The Best Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum will sweep and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It will also leave the floors spotless. Its price is affordable and its high-end features (such as dirt detectors) are both positives.
Be sure to check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large particles, and wash them when required. Certain models also automatically empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in a larger bin located at the base. This reduces the amount fine dust that gets 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. Best robot vacuum cleaner UK feature top-of-the-line motors that can generate up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the top model) they utilize intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like cords and furniture leg. The robots also have a feature called Carpet Boost which boosts 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 They are also adept in cleaning hair from dogs. However, they do have some flaws that prevent them from being our top choice. For one, the Q5's navigation system does not include AI-powered obstacle avoidance which means it's susceptible to get caught up in socks and shoes and couldn't navigate rooms with a lot of people efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera to look around corners.
However, it's a good choice to consider, particularly if you're looking to save money on a iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also quiet and works when you're at work or at school. It lacks the edge-to-edge bare floor vacuuming feature that's available in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective in mopping, using disposable wet wipes, which don't stick on for long and don't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 has a self-emptying cradle that can be emptied by itself. And, if you need to, you can swap the mopping pad for a dry one in just a few seconds.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying bin with powerful suction and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, although it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop uses sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the structure of your home over time to ensure better cleaning. The app allows you to set up zones and modify the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is comparable to other models.
It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a room with carpet to prevent cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal for getting under low-lying furniture 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+.
During tests during testing, the X30 Ultra was the fastest robot vacuum/mop to complete an entire home, and it did so with the battery at 66 percent left. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of floors and rooms with various flooring types, such as certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was excellent and it stayed clear of fake dog turds and socks, shoes and bundles cables.
It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, but it has superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming this feature, which we've not seen on other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. IRobot Roomba X40
With a sleek circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba rather than the compact models This robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. iRobot's latest flagship model also is its most advanced and has advanced features like enhanced dirt detection technology and future compatibility with Matter (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads).
It's also the only robot vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our testing. 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 in a self-contained manner. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
Like other iRobot models like the X40 is easy to use, offering an intuitive mobile app interface and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only issue is that it's still quite loud which could be a problem if you run it in the morning before work or in the evening as you try to fall asleep.
It's also a bit expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs S8 MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally powerful and more attractive. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient however it will cost you more and produce 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. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine that is similar to Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically empty the vacuum's bin and fills up the water tank, as well as washes and drys mop pads.
The smart robot employs an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and identify obstacles, and navigates more effectively than its more expensive competitors. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time hazard detection but this was not 100% foolproof during our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.
The vacuum cleaner comes with a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to complete the task. It also comes with an attribute known as "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house based on how dirty those areas tend to be.
If you have a larger home, you should consider selecting a robot that comes with zones or spot cleaning modes. This lets you inform the robot of which area of your house needs to be cleaned using the app or voice command. If you have furniture, a stair mode is also useful. Additionally a recharge and resume function that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is great for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is a smarter cleaner than you might expect from its price tag. It is a great job vacuuming, picking up 55% of the debris that was found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses with one pad that has an oscillating motion that does a better job cleaning than the other mop cleaners for robots we've tried. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot app guides you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you set on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, set up a spot clean or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to ensure better performance. The app also provides access to a variety of features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
It also has the ability to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also create a spot-clean that intensely cleans a localized area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a sleeker and less expensive alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive style, much like Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like adorable eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to getting caught on low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has an app that's less intuitive, and a smaller base station that can't double as a bin for emptying.