The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot hoover will mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and will leave your floors spotless. Its surprisingly affordable price and features that are high-end (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in an additional bin at the base. This reduces the amount fine dust 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 have test. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model) they utilize intelligent mapping to design precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like furniture legs. The robots also come with Carpet Boost, a feature that boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our bare floor tests and are particularly effective in removing pet hair. They do have some flaws, however, that prevent them from being our first choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it's prone to getting hung up on shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tight spaces very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera that can see around corners.
However, it's a good choice, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also extremely quiet and works while you're at work or in school. The only thing it doesn't have that you can't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective in mopping. It is dependent 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 want to change the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that can mop floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as nimble navigation make it easy to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also features strong suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performing combination vacuum and mop utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it will learn the layout of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and customize zones using the app that is well-designed. Its battery life is average compared to similar models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to remove and extend its mop. This helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach beneath low-lying furnishings 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 tests, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to sweep the entire house with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. robot vacuum cleaners best did a decent cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top-notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature we haven't seen on other robot vacuum/mop combination.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
This robot vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular design that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the boxy models of the rivals. It's one of our most attractive robot vacuums. iRobot's latest flagship model also is among the most intelligent and has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's also the sole robot vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to the combination of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mops.
As with other iRobot models, the X40 is easy to use, offering an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only downside is that the X40 still a loud unit. This can be a problem in the mornings before work or at night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. If you're willing to live some more volume and some additional cost it's a powerful two-in-one that will please almost everyone.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of advanced features that make you forget about 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 features a multi-functional dock that can automatically emptys the vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, as well as washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to map out floor plans and identify obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its top rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.
Its vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to accomplish the task. It also comes with a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house based on how dirty the areas are.
For larger houses it's worth looking for a model with spot or zone cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean one particular area of your home by using the app or voice commands. If you have lots of furniture, a stair-mode is also useful. Additionally a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you would expect from its price tag. It is a great job vacuuming, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using one pad that has a reciprocating motion, which cleans better than most of the other mop cleaners for robots we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through an initial mapping exercise that collects information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to organize a spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app also provides access to a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for hair of pets. You can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean an 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 is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to be caught on low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums that we have test. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and a small base station that can't double as a bin to empty.