Forget Robot Hoover: 10 Reasons That You No Longer Need It

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention. It will leave your floors clean. Its surprisingly affordable price and high-end features (such as dirt detection) are great features.

Be sure to check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large debris, and wash them when needed. Some models will also empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin at the bottom. This helps reduce 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 tested. They are equipped with top-of-the-line motors which can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. As with other top iRobot models (including the top-rated model), they use intelligent mapping technology to create detailed floor plans and avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with the feature of Carpet Boost that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our tests on floors that are bare and are particularly effective at cleaning pet hair. However, they do have several flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. For one, the Q5's navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology, so it's prone to get caught up in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.

It's still a great option to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on an iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or at school. The only thing it doesn't have that you don't get in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. And it's less effective at mopping, relying on disposable wet wipes that don't hold on for long and don't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does have a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you need to, you can swap the mopping pad to dry ones in just a few just a few seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming capabilities into an elegant, compact package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and efficient at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying dustbin with 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 high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and ensure cleaner and more efficient cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. Its battery life is average when compared to other models.

You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when in a carpeted area, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also ideal for getting under furniture that is low and along baseboards. It's not as effective on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could sweep the entire house, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good robot vacuum cleaning job on a variety of floors and rooms with different flooring types including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was top notch, and it nimbly avoided fake dog socks, turds and cables.

It's a bit 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 through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can also clean the floor even after it vacuums. This is a feature we haven't seen in other robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop/mop combination.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

With a sleek circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba than the competitors' compact models this robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most attractive looking models in our tests. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It features advanced features, like Enhanced Dirt Detection as well as future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's also the only robot vacuum/mop that scored an absolute 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors including a structured lighting system, a camera, and a variety of lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully self-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 simple to operate. It has an easy mobile application interface, and it integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that it's loud which could be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you attempt to sleep.

It's also a bit expensive, though it's not as expensive as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, both of which are equally capable and better-looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's very capable however, it's more expensive and produce more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum cleaners uk vacuum and mop with a lot of advanced features that will let you forget about your chores. Similar to 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 care of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multifunction dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank and washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floorplans and identify obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its competitors with premium features. It also has a camera mounted on the front for real-time detection of hazards but this was not reliable in our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

The vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to do the job. It also has an option known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the power of the vacuum and adjusts cleaning frequency for various areas of the house based on how dirty the areas are.

For larger homes it's worth looking for one with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a particular area of your home by using the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be useful if you own a number of furniture. Additionally the recharge and resume function that lets your robot vacuum take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you might think from its price. It vacuums well and was able to remove 55% of debris in our tests. (It was second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using only one pad and a reciprocating motion which is cleaner than the majority of the mop cleaners with robots that we've examined. It's also highly self-sufficient, with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying base that is washable.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or to create the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to rank your most filthy areas for greater efficiency. The app offers a variety of options, 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 features a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs to remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot-clean that will thoroughly clean the area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, but it is more likely to get caught on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that doesn't double as an emptying bin.