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 top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detection) are a plus.

Make sure you regularly inspect your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris, and wash them when needed. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin at the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 Pro

The Q5 Pro, and best robot hoover its more expensive sibling the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums that we have test. They have motors that are top-of-the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Like other top iRobot models (including the top pick), they use smart mapping technology to create precise floor plans and eliminate home-based obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also come with Carpet Boost, a feature that boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.

Both the Q5 and Q7 Max Series get very excellent scores in our tests on floors that are bare, and they're particularly adept at cleaning pet hair. However, they have a few flaws that keep them from being our top choice. One of them is that the Q5's navigation doesn't feature AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology which means it's susceptible to getting hung up on socks and shoes and couldn't navigate tightly packed rooms very efficiently in our tests. It also doesn't have a camera that can see around corners.

Still, it's very good, especially if you want to save money on a Roomba from iRobot and have a mostly bare-floor home or office. It's also quiet and works while you are at work or school. The only thing it's missing that you won't find in the pricier iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming of floors with no floor. It's also less effective at mopping. It is dependent on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick very well and cannot handle dried-on debris. The Q5 has an auto-emptying dock, however. If you want to, you can switch the mopping pad to dry ones in a matter of seconds.

2. iRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a sleek, compact package. Its agile navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it quick to clean and effective at tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with a self-emptying bin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the Best robot vacuum cleaner UK robot vacuums best vacuum for carpets, though it isn't as efficient as some of its competitors in deep cleaning.

This high-performing mop and vacuum combination makes use of advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it will learn your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. You can alter the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones through the well-designed app. Its battery life is average in comparison to similar models.

It is possible to instruct the X30 Ultra to remove its mop and extend them when in a room with carpet which prevents cross-contamination. The flex arm is ideal for getting under furniture that is low and along baseboards. It's not as efficient on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, 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 did a good cleaning job on different floors and rooms with different kinds of flooring, including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it swiftly eluded fake dog socks, turds, shoes, 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 fills up its base, and supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after vacuuming it, something we've not seen on other robot 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 vacuums that mop vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive looking models in our evaluations. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also its smartest. It comes with advanced features such as Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads in a self-cleaning manner).

It's the only robotic vacuum/mop that has a perfect 10 in our tests due to a mix of high-tech sensors that include cameras, a structured lighting system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot in our tests that is fully self-refill and empty its base station and boasts an industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 as with other iRobot products, is easy to operate. It has an easy mobile app interface that integrates with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only drawback is that the X40 is still a loud unit. This can be a concern in the mornings before work or during the night when you are trying to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive, but it's not as pricey as the Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Both of which are similarly capable and better-looking. This is a two-in-one vacuum that's very capable however, it will 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 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-off cleaning machine that takes the care of vacuuming and mopping, with a multi-function dock that automatically empties the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank, and washes and dry the mop pads.

The smart robot employs a combination of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and spot obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its top competitors. It also has a camera mounted on the front to detect hazards in real-time, although this wasn't quite reliable in our tests and was sometimes confused by power cords or other obstructions.

Its vacuum has a high suction maximum of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also comes with a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts cleaning frequency for various areas of the house based on how dirty the areas are.

For larger houses it's recommended to choose one that has zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a particular area of your home using the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be beneficial if you have large furniture. Finally, a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to pick up right where it left off is great for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price would suggest. 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 that has a reciprocating motion, which is cleaner than the other robot mop cleaners we've examined. It's also extremely self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app, and a self emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app guides you through an initial mapping session that collects data about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to set up the spot-cleaning. It can also be used to it to prioritize your dirtiest areas for better performance. The app also gives access to many features like seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.

It is also able to reach corners and under furniture better because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for hair of pets. You can also set up a spot-clean that will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are designed like cute little eyes. It's good at 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 not as intuitive, and a smaller base station that doesn't double as a bin to empty.