"The Robot Hoover Awards: The Most, Worst, And The Most Bizarre Things We've Seen
The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot hoover will vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as a dirt detector) are a plus.
Examine your robot's brush regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models also self-empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 Pro
The Q5 Pro and its sibling, the more expensive Q7 Max Series, are among the most powerful robot vacuums we've examined. They are equipped with motors that are top of the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other premium iRobots (including the most powerful model) they utilize intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also have Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 and the Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our tests on floors that are bare They're also particularly adept in removing pet hair. However, they do have a few flaws however, which prevent them from being our first option. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system does not 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.
It's still a great deal for those whose home or office has lots of unfinished floors and you're looking to save some money. Plus, it's very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or school. The only thing it lacks that you can't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes that don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle however. If you're required to clean the mopping pad, it can be replaced with a wet one in minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as quick navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with self-emptying dustbins with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.
This top-performing combination vacuum and mop makes use of advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste, and it learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can change the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones using the app that is well-designed. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted space, you can tell it to take off and extend its mop. This Web page helps prevent cross contamination. The flex arm is perfect for getting under furniture that is low 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 testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean an entire home, and it did so with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did an excellent job cleaning a variety of floors and rooms with various flooring types, such as certain area rug. This Web page was top-notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, and bundles of cables.
It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has 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 can even clean the floor after vacuuming this feature, which hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
The robot vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba model than the bulky models of the competition. It's one of our most attractive robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It comes with advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads on its own).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop to score an exemplary 10/10 in our evaluations thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, which include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple 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 a suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mops.
Like other iRobot models like the X40 is easy to use, offering an intuitive mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. The only drawback is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This can be a problem in mornings before work or during the night when you're trying to fall asleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, although it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are similarly capable and better-looking. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's extremely powerful, but it's going to cost you more and make more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba 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. Like Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes care of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically emptys the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank and cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to draw out floor plans and identify obstacles, making it more efficient than its more expensive rivals. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite 100% foolproof during our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum has a maximum suction 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 different areas in the house based on how dirty the areas are.
If you have a bigger home, it is worth selecting a robot that comes with zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice control. If you have a lot of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. Finally, a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might think from its price. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad that uses a reciprocating motion that does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've tested. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or create a spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. 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 other robot vacuums, which means it is able to reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It also has strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also create a spot-cleaner that thoroughly cleans a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, but it's more likely to be caught in low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuums we've test. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that isn't able to double as an emptying bin.