Blog entry by Caryn Mennell
The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot mop vacuum - Suggested Reading, can clean and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves the floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detectors) are positives.
Be sure to regularly check your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large debris and clean them as required. Some models also self-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 more expensive sibling the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have test. They are equipped with motors that are top of the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model) they utilize smart mapping to create detailed floorplans that avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture leg. They also have carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it spots a lot of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.
Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very high scores on our floor tests that test for bare floors They're also particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's therefore prone to get stuck on shoes and socks and could not navigate densely packed rooms very well during our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.
It's still a great deal particularly if your office or home has a lot of bare flooring and you're looking to save some money. Plus, it's very quiet and can work while you're at work, or at school. The only thing it lacks that you don't get in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. And it's less effective at mopping, as it relies on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're required to, the mopping pad can be swapped for one that is wet in just a few minutes.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its smart cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets but it's not as good as other hoovers when it comes to deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and offer better cleaning. The app allows you to modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a carpeted area which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also perfect 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, X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on different floors and rooms with different flooring types including certain area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it swiftly eluded fake dog turds, socks, shoes and cables.
It's a bit 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 via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming, a feature that hasn't been seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
The robot vacuum and mop combination has a sleek, circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba unit than the boxy models from the competitors. It's one of our most attractive robot vacuums. The newest model from iRobot happens to be its smartest and has advanced features 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 robot vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our testing. This is due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including a structured light system, camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot vacuum cleaners best we tested that could fill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.
The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is easy to use. It has a simple mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only downside is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This can be a concern in the mornings before work, or at night when you are trying to sleep.
It's also somewhat expensive, though it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are similarly capable and more attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's very capable however it will cost you more and produce more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum best vacuum and mop, with many advanced features that let you forget about your chores. Like Ecovacs the 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 vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, and cleans and dry its mop pads.
The smart robot uses the combination of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and identify obstacles, making it more efficient than its top competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't 100% reliable in our tests and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.
The vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to finish the job. It also has "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 are.
For larger homes it's recommended to choose models that has zone or spot cleaning modes that let you tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house using the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be beneficial if you have number of furniture. Finally the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you would imagine from its price. It does a stellar job vacuuming, removing 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using one pad and a reciprocating movement that cleans better that most mop cleaners for robots that we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app guides 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 create an automatic spot-clean. It can also be used to it to rank your most filthy areas for greater efficiency. The app also grants 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 can get to corners and under furniture more easily. It also has strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for hair of pets. You can also create a spot-clean that scours a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It does a good job vacuuming, but is more prone to getting caught on low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that can't be used as a bin for emptying.