Is a Roomba Worth It?

So, you have decided to get an automatic vacuum, and now you are asking yourself, “Is a Roomba worth it”? Well, we believe that they are, and we are going to tell you why.

History of Roomba

Pioneering spirit

Since its inception, IRobot has been committed to discovery, technological exploration, and invention to develop robots to aid us in our homes.

Their pioneering spirit has them leading the industry in the areas of human-robot interaction and mapping technology. Irobot is aiming to develop smart home technologies through their inventions and partnerships.

They launched their STEM program to inspire and foster some of the engineers of the next generation.

iRobot is constantly bringing the exciting educational world of robotics to students via classroom visits, online resources, and more.

iRobot is consistently investing in applications that are in line with their projects and also in new opportunities to expand. They take pride in participating in innovations that they feel they can contribute to.

Recent innovations

IRobot has been at the forefront of the industry for over a decade. They have constantly been innovating and adding useful robots and features to their product line. In 2016, iRobot launched the Braava jet mopping robot.

The Braava jets are robots that can mop multiple rooms. They were the first to market the self-cleaning robot in 2017 with their launch of the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit, and in 2019 the company added the Root, a coding robot to its line of products.

Constantly setting the standard for Robot vacuums

The name Roomba is synonymous with Robot vacuuming. Most other brands in the industry model their devices after innovations pioneered by the Roomba.

Roomba was the first to market a commercially viable automatic vacuuming robot, they were the first to launch the self-emptying robot, iRobot is the first company to create intelligent cleaning robots that communicate with each other.

Roomba also pioneered the invention of robots that can be programmed to avoid specific areas of your home out of their cleaning routes.

iRobot also makes Roomba robots that are upgradable so that the devices can be updated over time to improve their performances.

Rated continuously on the best robot vacuum lists.

If you were to do an internet search for the best automatic vacuuming robots, it’s guaranteed that the list will contain at least one Roomba. It’s even very likely that the Roomba will be on top of said list. Here is the first list on Google, take a look.

Advantages to buying Roomba

Prices

Because of the brand credibility of iRobot, many people believe that all Roomba robots are expensive, however, this is not the case. The iRobot suite of robots is actually very vast, and there is something for everyone.

They have good budget options, feature-packed mid-options, and fully loaded luxury models. Once you access your budget and cleaning needs, you should be able to find a Roomba that is perfect for your home.

Save time

• Budget option- The three budget options from iRobot (Roomba 675, Roomba 614, Roomba e5)are quite useful for cleaning your home’s individual levels. They have multi-surface brushes that allow for automatic cleaning of our carpets and hard floors. The Roomba e5 is great with pet hair, so you should consider this one if you are a pet owner.

• i7 and s9 models make cleaning completely hands-off. – The Roomba i7 and s9 robots are two of the most innovative robots on the market today. These two robots are compatible with iRobot’s Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit.

The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit empties the robot’s bit when it is full, so you do not have to physically interact with the robot for months.

• Tagging function, how does this reduce workload for people- Most of us mop our floors after they are vacuumed. With iRobot’s Imprint Link Technology, you do not need to do that anymore. The Roomba 960, i7, and s9 robots can communicate with the Braava jet m6 robot. After they are finished with vacuuming, they will tell the m6 that it is time to mop.

Can clean specific Rooms

If you are on the market for a robot vacuum that can map, remember and learn your home’s floor plan and then tell each room from the next to optimize its cleaning cycle, the Roomba i7 and s9 robots both have imprint Smart Mapping that allows them to be scheduled and clean specific rooms.

Other Roomba robots do not have this feature, but the Roomba 500 Series, Roomba 780, 790, and Roomba 880 are compatible with the Roomba Virtual Wall Lighthouse that can be used to control rooms in which your Roomba cleans.

Pet Hair Control

Most Roomba robots were designed with pet owners in mind. The Roomba e5, 960,980,i7, and s9 are built with flexible rubber brushes and high-efficiency filters that clean pet hair without getting them tangled and filters out 99% of pet allergens.

Drawbacks of owning a Roomba Vacuum

Expensive if you buy a premium model

Roomba robots can be pricy if you want to get a premium model. These devices are packed with additional useful, innovative, industry-leading features such as smart mapping technology, linking technology, updatable options, powerful suction, and the ability to empty their bins.

These premium features come at a premium price, so, understandably, they are pricy. The budget options are not bad for what they are, but they are not great when compared with the later versions.

Doesn’t have the vacuuming power of an upright vacuum

Roomba vacuums, even the premium models, are constricted by their battery strengths and torque. They are not able to compete with upright vacuums in terms of suction because of these constrictions.

Roomba devices cannot pull up the larger debris that upright vacuums can easily handle. The higher vacuuming power of the upright vacuum allows you to complete vacuuming tasks much faster than a Roomba device.

Can’t navigate stairs (All robot vacuums have this issue)

Unfortunately, robot vacuums were not designed for climbing stairs. They are restricted to very low inclines. Their small form factor and low profile do not allow them to navigate drop-offs and stairs in your home.

Because Roombas cannot safely navigate stairs, they are built with sensors that detect these areas and keep the robots away from them.

Some upright vacuums come with attachments that allow you to clean curtains etc.

Although some Roomba robots have many features and can be paired with the Braava jet m6 to mop after a vacuum, they cannot be customized to do additional off the ground vacuuming and scrubbing.

Many current upright vacuums come with attachments that you can use to scrub areas while you vacuum and extensions that you can use to vacuum high areas, curtains, and other above-ground surfaces in your home.

How does Roomba compare to its competitors?

Unfortunately, Roomba’s competitors with similar features are usually cheaper. iRobot developed some advanced features such as smart mapping and self-emptying bins that inspire a few of their competitor’s developments but not a lot.

The latest iRobot Roomba, the s9, is updatable but the majority of their competitors aren’t. Many Roomba alternatives have added or built-in attachments that allow them to do the vacuuming and mopping with a single unit, but, unfortunately, the Roomba devices need to be paired with Braava robots.

Thinking of Buying a Roomba, a few things you should consider

To determine which Roomba robot is best suited for you, your home, and your family, there are a few things to consider. Let’s review them.

Budget

iRobot has many price points for its Roomba devices. They have budget options from the Roomba 600 series and the Roomba e5. These devices are sufficient for basic functions. The Roomba 800 and 900 series are priced in the mid-range, while the i7 and the s9 models are in the luxury or premium range.

Consider your available budge first, before exploring the available options from the Roomba product line.

Complete hands-off experience

Even though all the Roomba robots are automatic with their vacuuming functions, only a few are able to provide a completely hands-off experience for months at a time. All Roomba robots except the i7 and the s9 will require you to interact with them by emptying their small bins when they are full.

The i7 and the s9 are compatible with the Clean Base Disposal unit that empties the automatic vacuums once they are full.

Mapping

If you have a home with many rooms, it is best if you consider a Roomba robot that has a mapping feature. Roombas with mapping can map and adapt to different rooms in your home and, in turn, optimize their cleaning performance.

Pets

If you have pets, you need to get a Roomba designed to deal with pet hair. These include the Roomba e5, 890,960,980, i7, and s9 models.

Run Time

Depending on the size of your home, you may need to consider each Roomba’s run time. Some Roombas have a recharge and resume feature that extends its cleaning time.

Suction Power

When compared to upright vacuums, the Roomba line of products does not have the best suction power. This is something to consider when buying a Roomba, as each Roomba series has a different amount of suction power. The s9 has the strongest suction.