The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and will leave your floors clean. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detectors) are positives.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large debris and wash them if needed. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin located at the base. This can reduce the amount of 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 examined. They have top-of-the-line motors that can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other top iRobot models (including the top pick) they utilize smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature Carpet Boost, a feature that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept at cleaning hair from dogs. However, they do have a few flaws, however, that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the flaws of the Q5 is its navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to become stuck on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. Also, it doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of the room.
Still, it's very good for those who want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a bare-floored home or office. It's also quiet and works when you're at work or at school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have a self-emptying dock, though. If you're required to mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for a wet one in minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean and effective in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying dustbin as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets, but it's not as good as other hoovers in terms of deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors that help it stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time to offer cleaner and more efficient cleaning. You can change 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.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to take off and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect for getting under furniture that is low and along baseboards. However, it doesn't have the same level of 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 sweep the entire house with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on a variety of flooring and rooms with different flooring types, including some area rug. Its obstacle detection was great and it was able to avoid fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming it, something hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
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 bulky units of the competitors. It's 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 and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot vacuum cleaner that can wash its own mop pads).
It's the only robotic vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 in our tests due to a mix 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 refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to use. It comes with an easy mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that it's loud that could be problematic if you run it in the morning before work, or at night when you attempt 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 similarly capable and better-looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient however, it's going to cost you more and create more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features to help you get rid of your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner that is similar to Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It features a multi-functional dock that can automatically emptys the best automatic vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, and cleans and drys mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to create the floor plan and detect obstacles, making it more efficient than its top rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection, though this wasn't foolproof in our tests and was sometimes confused with power cords or obstructions.
Its vacuum has a high maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to get the job done. It also comes with an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the home based on how dirty these areas tend to be.
For larger homes it's recommended to choose models with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house by using the app or voice commands. If you have a lot of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. For families that are busy, a recharge feature and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to resume where it left off can be extremely useful.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you'd think from its price. It is a good vacuum cleaner and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've tested. It's self-sufficient too, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to organize the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize your dirtiest areas to improve performance. The app comes with a variety of features, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, which means it can get to corners and under furniture more easily. It also has a powerful suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean the 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 shaped like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it is more likely to get caught in low thresholds. It also has a higher noise than other top robot vacuums we've examined. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.
