The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will clean and vacuum your floors without your involvement. It also leaves clean. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are positives.
Check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models will also empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin at the base. This can reduce 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 tested. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other premium iRobot models (including the top pick), they use intelligent mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. They also have carpet boost, a feature which boosts the robot's power when it detects the presence of dirt on the carpet, allowing it cleaned quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept at cleaning hair from dogs. They do have some flaws however, which prevent them from being our top option. One of the Q5's shortcomings is its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's also prone to get stuck on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera that can see around corners.
It's still a great option to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a bare-floored home or office. It's also quiet and works while you're at work or school. The only thing it doesn't have that you won't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 does have an auto-emptying dock, however. And, if you have to change the mopping pad for a dry one in seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact elegant vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to sweep floors. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying bin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors that help it keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to offer more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average compared to similar models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and to extend them when in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm can be utilized to reach under low-lying furnishings and along baseboards. It's not as effective on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During tests, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete an entire home, and it did so with 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles of cables.
It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and it supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming, a feature that we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combinations.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
With an elegant, circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba than the competition's boxes, this mop and robot vacuum is among the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. iRobot's latest flagship model also is among the most intelligent 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 wash its own mop pads).
It's also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and boasts an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It comes with an easy mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This could be a problem in mornings prior to work or in the evening when you are trying to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, but it's not as pricey as Ecovacs X2 Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are equally capable and look better. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable however it's more expensive and produce more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with many advanced features to help you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-free cleaning machine that takes the care of mopping and vacuuming, with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time, though this wasn't foolproof in our tests and could be 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 an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the house based on how dirty the areas tend to be.
If you have a larger home, it's worth choosing a model that has the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned using the app or voice command. A stairway mode is useful if you own a number of furniture. Finally, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you would imagine from its price. It does a stellar job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a rotating motion that is more efficient than most mop cleaners for robots that we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to organize the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to rank your most filthy areas for greater efficiency. The app also gives access to a variety of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It can also reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also set up a spot-clean that thoroughly cleans the area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. best robot vacuum cleaner is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is louder than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also comes with an app that is less intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.