Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention. It will leave your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detectors) are both positives.

Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large particles and wash them if needed. Some models also self-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 cleaner and mop vacuums that we have examined. They are equipped with motors that are top of the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other top iRobot models (including the top pick) they utilize smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans and avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also come with a feature called carpet boost that boosts the robot's performance when it detects the presence of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned quickly.

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 do have a few flaws however, which hinder them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology and is therefore prone to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera to see around corners.

It's still a great option, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and can work while you're at work or going to school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective in mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with a self-emptying dock, though. If you're in need of it mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for one that is wet in just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into an elegant, compact package. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient in taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensor technology that can avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time to ensure better cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It comes with a battery life that is similar to other models.

When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to pull back and extend its mop. This helps prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach under furniture that is low and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could clean an entire home with just 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 rugs. Its obstacle detection was superb and it stayed clear of fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles cables.

It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically fills up its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant circular design that looks like a regular Roomba rather than the compact models This robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most appealing looking in our tests. iRobot's latest flagship model also is its most advanced, 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 the only robot vacuum/mop to score an exemplary 10/10 in our testing due to a mix of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum cleaner we tested that could refill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.

The X40 as with other iRobot products, is simple to use. It comes with an intuitive mobile application interface, and it integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 still a loud unit. This could be a problem in mornings prior to work or during the night when you're trying to fall asleep.

It's also somewhat expensive, though it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and better-looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's extremely powerful, but it will cost you more and make more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot mop and vacuum. It has a range of features that are advanced and will make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner, similar to Ecovacs' top-of-the-range X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It has a multifunction dock which automatically empty the vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, and cleans and drys the mop pads.

The smart robot employs a combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out floor plans and spot obstacles, making it more efficient than its more expensive competitors. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time detection of hazards but this was not reliable in our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum mop cleaner robot has a high maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to get the job done. It also has an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house based on how dirty the areas tend to be.

For larger houses, it's worth opting for models that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a specific area of your home by using the app or via voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. For busy families, a recharge function and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to resume where it left off can be very useful.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you would expect from its price tag. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad that has an oscillating motion that cleans better than most of the other robot mop cleaners we've tried. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying base that is washable.

The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to set up an automatic spot-clean. You can also use it to rank your most filthy areas to improve performance. The app also provides access to a host of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it can reach corners and underneath furniture better. It features an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction and sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute little eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to get stuck on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums that we have examined. It also comes with an app that's not as intuitive and has a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.