The Best Robot Hoover
The most effective robot vacuum will clean and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves the floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.
Be sure to inspect your robot's brushes for hair that is tangled and large debris and clean them as required. Some models also self-empty their onboard dustbin into a larger bin at the base, which reduces 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 class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the top model) they utilize smart mapping to create detailed floorplans and avoid household obstacles like furniture legs. The robots also feature a feature called Carpet Boost that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests on bare floors and are especially adept in cleaning hair from dogs. There are some issues however, which hinder them from being our first choice. For instance, the Q5's navigation doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology which means it's susceptible to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of a room.
However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also very quiet and operates when you're at work or in school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't stay on for long and don't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with an auto-emptying dock, however. And, if you have to, you can swap the mopping pad for dry ones in a matter of just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that can sweep floors. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and effective at taking on larger particles, such as pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, but it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This top-performing combination vacuum and mop utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste, and it also learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It comes with a battery life that is comparable to other models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to pull back and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach under furniture with low levels 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+.
In tests, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the entire house with the battery at 66 percent left. It did a decent cleaning job on a variety of floors and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including certain area carpets. Its obstacle detection was superb and it was able to avoid fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles cables.
It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can clean the floor even after it has vacuumed. This is a feature that we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With a sleek circular design that appears like a regular Roomba than the competition's boxy units This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most appealing looking in our evaluations. The newest model from iRobot is among the most intelligent model, with features that are cutting-edge like enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can autonomously wash mop pads).
It's also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured light system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation in a self-contained manner. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mop mops.
The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It comes with a simple mobile application interface and integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that it's loud which could be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work or at night as you try to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, although it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and more attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that is very efficient, but it's more expensive and create more noise.
4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of advanced features that help you forget 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 can take care of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot makes use of a combination of LIDAR and structured light to draw out floor plans and spot obstacles, navigating more intelligently than some of its premium rivals. It also has a front mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time but this wasn't foolproof in our tests and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.
best budget robot vacuum cleaner comes with the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to accomplish the task. It also comes with an option known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas in the house depending on how dirty those areas are.
If you have a bigger home, it's worth selecting a model with a zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you inform the robot of which area of your home needs to be cleaned by using the app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stair mode is also a good option. Additionally the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum continue where it left off is great for busy families.
iRobot RX3
The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It's a pro at vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion, which does a better job cleaning than the other robot mop cleaners we've examined. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and a self emptying base that can be washed.
The iRobot app is designed to guide you through a mapping run that collects data on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to create the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for better performance. The app has a range of features, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.
It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also set up a spot-clean which will thoroughly clean an area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to be caught by low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robotic vacuums we've examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that doesn't double as a bin for emptying.