a spot clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute little eyes. It is excellent at vacuuming, but it's more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have test. It also comes with an app that is less intuitive, and a smaller base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.
