iRobot Roomba vacuums couldn’t be easier to operate. After you’ve hooked your smartphone (opens in new tab) up to your vacuum, they can be controlled remotely from an app, so you don’t even need to worry about supervising the cleaning. What’s more, you can use the app to get an exceptionally thorough clean for your home, with the ability to highlight problem areas that you want the robot to focus on. The best iRobot Roomba vacuums are ideal for a smart home too; after you’ve connected yours up to a smart speaker (opens in new tab), you can set it off to clean with just one voice command. You might be wondering whether you can trust an iRobot Roomba vacuum not to get itself stuck or fall into trouble as it’s cleaning around your house. Cleverly, these vacuums have cliff detection sensors that prevent them from taking a tumble down your stairs and will notify you via the app if they find themselves in a tangle. Some even have dual multi-surface rubber brushes, so they can make quick work of any pesky pet hair build-ups in your home. For more cleaning appliances, check out the best vacuum cleaners for home (opens in new tab) and the best deep clean vacuums (opens in new tab).
1. iRobot Roomba 614: Best budget iRobot Roomba vacuum
The iRobot Roomba 614 uses AeroVac technology, which utilizes a three-stage process to make sure that all debris, dirt, and hair gets picked up. The first stage is the side rotating brush that means the vacuum can get right up against the wall providing perfect wall-to-wall cleaning. The second stage is the rotating brushes in the center of the machine; this is similar to a traditional vacuum, except they rotate in opposite directions to make sure it gets all the dirt up. The third stage is the suction. This vacuum evenly distributes the dirt within the dust compartment so that it doesn’t clog up quickly. This model is a great iRobot Roomba for hard floors because it uses iApadt technology, including sensors to detect dirt, so you may find it goes over the same space more than once. It also comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which means it’ll last longer than the (Ni-Mh) battery found on other models. The iRobot Roomba 614 is a great model when it comes to operating and maintaining. Because it doesn’t come with scheduling, you simply have to press a button and sit back and let it do all the hard work. If the battery gets low, it’ll automatically take itself back to the docking station to recharge, so it’s a straightforward machine to use. It’s a shame that this model uses the AreoVac filter instead of the HEPA filter. While the AreoVac does do an excellent job of not kicking dust back into the air, it’s not the best model to go for if you suffer allergies. We are also disappointed that there’s no full bin indicator. While it may not seem like a big deal, it is nice to be able to check quickly if there’s a flashing light when the bin needs emptying. The collection bin will need emptying in between cleaning on the 614, so it’s worth trying to get into a habit of doing that to avoid missing a clean because the compartment is full.
2. iRobot Roomba 675: Best iRobot Roomba for hard floors
The iRobot Roomba 675 has built-in WiFi connectivity meaning you can control it via the iRobot app on your smartphone. You can also turn it on using the buttons on the machine, or you purchase a compatible remote control, but we love the idea of using the app to send it to work while we relax. The design of the Roomba 675 is not unlike other models in the range. It’s circular with a matte grey and black plastic cover. It also has a handy handle at the front of the machine just above the clean, spot, and dock buttons that will make it easier to transport up and down the stairs. The set up is incredibly easy using the app and only takes a few minutes. While you’re in the app, you can find out all the information you need to know, such as how much battery life is left and if the dust compartment is full. The app also lets you start, pause, resume, or dock the machine. The iRobot Roomba 675 is the best iRobot Roomba for hard floors, although it doesn’t have any issues adjusting to low and medium-pile carpets or tiled flooring either. This model doesn’t offer mapping or advanced navigation, but it does get close to the baseboards and navigate around furniture a lot more efficiently than a regular vacuum. The battery life with the iRobot Roomba is impressive, with it often lasting a tad longer than the 90 minutes estimated. Some users weren’t happy about the way that the iRobot navigated their space with some claims that it doesn’t always vacuum every room and instead of focuses on the same spot.
3. iRobot Roomba E5150: Best iRobot Roomba for pet hair
Pet lovers rejoice because we have found the best iRobot Roomba for pet hair. If you have a cat or dog in your home, you’ll know how stressful it is to keep on top of pet hair, which seems to get into every single space possible. But the iRobot Roomba E5150 can help solve that problem thanks to its powerful pickup performance and dual multi-surface rubber brushes. The rubber brushes are fundamental to why it works so well with pet hair, or indeed, any hair because they adjust and flex to make sure that the hair doesn’t get wrapped and tangled up. We love the advanced auto features that this model of iRobot’s Roomba has. It includes advanced sensors to navigate with ease around your flooring and furniture as well as a cliff detect sensor to stop it falling down the stairs. It also benefits from an auto-adjust cleaning head, which will sense the type of flooring you’re trying to clean and automatically adjust its height to clean those areas effectively. The battery runs for a solid 90 minutes and will take itself back to the dock for a recharge when the levels run low. The iRobot Roomba E5150 has been designed to ensure your floors get the best clean possible. It has powerlifting suction with five times the amount of air power to pull out and remove any embedded dirt, pet hair, or debris that you probably won’t even realize is there. And if you have allergies, this will filter pollen and pet allergens thanks to its high-efficiency HEPA filter. Maintaining this model is also super easy as once you empty it, you need to give it a quick rinse to make sure that any leftover dirt or debris has been removed, keeping your vacuum offering a fresh clean every time. It’s no surprise that users absolutely love this model, and there are plenty of comments raving about how good it is at removing pet hair including: “The extra suction power for pet hair makes a huge difference. Even on our area rugs, the Roomba does a great job.” The only negative comments we could find were surrounding the size of the dust chamber with some users finding it a tad too small considering it was aimed at pet owners. But that really does depend on the size of your pet and how much they shed hair.
4. iRobot Braava Jet M6: Best iRobot mop
OK, so we may have cheated slightly by including the iRobot Braava Jet M6 to this buying guide as it’s not technically a vacuum, but we couldn’t leave out the best iRobot mop. 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.
The small print
All iRobot products come with a one-year limited liability warranty. This means that the model is guaranteed against any defects or parts malfunctions. It doesn’t cover any accidental damage or normal wear and tear though.
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.
