The Best Robot Hoover

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

Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models will also empty the dust bin on board and then deposit it in an additional bin at the bottom. This can reduce the amount of fine dust released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive cousin the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we've tested. 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 employ smart mapping to produce precise floor plans and eliminate household obstacles such as cords and furniture leg. They also come with carpet boost which boosts the robot's power when it sees the presence of dirt on the carpet, allowing it cleaned up quickly.

The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors, and they are particularly adept at cleaning dog hair. There are some issues, however, that prevent them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tight spaces very efficiently in our tests. It doesn't also have a camera to see around corners.

However, it's a good choice for those who want to save money on a iRobot Roomba and you have a bare-floored home or office. It's also very quiet and you can use it while you're at work or going to school. The only thing it's missing that you won't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on floors that aren't clean. It's also less effective in mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes that don't adhere well and aren't able to deal with dried-on debris. The Q5 does have an auto-emptying dock, however. If you need to, the mopping pad can be replaced with a wet one in seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to sweep floors. Its quick navigation and smart cleaning maps make it simple to clean and effective at dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also features a self-emptying dustbin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the most efficient robotic hoover for carpets but it isn't as effective as some of its competitors in terms of deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensor technology that can stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the patterns of your home over time to ensure more efficient cleaning. You can modify the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average compared to similar models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm is also ideal for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. It's not as efficient on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and best robot hoover the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on different rooms and floors with various flooring types including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top notch and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, and bundles of cables.

It's more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, a dustbin on board that automatically empties into its base, and also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after vacuuming this feature, which we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.

3. iRobot Roomba X40

This robot vacuum cleaner vacuum and mop combination is sleek and has a circular design that appears more like a regular Roomba model than the bulky models from the competitors. It's one of our most attractive looking robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also its smartest. It features advanced features like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).

It's the only robotic mop or vacuum that has a perfect 10 in our testing thanks to a blend of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a structured lighting system, and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that can completely autonomously refill and empty its base station and it has an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40, like other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has an intuitive mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that the X40 still a loud unit. This could be a concern in the mornings prior to work or in the evening when you are trying to sleep.

It's also quite expensive however, not as expensive as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient however, it's going to cost you more and make more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the line robot vacuum and mop. It has a number of advanced features that make you forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaner that is similar to Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically emptys the vacuum's bin and refills the water tank, as well as washes and dries the mop pads.

The smart robot makes use of LIDAR and structured lighting to map out floor plans and detect obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its premium competitors. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this wasn't completely foolproof in our tests, and was often confused with power cords or obstructions.

The vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to accomplish the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates the intensity at which the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of your home depending on the degree of dirt they are.

If you have a larger home, you should consider selecting a model with a zones or spot cleaning modes. This allows you to tell the robot which area of your house needs to be cleaned using the app or voice control. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also a good option. For families with busy schedules recharge functions and resume feature that allows your robot automatic vacuum and mop to resume where it left off could be extremely useful.

iRobot RX3

The RX3 is a more efficient cleaner than you'd imagine from its price. It has a great vacuuming performance, picking up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using a single pad and a reciprocating movement that is more efficient than most mop cleaners for robots that we've tried. And it's highly self-sufficient with a full-featured application and an auto-emptying washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to make cleaning schedules, arrange a spot clean or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to improve performance. The app has a range of features, such as seasonal suggestions, custom mapping and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it can reach corners and underneath furniture better. It is equipped with a powerful 8000 Pascal suction and sophisticated combs that remove pet hair. You can also set up a spot-clean which will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD offers a sleeker, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's more appealing, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras resemble cute eyes. It is capable of vacuuming, but is more prone to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit more noisy than the other top robot vacuums we've tried. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and a small base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.