Roombas have the reputation of being the best robot vacuum cleaner in the market right now. It seems that when a new robot vacuum cleaner is introduced, it is almost always compared to a Roomba. The good news is that iRobot, the company behind this stellar line of robot vacuums, is not slacking off and continues to innovate.
Just recently, the company introduced three new robot vac options. This move further cements the company’s image as the brand to beat when it comes to robot cleaners. One of the robots they launched at the IFA 2018 is the Roomba i7+, which allows you to forget about emptying dust bins for a month. It comes with the latest technologies that the company offers.
However, different people have different needs. As such, they have different ideas of what the best robotic vacuum cleaner would be like. In this resource page, we will highlight the best iRobot Roomba models based on value, affordability, and cleaning performance.
So Which Roomba is Best?
Complicated question.
iRobot’s Roomba line is currently the market leader in terms of quality, reliability and performance.
That said, some of the differences BETWEEN Roombas are relatively subtle. That’s why a slight change in price can change my recommendation.
With this in mind, the first section below covers my TOP recommended DEALS right now (updated for pricing changes), while the REST of the article talks about GENERAL recommendations (when prices are not marked down).
So what are the best iRobot Roomba models available right now?
Bottom Line Up Front:
- For the best lowest priced Roomba with no extra bells and whistles (except WiFi), check out the Roomba 690 here.
- For the best mix of VALUE and FEATURES, I’d go with the new Roomba 960 here.
- For the best OVERALL Roomba on the market today (where price is no object), is the Roomba S9+ (hands down).
For the full details, read on…
Roomba s9+ – Best Roomba for 2020
The s9+ is the newest addition to the Roomba family and it has some fun new features for you. To begin with, the shape and body of the s9+ do not look like the typical Roomba. Instead of the classic circle shape, the s9+ has a D-shape design. As a result, the s9+ can easily get edges and into corners better than other robot vacuums in the Roomba lineup.
Just like the Roomba i7+, the s9+ will automatically empty its dustbin. The bag held in the docking station for the s9+ will hold up to 30 days worth of dirt and debris, so you don’t need to worry about disposal for almost a month.
Roomba introduces Imprint Linking technology with the s9+ as well. This feature allows you to connect the smart vacuum to the Braava m6 robot mop (which is also on this list). These two work together so that when the s9+ is done vacuuming, the m6 will know it’s time to begin mopping.
There are plenty of other features on the s9+ as well. Here are some you’ll experience:
- Smart mapping and navigation.
- Scheduling automation.
- iRobot mobile app control.
- Voice control via Google or Alexa.
Drawbacks? With many new Roomba robot devices, the biggest hurdle to overcome in regards to the s9+ is its price. Currently, the iRobot Roomba s9+ is significantly higher than most other smart vacuums, including the i7+, which offers a lot of similar features.
Roomba 761 – Best Roomba for the Value in 2019
If you’re not interested in dropping your savings on a smart vacuum, then you should take a look at the Roomba 761. While you won’t get the complex scheduling options or the navigation reports you get with other devices, you will get a solid robot vacuum that won’t cost you a lot of money.
You’ll still get plenty of great features usually found on Roomba robot vacuums, all at a price you can afford. The 761 has cleaning cycle dirt detection, navigation sensors, and other smart cleaning features to ensure your floor gets the attention it needs.
Here are some of the other benefits you’ll find on the Roomba 761:
- High-efficiency HEPA filters.
- Dock and recharge when the battery runs low.
- Sophisticated dirt detection capabilities.
- Auto-scheduling presets.
- Virtual walls included.
Drawbacks? One of the biggest challenges with the 761 is that it often gets stuck behind doors. As a result, you might discover that you’re manually interacting with your robot vacuum more than expected. The other drawback with the 761 is actually a good problem to have. This smart vacuum picks up dirt, debris, and pet hair so well that the dustbin fills up quickly. As a result, you have to empty the dustbin more frequently than you might with other robot vacuums.
iRobot Braava m6 – Best Roomba Mop for 2019
We’ve already mentioned the Braava Jet m6 in conjunction with the iRobot Roomba s9+, but it’s fair to say that these two top of the line smart devices go hand in hand with one another. Their Imprint Link technology means you have very little to worry about when it comes to the cleanliness fo your floors. Plus, the m6 cleans walls and baseboards, which is a feature more smart mops don’t have.
With its enhanced navigation and redock and recharge features, the m6 is one of the best robot mops on the market. You’ll get these features and many others when you choose to purchase a Braava m6 robot mop. Features like:
- Can cover a 1,000 square foot area.
- Voice command capabilities with Alexa and Google.
- Slide-on wet and dry pads for mopping.
- Manual controls on top of device.
- Auto-dock and self-resume.
- iOS and Android mobile application.
Drawbacks? Similar to the s9+, the biggest drawback to the Braava Jet m6 is cost. Even though the m6 is no slouch in the cleaning and feature department, you’ll notice a sizeable jump between the 380t and the m6. Another drawback inherent with the m6 is its size. It is larger than other smart mops, which means it’s going to have a harder time reaching areas under furniture or low lying obstacles.
Best Affordable Roomba: Roomba 675
In this category we will look at the best budget Roomba models. This is a helpful category for price conscious consumers who just want a Rooma for the best possible price. You might have to settle for an older model, but the features of these Roomba’s are usually more than competent for your average home. If you are looking for the cheapest Roomba, check out the suggestions below.
- CLEAN SMARTER - The 600 series is a great way to begin cleaning your home smarter. Just schedule it to clean up daily dirt, dust, and debris with the iRobot HOME app or your voice assistant. - for effortlessly clean floors.
- LOOSENS, LIFTS, & SUCTIONS - The 3 Stage Cleaning system & Dual Multi-Surface brushes grab dirt from carpets & hard floors, an Edge-Sweeping brush takes care of corners & edges.
- LEARNS YOUR LIFE LISTENS TO YOUR VOICE - Learns your cleaning habits to offer up personalized schedules, while Google Assistant & Alexa allow you to start cleaning with just the sound of your voice.
- ADAPTIVE NAVIGATION - A full suite of advanced sensors allow Roomba to navigate under & around furniture, & along edges. Cliff Detect keeps it from falling down stairs.
- SENSES & ELIMINATES DIRT - Dirt Detect Sensors alert your robot about dirtier areas of your home, like high-traffic spots, & cleans them more thoroughly.
Full Review: My Roomba 675 Review
Our previous choice was the Roomba 614. We chose it because it was the lowest priced model that still cleans better than most other robot vacuums within its price range. It had the Dirt Detect feature, three-stage cleaning, and iAdapt navigation technology. All that while still having a relatively low price.
This time, however, we are going with the Roomba 675 for the most affordable category. It delivers the same level of clean as the Roomba 614, plus it has the same features offered by the older robot vacuum. However, the Roomba 675 is Wi-Fi connected. This feature gives you the ability to control the robotic vacuum cleaner using the Home mobile app, as well as the ability to operate the 675 via voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. All that for a similar price tag.
Best Value Roomba for the Money: Roomba e5
Full Review: My Roomba e5 Review
The Roomba e5 is one of the latest vacuum cleaner models from iRobot. It unseats the previous winner for the best value Roomba: the Roomba 890. In the past, we chose the Roomba 890 because it delivers a great balance between price and functionality. Using the brand’s iAdapt navigation system and the AeroForce cleaning technologies, the 890 provides thorough cleaning for all floor types. For pet owners, the Roomba 890 is a godsend. It uses the brushless debris extractor to sweep your floors. The debris extractor means fewer tangles because there are no brush bristles that can get stuck with pet hair.
The Roomba e5 is also specifically designed for pet hair. Plus, it uses the high-efficiency filter that you find on the Roomba 890. Suction cleaning power on the e5 is five times more powerful than the vacuum you see on the Roomba 675. It also has the power-lifting suction technology and washable dust bin that enables it to give your floors a deep clean.
The most significant improvement of the Roomba e5 over the Roomba 890 is its dual multi-surface rubber brushes. This is like the debris extractor on steroids. These rubber brushes can hug your floors to make sure that it sweeps up more debris and dirt.
With the Roomba e5, you can get up to 90 minutes of cleaning, and it can recharge itself when the battery life runs low. It also has all the essential features offered by the latest Roombas: dirt detect technology, smart navigation, edge-sweeping brush roll, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Newest Roomba Model: Best Overall Performance: Roomba i7+
Full Review: My iRobot Roomba i7+ Review
For quite some time, it was unthinkable that another Roomba model would topple the Roomba 980, our previous pick for this category. The Roomba 980 had everything people wanted in a robot vacuum. It used the company’s iAdapt 2.0 navigation technology that used an onboard camera to create maps of your floors. The Roomba 980 then uses that virtual map to make sure that it does not miss any spot. It also uses the AeroForce cleaning system. What’s more, the Roomba 980 was also perfect for large homes because it can recharge itself when the battery life runs low and then resume cleaning after charging.
The Roomba 980 also offered a lot of connected features via the mobile app. With the 980, it was not enough to just be able to use voice commands to operate your robot vacuum or start cleaning from your smartphone. It also delivered clean reports and showed you where your robot has cleaned. You can also set your cleaning preferences.
Moreover, the Roomba 980 also delivered more suction power with the Carpet Boost feature. It also features a long lasting battery that can provide up to two hours of cleaning. In short, the Roomba 980 was as close as you can get to worry-free vacuuming sessions.
The iRobot Roomba i7+ does more than that. Imagine having a robot vacuum that you can ignore for a whole month (between charging and self-emptying). Not to mention that the i7+ improves on the already stellar features you see on the Roomba 980.
The Roomba i7+ comes with the CleanBase. The CleanBase acts as the docking station for the i7+, but it also has a vacuum that would suck out the dirt and dust from the i7+’s trash bin. The CleanBase’s own dust bin can hold up to 30 full i7+ bins. That means that even if the i7+ can fill its dust bin every day, you can still go for 30 days without worrying about emptying out the trash receptacle on the CleanBase.
The Roomba i7+ also uses the iAdapt 3.0 navigation technology. Not only does the Roomba i7+ scan your floors and create maps, but it can also store them. This nifty feature allows you to save time rather than have the robot vacuum scan the floor every time it cleans. It also allows you to direct the Roomba i7+ to clean a particular room, i.e., the master bedroom, or your son’s room.
Bottom Line: The Roomba i7+ is an AMAZING great leap forward for iRobot (with the self-empty function). However, it’s still the most expensive Roomba on the market…
Best Roomba for Hardwood Floor
While we cover the overall best robots for hardwood floors elsewhere, when we specifically look at Roombas, these are my top picks…
Since a hardwood floor is generally less difficult to clean than carpets, you generally do not need to scrape the top of the price range here. That said, if you have plank wood flooring with grooves where the boards connect, you will still want a Roomba with plenty of powerful suction to pull up accumulated dirt and grime.
As such, I would take nice long long at the Roomba e5 (check the latest price here) OR the Roomba 960 (check prices here). While the 960 is a bit older, it does have more advanced mapping for larger floorplans (memory mapping). It’s generally around the same price as the e5.
No products found.The “in-betweens” – Other Roombas to Consider
iRobot is known to offer a robot vacuum that will be perfect for everyone. The current line-up is no different. Even as the company has introduced three new robots during the IFA 2018, they still retained some of the older models that can serve different market segments.
For instance, for people who do not mind having to empty out the robot vacuum’s dust bin every day, but need a powerful robot vacuum with the nifty features offered by iAdapt 3.0, there’s the Roomba i7. The Roomba i7 is the Roomba i7+ without the CleanBase. It has all the other features offered by the i7+, and it costs less.
The Roomba i7 (check price here), which puts it at the same level as the Roomba 960. However, even when priced the same, the Roomba 960 loses out to the i7. There is really no good reason why iRobot retained the Roomba 960 in its current line-up of robot vac. The 960 has a weaker vacuum power, the same li-ion battery run times, the same essential features, and the same Wi-Fi connectivity offered by the Roomba i7+.
However, the Roomba 960 does not have the following features offered by the i7+:
- Washable bin
- Customized cleaning preferences
- Compatibility with the CleanBase
- Schedule cleaning by room
- Storage of virtual maps
The Roomba 960, however, is a good fit for those people who might find it worrisome to have floor plans of their entire house stored on the cloud. The i7 and the i7+ scan your floors and then keep a copy of these maps on the cloud. Naturally, this raises both privacy and security concerns. What if a hacker was able to download your home’s floor maps?
Furthermore, you can expect the prices for Roomba 960 to drop significantly. Perhaps, not on the iRobot online store, but on other retailer sites. As of this writing, prices for the Roomba 960 on Amazon have dropped in price from the original price.
Lastly, if you are looking for a budget Roomba, you can also consider the Roomba 690. The 690 has all the features offered by the Roomba 675. It does cost a little more because it included the dual mode virtual wall barrier, which can keep the robot vacuum out of places where you do not want it to go.
What makes iRobot the company to beat when it comes to robot vacuums is not just their ability to come out with Roombas that have the latest technologies or that have the right combination of price and features. The company also tries to come up with a Roomba model for everybody.
For instance, the Roomba 690 is a good choice for those people who are contented with the level of cleaning and the features that the Roomba 614 offers but would like the ability to remote control their robotic vacuums, or use voice commands to operate it.
Other Roomba Reviews
To go deeper, dig into these reviews on various Roomba models:
- Roomba i7+ Review
- Roomba i7 Review
- Roomba 980 Review
- Roomba s9 Review
- Roomba 960 Review
- Roomba 890 Review
- Roomba 690 Review
- Roomba e5 Review
- Roomba 675 Review
- Roomba 614 Review
Older Roomba Models
- Roomba 770 Review
- Roomba 650 Review
- Roomba 870 Review
- Roomba 630 Review
- Roomba 860 Review
- Roomba 620 Review
- Roomba 780 Review
- Roomba 595 Review
- Roomba 880 Review
- Roomba 790 Review
- Roomba 760 Review
Roomba Model Comparison Chart for 2019
The end of an era? The start of something greater?
For years, Roomba has been naming their robot vacuums according to the series it belongs to. For instance, its previous top robots are from the Series 900: the Roomba 980 and the Roomba 960. Meanwhile, the Roomba 675 and 690 come from the Series 600 robots, which use older technologies, but have more affordable price tags.
With the Roomba e5 and the i7+, iRobot breaks all conventions. But it goes beyond just robot names. Roombas are now in a class of their own with a self-cleaning robot vacuum that you can ask to clean specific rooms in the house.
To give you an idea of which Roomba models you should consider, here is a side-by-side comparison of selected Roombas you can buy right now:
| Model | Roomba 675 | Roomba 960 | Roomba e5 | Roomba i7+ | Roomba s9+ | Roomba 761 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | Check the last price here! | Check the last price here! | Check the last price here! | Check the last price here! | Check the last price here! | Check the last price here! |
| Three-stage cleaning system | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dirt detect technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum battery runtime (minutes) | 90 | 75 | 90 | 75 | 120 | 60 |
| Auto recharge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edge sweeping brush | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cleans under & around furniture? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connected | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Scheduled cleaning? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual mode virtual wall barrier | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual multi-surface rubber brush | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power-lifting suction | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Perfect for pet hair | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High efficiency filter | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Washable bin | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Entire level cleaning | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customized cleaning preferences | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Resumes after charging | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CleanBase | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Schedule cleaning by room | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Map storage | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Roomba 675 | <strong>Roomba 960 | Roomba e5 | Roomba i7+ |
| MSRP | Check Price Here | Check Price Here | Check Price Here | Check Price Here |
| Three-stage cleaning system | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dirt detect technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum battery runtime (minutes) | 90 | 75 | 90 | 75 |
| Auto recharge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edge sweeping brush | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cleans under & around furniture? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connected | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled cleaning? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual mode virtual wall barrier | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual multi-surface rubber brush | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power-lifting suction | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Perfect for pet hair | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High efficiency filter | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Washable bin | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Entire level cleaning | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Customized cleaning preferences | No | No | No | Yes |
| Resumes after charging | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| CleanBase | No | No | No | Yes |
| Schedule cleaning by room | No | No | No | Yes |
| Map storage | No | No | No | Yes |
Other Roomba Comparisons:
- Roomba i7 vs. Roomba s9
- Roomba e5 vs e6
- Roomba e5 vs 960
- Roomba e5 vs 980
- Roomba e5 vs i7 vs i7+
- Roomba i7+ vs s9+
- Roomba s9 vs Roomba 960
- Roomba s9 vs e5
- Roomba i7+ vs 690
- Roomba i7+ vs 890
- Roomba 960 vs 980
- Roomba 960 vs 890
- Roomba 960 vs 675
- Roomba e5 vs 890
- Roomba i7+ vs 980
- Roomba e5 vs 675
- Roomba e5 vs 690
- Roomba 675 vs 690
- Roomba 890 vs 980
- Roomba 980 vs 690
- Roomba 980 vs Xiaomi Mi
- Roomba 690 vs 890
- Roomba 690 vs 960
- Roomba i7+ vs 675
- Dyson 360 Eye vs Roomba 980
Older Roomba Vacuum Cleaner Models
- Roomba 690 vs 650
- Roomba 630 vs 650
- Roomba 595 vs 770
- Roomba 650 vs 760
- Roomba 650 vs 860
- Roomba 890 vs 880
- Roomba 980 vs 650
- Roomba 880 vs 980
- Roomba 960 vs 880
- Roomba 960 vs 860
- Roomba 860 vs 690
- Roomba 770 vs 980
- Roomba 880 vs 650
- Roomba 980 vs 870
- Roomba 650 vs 770
- Roomba 860 vs 880
- Roomba 860 vs 770
- Roomba 630 vs 790
- Roomba 880 vs 770
- Roomba 870 vs 770
- iClebo Arte vs Roomba 880
- Roomba 790 vs 880
- Roomba 805 vs 890
- Roomba 770 vs Moneual Rydis H68
- Bobsweep vs Roomba 780
- Samsung Powerbot vs Roomba 880
Still Stuck? Take a Look Here!
You can also check out other robot vacuum brands, if Roomba isn’t quite right for you, like one of these robotic vacuum cleaners:
- iRobot Braava 320 Review – Is it Right for You?
- A Review of the New Braava Jet 240 Floor Mopping Robot
FAQs
Answer: Put your Roomba in the Home Base and push the “Spot Clean” button for 15 seconds. After hearing the tone, you can be sure the mode has been activated. The robot will automatically turn off the mode after 1 minute of being reactivated if you press the “Clean Button”
Answer: If you want your Roomba to be with you for many years, make sure you give it the right treatment. Remember to empty the bin after every use, and to clean the brushes periodically. To clean your robot, make sure you only use the official tools or a dry piece of fabric. Never expose your robot to liquids or chemicals.
Answer: Well, not exactly. Most of these robot vacuum cleaners can cost from $300 to $900, which is even 10x more than an average vacuum cleaner.
Answer: Depending on how frequently you use the Roomba vacuum cleaner, the smart cleaner can last anywhere from 2 to 5 years, and the warranty only covers 1 year.
Answer: Not exactly. Roomba cleaners don’t have the power of a traditional vacuum cleaner, so they cannot replace them in long term.
Answer: Well, yes there are Roomba Robot vacuum bundles which often come with additional equipment, and you can mostly find these Roomba vacuums at a great discount for Black Friday or Cyber Monday which happens every year on Amazon.
What about irobot 655 as opposed to irobot 761?
I’d go with the 700 series. Some definite improvements in cleaning technology and the prices are quite comparable these days.
I bought the 870 from Amazon Warehouse at a substantial savings. The box was beat to heck, but the Roomba was new, and wrapped and didn’t have a mark on it. Everything was in the box, too. I paid just under $450, I believe, so it pays to check around!
What about the 650? I just bought it but hasn’t used it yet
It’s a good value for the money right now. Good for handling a couple rooms (ideal for apartment living). It’s the oldest model which still has auto-scheduling features.
What is the difference between the 860 and 880? I can get the 860 from my points at Holiday Inn. Is it worth it to try to get them to carry the 880?
The only really difference is the number of accessories that come with the package. Do you want extra lighthouses, brushes, replacement filters, etc…? Or are you comfortable adding as you go/need?
My husband is giving me the 650 model, but we really needed it for pet hair. Will this work?
It should work, Judy. At least for maintenance cleaning. The newer models have better suction and better filters, but the 650 still does a great job overall.