Susannah French

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can clean and mop without requiring your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as a dirt detector) are positives.

Be sure to regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris, and wash them when required. 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 more expensive counterpart the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have tested. They feature motors that are top of the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other top iRobot models (including the top choice) they utilize intelligent mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. They also feature a feature called carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it sees a lot of dirt on the carpet to get it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on floors that were bare, and they are particularly adept in cleaning dog hair. There are some issues, however, that prevent them from being our top option. One of the flaws of the Q5 is its navigation system doesn't have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's therefore prone to become stuck on socks and shoes, and it couldn't navigate rooms with lots of people well during our tests. It also doesn't come with an image sensor that lets it see the corners of an area.

It's still a great option to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a bare-floored home or office. Plus, it's very quiet and can work when you're at work or school. The only thing it's missing 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 in mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't stay on very well and can't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle however. And, if you need to change the mopping pad to dry ones in a matter of minutes.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into a compact, sleek package. Its intelligent cleaning maps and fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and efficient in tackling larger particles such as pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot hoover for carpets, although it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.

This top-performing mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it learns your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. The app lets you customize zones and change the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average in comparison to other models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to take off and extend its mop. This helps prevent cross contamination. The flex arm can be utilized to reach under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't offer the same washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete an entire house, finishing with only 66 percent of its battery left. It also did a great job cleaning a range of floors and rooms that had mixed flooring types, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was great and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles cables.

It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature we haven't seen in other robotic automatic vacuum and mop/mop combos.

3. IRobot Roomba X40

The robot vacuum and mop combination features a sleek, circular design that looks much like a Roomba model than the boxy units of the competition. It's among our most attractive looking robot vacuums. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It has advanced features like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).

It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that has a perfect 10 in our evaluations due to a mix of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and it boasts industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 as with other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has an easy mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that it's loud, which can be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to sleep.

It's also somewhat expensive, although it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs Omni or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are similarly capable and look better. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's very capable, but it will cost you more and create more noise.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop with a lot of advanced features to help you forget about 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 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 uses LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floor plans and spot obstacles. It is more efficient in its navigation than its competitors with premium features. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite foolproof in our testing and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also has an option called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas in the home based on how dirty the areas are.

For larger houses, it's worth opting for models with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean one specific area of your home by using the app or voice commands. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. Also a recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum cleaner vacuum continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you'd expect from its price tag. It is a good vacuum cleaner and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with a single pad that uses an oscillating motion that is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've tried. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self emptying base that is washable.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to create cleaning schedules, or to set up an automatic vacuum and mop robot spot-clean. It can also be used to it to prioritize the most soiled areas to improve performance. The app also grants access to a host of features, such as 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 underneath furniture more easily. It features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also organize a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean a specific area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It is more appealing in its design, similar to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed to resemble adorable eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also louder than other top robot vacuum that mops vacuums that we have examined. It also has an app that's less intuitive, and a smaller base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.