auto vacuum hoover will vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and leaves your floors spotless. Its affordable price and high-end functions (such as dirt detectors) are both positives.
Make sure you regularly check your robot's brushes for hair tangled as well as large debris and wash them if needed. best budget robot vacuum can also automatically empty their onboard dustbin into a larger one at the base, which decreases the amount of fine dust that is 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 have motors that are top-of-the line and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. As with other top iRobot models (including the top pick) they utilize intelligent mapping technology to create detailed floor plans that avoid common obstacles like cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature a feature called Carpet Boost that boosts its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored excellently in our tests of floors with no carpet, and they are particularly adept at cleaning dog hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system doesn't feature AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to getting stuck on shoes and socks and could not navigate densely packed rooms very well during our tests. It doesn't also have a camera that can see around corners.
It's still a great option for those who want to save money on a iRobot Roomba and you have a mostly unfinished home or office. It's also very quiet and operates while you're at work or school. The only thing it lacks 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 when it comes to mopping. It relies 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 clean the mopping pad, it can be swapped for one that is wet in just a few minutes.
2. iRobot Roomba
The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a sleek, compact package. Its smart cleaning maps and nimble navigation make it easy to clean, and effective in tackling larger particles, like pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and an automatic bin for emptying. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, although it's not as effective as some rivals in deep cleaning.
This highly efficient mop and vacuum combination utilizes advanced sensors to avoid obstacles and pet waste and it also learns your home's layout over time for more efficient cleaning. You can change the schedule of cleaning and even customize zones using the app that is well-designed. It comes with a battery life that is similar to other models.
When the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to pull back and extend its mops. This helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is ideal for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. However, it doesn't have the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on a variety of rooms and floors with various flooring types including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was top-of-the-line and it was nimbly avoiding fake dog socks, turds, shoes and cables.
It's a bit more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that is automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is able to clean floors even after it vacuums. This is a feature we haven't seen in other robotic vacuum/mop combos.
3. Roomba X40 from iRobot
With an elegant circular design that looks more like a normal Roomba than the competitors' boxy units this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most appealing looking in our tests. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also its smartest. It features advanced features such as Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that can wash mop pads on its own).
It's also the only robotic vacuum/mop that scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in our tests. This is due to a combination modern sensors, including a restructured lighting system, a camera and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could fill and empty its basestation on its own. It also boasted a suction of 12,000Pa and self-cleaning mops.
The X40, like other iRobot products, is simple to use. It comes with an easy mobile app interface that is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only issue is that it's an eerily noisy device, which can be an issue if you use it in the morning prior to work, or at night when you try to fall asleep.
It's also a bit costly however, not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or Roborock S8 Omni, which are both equally impressive and attractive. If you're willing to put up with a bit more noise and some extra cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will delight most.
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 forget about your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning machine that is similar to Ecovacs the top of the line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It features a multi-functional dock that can automatically empty the vacuum's bin, refills the water tank, as well as washes and dry the mop pads.
The smart robot utilizes LIDAR and structured lighting to draw out floorplans and identify obstacles. It navigates more intelligently than its top competitors. It also comes with a front-mounted camera for real-time hazards detection however this was not foolproof in our tests and could be confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals, which is more than enough to finish the job. It also has a feature called "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the vacuum's power and adjusts the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the house depending on how dirty these areas tend to be.
If you have a bigger home, it's worth selecting a robot that comes with the option of cleaning zones or spots. This allows you to instruct the robot on which part of your home needs to be cleaned using the app or voice control. If you have lots of furniture, a stairway mode is also useful. For families that are busy recharge functions and resume feature that allows your robot vacuum to continue from where it left off could be extremely useful.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more sophisticated than its price suggests. It has a great vacuuming performance and picked up 55% debris in our tests. (It was only second to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mopses using one pad and a reciprocating motion that cleans better that most of the robot mop cleaners that we've tested. It's also self-sufficient, with a full-featured app and an auto-emptying, washable base.
The well-designed iRobot application guides you through a mapping run that gathers information about your floorplan and any "no-go" areas you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or organize the spot-cleaning. You can also use it to rank your most filthy areas for better performance. The app also gives access to a host of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom maps and advanced settings for your cleaning.
Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, which means it can reach corners and underneath furniture more easily. It also has a powerful 8,000 Pascal suction and combs with intelligent technology for pet hair. You can also set up a spot cleaning that thoroughly cleans a particular area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It has a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but is more prone to be caught by low thresholds and is louder than the other top robot vacuums we've tested. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that isn't able to double as a bin for emptying.