In the first generation, the dirty air passes through the fan before reaching the filter, while later models use a fan-bypass vacuum. The cleaning time depends on room size and, for models equipped with dirt sensors, the volume of dirt. All Roomba models can be operated by manually carrying the Roomba to the room to be cleaned and pressing a button. Third-generation and bissell crosswave cordless later models can also be operated by pressing the “Clean” button on the top while the Roomba is on the charging base, causing it to reverse off of the base and begin cleaning. Later models introduced several additional operating modes, such as “Spot,” which cleans an area of a few feet. Older Roombas had “Max” mode, which cleans endlessly until the battery is depleted.
When the iRobot is finished, it stores itself in a recharging station. We also note whether the robot cleans in a random or methodical pattern. Many of the latest models feature a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) laser (the same technology self-driving cars use) to map your home and plan an efficient cleaning route. But some affordable robot vacuums still haphazardly ping-pong from wall to wall, inefficiently crossing over the same space multiple times as they clean. The Roomba 694 is a worthy choice despite being iRobot’s most affordable entry.
In general, the more power, the better, especially if you have carpet, but battery life and obstacle avoidance capabilities are also important factors. High-end robot vacuums are tipping 10,000Pa of suction these days, but you don’t necessarily need that much power. Robot vacuums with around 2,500Pa can still lift pet hair, but might need more passes to get it all. When we consider which robot vacuums to test, we look at each machine’s specs and feature list, as well as online reviews to get a general idea of its capabilities.
Roomba Combo® i5/i5+ robot learns how you like to clean and gives you personalized scheduling suggestions, even factoring in times when your home may need more frequent cleaning—like pet-shedding or allergy seasons. Some of the robot vacuum models rely on built-in camera and computer image processing to map your rooms, enabling systematic and more efficient vacuuming. We provide a detailed analysis of each of these vacuums in our reviews, and you can see our vacuum product guide for the latest models. If you specifically want to stick with the iRobot brand, we also have a roundup of the best Roombas. When you find the right one for you, be sure to read up on our simple robot vacuum tips. Self-emptying or not, most robot vacuums also equip small HEPA filters that capture allergens as they run.
We also tested one of iRobot’s new vacuum-mop hybrids, the iRobot Roomba Combo i5+. Unlike that of the iRobot Roomba i4+ and j9+, the Q5+’s self-emptying dock sucked in even heavy and large debris, such as rice and Cheerios, leaving irobot vacuum cleaner nothing behind in the robot’s bin. Enhanced maps, the ability to clean specific objects, custom routines, seasonal suggestions, and intuitive smart home integrations.⁴ The iRobot Home App gives you ultimate control over your clean.
3-stage cleaning gets the job done.Proprietary 3-stage cleaning system deploys Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes, an Edge-Sweeping Brush, and 100% stronger² Power-Lifting Suction. If you’re running a script or application, please register or sign in with your developer credentials here. Additionally make sure your User-Agent is not empty and is something unique and descriptive and try again. If you’re supplying an alternate User-Agent string,try changing back to default as that can sometimes result in a block. Her work has previously been published by The New York Times, The Guardian, Psychology Today, and many other publications.
Roborock’s app lets you map your home faster and more accurately than those of most other smart bots we tested. It is user-friendly and intuitive, and it can store up to four maps of your home in both 2D and 3D. The app also lets you shark cordless turn on spot cleaning (to get rid of isolated spills) and auto-boost mode (for fur-covered carpets, for instance), as well as schedule cleaning sessions. We’ve tested dozens of robot vacuums since 2012, including 13 models in 2023.
MIT roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, and Rodney Brooks cofounded IS Robotics, which later became iRobot, in 1990. The following year, another MIT engineer, Joe Jones, became iRobot’s first full-time hire, and began pursuing the idea of an autonomous cleaning robot, a project he’d been exploring even before joining the company. Despite difficulties in obtaining funding, Jones built several prototypes of what would eventually become the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner.
Since it navigates well and can store multiple maps, it’s a top option for those with big homes and a mix of floor types. It handles hair and fur well, so it’s suitable for homes with shedding pets. The Roborock and Roomba hybrids on this list have their own advantages, but the Deebot X2 Omni is our top 2-in-1 pick thanks to its strong performance and automatic mop maintenance features.