Robot Hoover: A Simple Definition

The Best robot vacuum cleaner UK robot cleaner with mop Hoover

The best robot vacuum can sweep and vacuum your floors without having to be involved. It also leaves them spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detector) are a plus.

Make sure you regularly examine the brushes of your robot for tangled hair and large debris and clean them as needed. Some models also self-empty their dust bin on board into a larger bin at the base, which decreases 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 examined. They feature top-of-the-line motors that can pull up to 5,500 Pascals of suction force. Like other premium iRobots (including the top model) they utilize smart mapping to create detailed floorplans that avoid obstacles like cords and furniture leg. The robots also feature 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 good scores in our bare floor tests and are particularly effective in cleaning pet hair. There are some issues however, which hinder them from being our top option. One of the flaws of the Q5 is that its navigation system doesn't include AI-powered obstacle avoidance. It's thus susceptible to get stuck on shoes and socks and couldn't navigate through rooms with a lot of people well in our tests. It also doesn't come with a camera to look around corners.

It's still a good value for those whose office or home has a lot of bare floors and you're looking to save some money. It's also extremely quiet and operates while you are at work or school. The only thing it lacks that you can't find in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30 is edge-to-edge vacuuming on bare floors. It's also less effective when it comes to 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 mop, the mopping pad can be swapped for a wet one in seconds.

2. IRobot Roomba X30

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into an elegant, compact package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it easy to clean and efficient in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also comes with strong suction and a self-emptying bin. It's the best robot vacuum for carpets, although it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.

This highly efficient mop and vacuum combo utilizes advanced sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste and it learns your home's layout over time to provide more efficient cleaning. You can change its cleaning schedule and customize zones with the well-designed app. Its battery life is average when compared to other models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can instruct it to pull back and extend its mop. This will help prevent cross contamination. Its flex arm is great to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. However, it's not equipped with the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Pro+ as well as the iRobot Combo j9+.

During tests, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could sweep the entire house, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It also did a great job of cleaning a mix of rooms and floors with different flooring types, including some area rugs. Its obstacle detection was great and it was able to avoid fake dog turds and socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a bit more expensive than the iRobot Combo v9+ and iRobot Roomba j9+, however, it comes with superior suction, an onboard dustbin that automatically emptys into its base, and supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums, a feature that we haven't seen in other robot vacuum/mop combos.

3. Roomba X40 from iRobot

This mop and vacuum combination is sleek and has a circular look that looks more like the regular Roomba unit than the boxy units of the rivals. It's one of our most attractive robot vacuums. The latest flagship model from iRobot is also its smartest. It comes with advanced features like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads autonomously).

It's also the only robotic vacuum or mop that scored the perfect 10/10 out of 10 in our testing. This is due to the combination of high-tech sensors, including a structured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully autonomously refill and empty its base station and it boasts its own self-cleaning mop pads.

Like other iRobot models, the X40 is easy to use, offering an easy mobile app interface, and integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. The only drawback is that it's still quite loud which could be problematic if you run it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.

It's also a bit expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally impressive and attractive. It's a dual-purpose vacuum that's very capable, but it's going to cost you more and produce more noise.

4. iRobot Roomba L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the best automatic vacuum cleaner robot vacuum and mop. It comes with a variety of advanced features that help you forget your chores. Like 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 charge of both mopping and vacuuming, with a multifunction dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dust bin, fills its water tank and cleans and dry its mop pads.

The smart robot uses a combination of LIDAR and structured light to map out the floor plan and detect obstacles, making it more efficient than some of its premium rivals. It also has a front mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and could be confused with power cords or obstructions.

Its vacuum has a high suction capacity of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to complete the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home depending on how dirty they are.

If you have a bigger home, it is worth selecting a robot that comes with zones or spot cleaning modes. This allows you to inform the robot of which area of your home must be cleaned by using the app or voice control. A stair mode can be useful if you own a large furniture. Finally a recharge and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to take over exactly where it left off is ideal for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is more advanced 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 using one pad, which uses a reciprocating motion, which is cleaner than the other mop cleaners for robots we've tested. It's also self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app as well as an auto-emptying, washable base.

The well-designed iRobot app will guide you through an initial mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan as well as any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules, or to create an automatic spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize your dirtiest areas to improve performance. The app has a range of features, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

It also has the ability to reach corners and under furniture more easily because its shape is more rectangular. It also has a strong 8000 Pascal suction and combs that are intelligent for pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner which will thoroughly clean an area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek more affordable alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive design, akin to Dolce & Gabbana. The twin cameras are shaped like cute eyes. It does a good job vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to be caught by low thresholds and is more noisy than the other top robotic vacuums we've tested. It also comes with an app that's less intuitive and has a tiny base station that can't double as a bin to empty.