The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and will leave your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detectors) are positives.
Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large particles, and wash them when needed. Some models also self-empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.
- Roomba Q5 pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart, the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we've examined. They have motors that are top of the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other premium iRobots (including the top model), they use smart mapping to produce precise floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with the feature of Carpet Boost that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our tests on floors that are bare and are particularly effective at cleaning pet hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. For one, the Q5's navigation doesn't have AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of a room.
Still, it's very good, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and operates while you're at work or in school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming feature that's offered by 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 adhere very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have self-emptying docks, however. And, if you need to, you can switch the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few minutes.
- IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it easy to clean and effective at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also has strong suction and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This high-performing mop and vacuum combo uses advanced sensor technology to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it will learn the layout of your home over time to provide more efficient cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average compared to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mop. This can help avoid cross contamination. Its flex arm can also be utilized to reach under low-lying furnishings 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 tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete an entire home, and it did so with only 66 percent of its battery left. It did a decent cleaning job on different flooring and rooms with different flooring types including certain area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line, and it nimbly avoided fake dog socks, turds, shoes and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically empties into its base, and it supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums it, something we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combos.
- Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba unit than the boxy models of the rivals. It is one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest model from iRobot is its most advanced model, with features that are cutting-edge like Enhanced Dirt Detection Technology as well as future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can autonomously wash mop pads).
It's also the sole robot vacuum or mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to the combination of high-tech sensors, including a structured 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 boasts an its own self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40 as with other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has a simple mobile app interface that integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This could be a problem in the mornings before work, or at night when you are trying to sleep.
It's also a bit expensive, but it's not as expensive as the Ecovacs Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are equally capable and better-looking. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable however, it's more expensive and make more noise.
- iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of advanced features that help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device, similar to Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum, refills the water tank, as well as washes and drys mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to draw out the floor plan and detect obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its top competitors. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite 100% foolproof during our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner has the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also comes with "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home depending on the degree of dirt they are.
If you have a bigger home, it's worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This lets you inform the robot of which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice control. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. Finally the recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd expect from its price tag. It is a great job cleaning, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with one pad, which uses an oscillating motion that does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've tested. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot app is designed to help you navigate a mapping run that collects data on your floorplan and any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to set up a spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize your dirtiest areas to improve performance. The app also grants 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 more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for hair of pets. And you can set up a spot clean that intensely cleans a localized area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its style, much like Dolce &