The Robot Hoover Awards: The Best, Worst, And The Most Unlikely Things We've Seen

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention. It leaves your floors spotless. Its price is affordable and its high-end features (such as dirt detectors) are positives.

Check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them when necessary. Some models will also empty the onboard dustbin and deposit it in an additional bin at the bottom. This can reduce the amount of fine dust that is 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've tested. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can produce up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other top iRobot models (including the top choice) they employ smart mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. They also have carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet, allowing it clean quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests on floors that were bare and are especially adept in removing dog hair. However, they have some flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the Q5's shortcomings is its navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's therefore prone to get stuck on socks and shoes and could not navigate rooms with lots of people well in our tests. It also doesn't have cameras that let it see the corners of the room.

However, it's a good robot vacuum choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a Roomba from iRobot, and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and can be used while you are at work or in school. The only thing it's missing that you don't get in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective in mopping, as it relies on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on for long and don't deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 comes with a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're in need of it clean the mopping pad, it can be replaced with an awe-inspiring one in a matter of just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact sleek and stylish vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to sweep floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps and quick navigation make it easy to clean and effective in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also features self-emptying dustbins as well as powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors when it comes to deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors that help it keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time and ensure better cleaning. The app lets you modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery life that is comparable to other models.

You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when it's in a carpeted room which prevents cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't perform as well on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

In the course of testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various kinds of flooring, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but it has superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming it, something hasn't been seen in other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

With an elegant circular design that appears like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units, this mop and robot autonomous vacuum is one of the most attractive designs in our evaluations. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It has advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads autonomously).

It's also the only robot vacuum/mop to score the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our tests. This is thanks to a combination high-tech sensors including a structured light system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop mops.

The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It comes with an easy mobile application interface, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This can be a problem in the mornings before work, or at night when you are trying to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive, although it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally powerful and look better. If you're willing to live with a little more noise and some extra cost, this is a very efficient two-in-one device that should satisfy most people.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a lot of advanced features that will let you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs the range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that can take charge of both vacuuming and mopping, with a multifunction dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot uses LIDAR and structured lighting to create floor plans and spot obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera to detect hazards in real-time, although this wasn't quite reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

The vacuum cleaner comes with the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to do the job. It also comes with an option called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum mop cleaner robot and adjusts cleaning frequency for different areas of the home based on how dirty the areas are.

If you own a larger home, you should consider choosing a model that has zones or spot cleaning modes. This allows you to tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned using the app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stair mode is also a good option. Also, a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum best vacuum to pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is a cleaner with more intelligence than you might expect from its price tag. It's a pro at vacuuming, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion that does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've examined. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying washable base.

The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate a mapping run that collects data on your floorplan, as well as any "no go" areas you've marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, plan a spot clean or to prioritize your most filthy rooms for better performance. The app also gives access to a host of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps, and advanced settings for your cleaning.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction as well as intelligent combs to remove pet hair. And you can create a spot-clean that scours a specific area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and less expensive alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less user-friendly app and a tiny base station that doesn't double as an emptying bin.