The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot vacuum can vacuum and mop your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves the floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are both positives.

Be sure to examine the brushes of your robot for hair tangled as well as large debris and clean them as needed. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in 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 feature 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 smart mapping to create detailed floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also have a feature called Carpet Boost which boosts its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept in cleaning hair from dogs. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top pick. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology and is therefore prone to get caught up in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tightly packed rooms very well in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera that can see around corners.

However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used while you're at work or at school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective when it comes to 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. And, if you need to, you can switch the mopping pad to a dry one in just a few seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient in dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features a powerful suction and an automatic vacuum and mop bin for emptying. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, but it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.

This top-performing mop and vacuum combination utilizes advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it also learns the layout of your home over time for more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and set up zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average when compared to similar models.

You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a carpeted room which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also ideal to get under furniture with low levels 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 tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop in the market to clean an entire home, and it did so with 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a good job cleaning a range of rooms and floors with various flooring types, such as certain area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however it offers superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically fills up its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature that we haven't seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

This mop and vacuum combination has a sleek, circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba model than the boxy models from the rivals. It is one of our most appealing looking robot vacuums. The latest model from iRobot happens to be its smartest, with advanced features including 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/mop to score a perfect 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum reviews we tested that could refill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.

The X40, like other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It has an easy mobile application interface, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that the X40 is still a loud 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 however, not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally powerful and more attractive. If you're willing to put up some more volume and a little more cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will please almost everyone.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a variety of sophisticated features to help you forget about your chores. Like Ecovacs' range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes the care of mopping and vacuuming, with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's trash bin, refills its water tank, washes and dries its mop pads.

The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time hazards detection but this wasn't foolproof in our tests and was sometimes confused with power cords or obstructions.

The automatic vacuum and mop cleaner comes with a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also features "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home in accordance with the degree of dirt they tend to be.

For larger houses it's recommended to choose models with zone or spot cleaning modes that let you 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 stair-mode is also a good option. Finally the recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is more advanced than its price suggests. It vacuums well and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with a single pad that uses a reciprocating motion that cleans better than most of the other mop cleaners for best robot vacuum robots we've tried. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self-emptying base that is washable.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, plan the perfect spot for cleaning or sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app also provides access to many options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It is equipped with an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction, as well as sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble cute eyes. It is great at vacuuming, however it is more likely to get caught in low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums that we've tested. It also comes with an app that's not as intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.