The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line functions (such as dirt detector) are both positives.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris and hair. Wash them if needed. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust that is released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 proThe Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums that we have examined. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other iRobots with premium features (including the most powerful model) they utilize smart mapping to create detailed floor plans and eliminate household obstacles like furniture leg. They also have a feature called carpet boost that increases the robot's power when it sees a lot of dirt on the carpet in order to get it clean quickly.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored extremely well in our tests of floors with no carpet and are especially adept in cleaning dog hair. They do have some flaws however, which prevent them from being our first option. For instance, the Q5's navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance, so it's prone to get caught up in shoes and socks, and is unable to navigate tight spaces 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 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 at school. It's not equipped with the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming feature robots that vacuum and mop's offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. 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 comes with a self-emptying cradle, however. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be changed for an awe-inspiring one in a matter of seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive vacuuming and mopping capabilities into a sleek, compact package. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient 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 robot hoover for carpets, but it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mops utilizes sensors that help it keep away from obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time to offer more efficient cleaning. You can modify its cleaning schedule and customize zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to other models.
You can instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when it's in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm can also be used to reach under low-lying furnishings 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+.
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 also did a great job cleaning a variety of rooms and floors with various flooring types, such as some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds and cables.
It's a little more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, a built-in dust bin that automatically emptys into its base, and also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant, circular design that looks like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units, this mop and robot vacuum is one of the most appealing looking in our tests. The newest model from iRobot is its most advanced, with advanced features including enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that can wash its own mop pads).
It's the only robot vacuum cleaners uk vacuum/mop that has 100% in our tests thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors, including cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that can fully autonomously refill and empty its base station, and it boasts the industry's highest suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mop pads.
Like other iRobot models, the X40 is user-friendly, offering an easy mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only real drawback is that it's an eerily noisy device, which can be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work or in the evening as you try to sleep.
It's also quite expensive but not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally powerful and more attractive. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's extremely powerful, but it's going to cost you more and make more noise.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features that will let you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that can take the care of 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 makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floorplans and identify obstacles. It can navigate more efficiently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection, although this wasn't quite 100% foolproof during our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.
Its vacuum cleaner has the capacity to suction up to 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to do the job. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vac works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house in accordance with the degree of dirt they tend to be.
If you have a bigger home, it is worth selecting a model with a the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to tell the robot which area of your home needs to be cleaned with the help of an app or voice command. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. For busy families recharge functions and resume feature that permits your robot cleaner with mop vacuum to resume where it left off can be extremely useful.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It has a great vacuuming performance and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a reciprocating movement that is more efficient than most of the robot mop cleaners that we've examined. It's self-sufficient too, with a fully-featured app as well as a self-emptying, washable base.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate a mapping run, which gathers information on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, arrange the perfect spot for cleaning or sort out your rooms with the most dirt for better performance. The app has a range of features, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It has an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction, as well as sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and more affordable alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming but is more prone to getting caught on low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.