The best iRobot Roomba Vacuums take the tedium out of cleaning. Seen as one of the best robot vacuums on the market, the iRobot Roomba brand has a variety of cleaners within a wide price range with differing capabilities. So whether it’s general maintenance, pet hair, or dust you want to tackle, there’ll be an iRobot Roomba vacuum for you.
Irobot Roomba Vacuums Compared
IROBOT ROOMBA J7+
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550)
iRobot® Roomba® j7+ (7550) Best Values
iRobot Braava Jet M6 (6110)
Best Irobot Roomba Vacuums Reviews
IROBOT ROOMBA J7+
✦ Tidy canister capacity: 500 ml
✦ Weight: 7.4 pounds
✦ Mapping: Yes
✦ Shrewd domestic compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant
The new j7 is available to buy with or without the automatic self-emptying bin system. If you opt for the model with automatic dirt disposal (the j7+, in other words), whenever the robot vac’s titchy 400ml internal bin gets full, it wanders back to its Clean Base charging station where a powerful motor sucks all the detritus into a large, disposable dust bag which lasts for three to four weeks, depending on how grubby the house is. Unlike other iRobot Clean Bases which are quite tall and even a little bit ugly, the J7+’s is shorter and wider, and dressed in attractive pinstripe cladding replete with a stylish leather lid tab.
If you have hairy pets like long-haired cats and shedding pooches, the self-emptying Plus model is absolutely essential. Without it you’ll be required to empty the bot yourself, and on a regular basis – like every 10 to 15 minutes. The other Clean Base-equipped models in the Roomba range are relatively quiet when going through the bin-emptying sequence but not this one. Perhaps it’s something to do with the shorter dimensions, but the j7+’s Clean Base makes an unholy racket that will have you covering your ears. Thankfully the noise only last for about 10 seconds.
Rather cleverly, the j7 identifies obstacles and avoids them when necessary, including dog mess of the firm variety. To date, this writer hasn’t experienced any turd tangling events and nor has the j7 entangled itself in any wires. Furthermore, this bot is also pretty good at negotiating rugs without ruffling them up too much.
Add a raft of excellent room-mapping skills and the wherewithal to divide rooms and create keep-out zones in the iRobot app, and you have one of the most capable and reliable robot vacs currently on the market.
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
✦ Clean container capacity: 388 ml
✦ Weight: 8.2 pounds
✦ Mapping: Yes
✦ Shrewd domestic compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant
If money is no object and you’re looking for a Roomba model that ticks all the main boxes, consider this flagship model. Just be sure to go for the ‘+’ variant if you have dogs and cats. The D-shaped s9’s twin rubber rollers are much wider than any of its stablemates and indeed almost all of its competitors, so this is the model to choose if you have a huge floorspace. It also sports the most suction of practically any robot vac on the market and that makes it a top choice for use on grubby carpets; it even automatically detects the floor surface and ramps up or lowers the suction accordingly.
As its rollers are set very low for increased performance, this vac does have a habit of snagging on rugs, especially thin ones. It’s not a regular occurrence, mind, because in most instances it cleverly switches off the rollers as soon as it detects resistance. It then slowly works its way over the ruffled edge before turning the rollers on again and continuing with the cleaning session.
Like the j7 above, the s9 features an excellent mapping function that uses a front mounted camera and sensors galore. It will happily venture beneath beds and sofas even if covered in a valance.
This writer has been using an S9+ for the past 18 months and to date it is the most reliable robot vac in my arsenal. True, it’s extraordinarily expensive when compared to the newer j7+ which has advanced obstacle detection and a better looking Clean Base. But the s9+ is so powerful, efficient and unswervingly reliable, it easily bags the two spot in this round up no matter the price.
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550)
✦ Keen Domestic Compatibility: Alexa, Google Right hand
✦ Estimate: 13.26 x 13.26 x 3.6 inches
✦ Weight: 7.4 pounds.
The Roomba i3 doesn’t have a smart mapping camera like the j7, s9 and i7 but in our tests it’s been just as efficient at cleaning. And anyway, the key benefit of not having smart navigation on board is that the i3 is much cheaper to buy and that’s a major bonus in our book.
The i3 is available with or without the Clean Base charging station and, according to iRobot, it has the same suction power as the older i7. It’s also one of the quietest robot vacs on the market and one of the shallowest – perfect for reaching under low furnishings.
At around £100 less than the older i7+ and £200 cheaper than the new j7+, the i3+ is an excellent lower-cost alternative that cleans well, is quiet in operation and more forgiving on loose rugs than the ultra expensive S9+.
iRobot® Roomba® j7+ (7550)
✦ Controller Type: App Control, Voice Control
✦ Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Ion
✦ Are Batteries Included: Yes
The i7+ has been around for some time now and is more expensive to buy than the newer – and frankly better – j7+. Both robots are on a level playing field when it comes to cleaning power and both models feature Imprint Smart Mapping. However, the newer j7+ trounces the i7+ in terms of design – its Clean Base is also much better looking – and extra features like obstacle avoidance.
For these reasons we would suggest opting for the J7+ where possible, unless you manage to bag an i7+ bargain somewhere. In a nutshell, until the i7+ drops considerably in price, you’re much better off with the cheaper and more technically advanced J7+.
iRobot Braava Jet M6 (6110)
✦ Weight: 4.85 lbs
✦ Maximum battery: 160 min
If you’re looking for floors that will sparkle, then the iRobot Braava Jet M6 will sweep and mop until they shine. This model can cover up to 1,000 square feet in just one single cleaning session. It’s operated using targeted zone cleaning, so it will map your floor plan and can even follow behind other compatible Roomba vacuums, working in tandem with a Roomba vacuum.
It weighs just 4.4 lbs, so it’s compact, and it does have a retractable carrying handle for taking with you on different floors. The iRobot Braava Jet M6 has a camera and sensor on the top of the machine for precise navigation. The water tank can also be found on the top of the device while the precision spray nozzle is located on the front.
This iRobot mop comes with a charging dock, a selection of mopping pads, a small bottle of Braava jet hard floor cleaner, and an attachable drip tray. You can purchase all these items separately, too, if you want to replace or have extras.
As with other high-end models of the iRobot, this does work via WiFi, and you can connect it to your smartphone, Google Assistant, or Alexa. It allows you to map your area and will set virtual barriers called keep-out zones, so you have greater control over the area that it cleans.
What’s more, you can customize the mopping preferences via the app to suit your flooring type. For example, there is an extended coverage mode which will mop a large area quickly but with less cleaning power, and also a deep mode which will operate in a reduced cleaning area while ramping up the power to tackle tough messes.
The battery lasts for whopping 160 minutes, so unless you’re living in a mansion, you should get all your cleaning done with one charge.
What makes the best iRobot Roomba vacuum?
When it comes to looking for the best iRobot Roomba model, there are a few things to keep in mind. We’ve gone into detail in each of our reviews, including letting you know the best iRobot Roomba for hard floors, but here are just a few tips we thought we’d share first to ensure that you get the best iRobot Roomba model for your needs.
First up, dust compartments. While they’re not exactly exciting, make sure you get an iRobot Roomba with a dust compartment that will suit your needs. If you have pets or a larger home, then you’re going to most likely need to pick a Roomba that has a larger dust compartment than those people without pets or smaller spaces.
Also, checking the battery life of the model you’re thinking about buying is another way of making sure you get the best iRobot Roomba model for you. If you have a lot of rooms (or a lot of dust) or your home has carpet, then you are going to need a model that has longer battery life. We should note that mapping iRobot models will take themselves back to the charging dock in the middle of a clean if the battery level starts to run low, so you won’t have to deal with half-finished floors.
Taking note of the size of the Roomba is also essential. If you want your machine to navigate around and even under your furniture, then you’re going to need to make sure it fits. And it’s not just that, where you place the charging dock can make all the difference. After all, your robotic friend doesn’t need to be on display, so think about a nook it can hide in that’s out of the way.
The ability to schedule your iRobot Roomba is another feature that can make a big difference. Not all models have this function, but it will make your life a lot easier. Not only can you set it to vacuum when you know when most people will be out and not in its way, but you can also stick to a routine, so you come home to clean floors every day.
And finally, WiFi and smart home integration is another function that can level up an iRobot Roomba vacuum. You can start or stop your vacuum while you’re outside of the home and make scheduling and maintaining the vacuum easier.
Do robotic vacuums actually work?
Yes! You may look at the iRobot Roomba models and think they are just a novelty or a gimmick, but they’re more than that. They can save you so much time, and you can set them up to run automatically, so they get rid of any dust and debris without you even having to think about it. Plus, because they’re robotic, they don’t get bored or complacent, which means that they will give your floors a more thorough clean.
It is worth bearing in mind that even some of the best iRobot Roomba models aren’t quite as strong as traditional vacuum cleaners. This means that the dust that could be ingrained in your carpets or rugs or even the dust that has settled in the crevices of your floorboards may not be picked up quite as well. Also, if you live in a property where you have stairs, you’re still going to need a traditional vacuum because they do not do stairs.
But when you weigh up the convenience with the very few flaws they have, they do make an excellent addition to any home.
FAQs
You can expel your Roomba’s tidy container by squeezing the canister discharge button or tab. This will permit you to lift out the container and purge it into the waste sometime recently sliding it back into put on the Roomba’s primary body. In case your Roomba is on a soil transfer base, essentially press the “Domestic” button to purge its bin.
To guarantee your Roomba’s battery keeps going as long as conceivable, keep it stopped into its charger or charging base when it isn’t effectively vacuuming, and do not let it sit out, absent from its charger after it wraps up cleaning. Make beyond any doubt to clean the charging sensors once a month, purge its clean canister sometime recently it comes to most extreme capacity, and address clogs as before long as you take note of them.
Certain mechanical issues, like network issues, may require you to reset or reboot your Roomba. For most models, you essentially press and hold the CLEAN button for 10 to 20 seconds and hold up to 2 minutes for the reboot to wrap up. A few models will require you to hold down both the “Domestic” and “SPOT CLEAN” buttons for 10 seconds in arrange to reboot.
