Robot Hoover Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its price is surprisingly low and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Be sure to regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled and large particles, and wash them when needed. Some models will automatically empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust 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 line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other premium iRobot models (including the top pick) they utilize intelligent mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature Carpet Boost, a feature which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our floor tests that test for bare floors and are particularly effective at cleaning pet hair. They do have some flaws, however, that prevent them from being our top option. One of them is that the Q5's navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology and is therefore prone to become entangled in shoes and socks and can't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera to look around corners.
It's still a good deal particularly if your home or office has lots of unfinished floors and you want to save money. It's also very quiet and operates while you are at work or in school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't stay on very well and can't handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does have self-emptying docks, however. If you need to mop, the mopping pad can be replaced with one that is wet in just a few just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. 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 has a powerful suction and self-emptying bin. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, but it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This high-performing mop and vacuum combo uses advanced sensor technology to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a carpeted room which prevents cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal for getting under furniture that is low and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had various flooring types, such as some area rug. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it was able to avoid fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.
It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it vacuums. This is a feature that we haven't seen before on other robotic vacuum/mop combinations.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
This robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that looks much like a Roomba model than the boxy models of the rivals. It's one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads on its own).
It's also the only robot vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of modern sensors, including a restructured light system, camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can completely self-refill and empty its base station and boasts an its own self-cleaning mop pads.
As with other iRobot models, the X40 is easy to use, offering a simple 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 could be a problem in mornings prior to work or in the evening when you're trying to fall asleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, although 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 dual-purpose vacuum that's extremely powerful however, it's going to cost you more and make more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot mop and vacuum. It has a range of advanced features that will help you forget your chores. Like Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that takes care of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank and washes and dries its mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and identify obstacles, making it more efficient than its more expensive rivals. It also has a camera mounted on the front to detect hazards in real-time but this was not reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner has an maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also comes with an attribute called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the house depending on how dirty those areas tend to be.
For bigger homes, it's worth opting for one with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a specific area of your home by using the app or via voice commands. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. Also a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price would suggest. 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 mops using a single pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most of the mop cleaners with robots that we've examined. It's also self-sufficient with a full-featured app and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate an exercise in mapping that collects data on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or to set up the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app also provides access to many features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. It also has the ability to set up a spot clean that thoroughly cleans a particular area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look 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 we have tested. It also has an app that's not as intuitive and has a tiny base station that does not double as a bin for emptying.