iRobot Roomba i1 1154 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum

About a year after the 11S was released, we started to hear from owners whose bots had already died. On the other hand, one staffer has had the 11S for four years, and it’s still going strong. The bigger problem is that RoboVac models can’t be fixed when they break. We dismantled an older Eufy RoboVac 30 and found that doing major repairs was impossible without breaking parts of the robot. The Roomba 694, on the other hand, was easy for us to strip down and then reassemble with just a screwdriver. The Roomba 694, like most affordable robots, is what we call a bump-and-run navigator.

The I3 (“plus” variant) offers the “Clean Base” station, which saves users time because it automatically empties the bin for you. Battery reliability is a frequently mentioned complaint on customer review websites. Battery replacements from iRobot cost a significant fraction of the purchase price of a new Roomba, though compatible third-party batteries are available at a lower price. The iRobot customer support website offers advice on maximizing battery performance and longevity. As opposed to hacking and extending Roomba, non Desktop users can use the iRobot HOME App, although only certain models support 5 GHz.

Overall, however, Roomba vacuums tend to be most effective in uncluttered areas on solid surfacing or on low- to medium-pile carpeting. Through the company’s Imprint Link technology, the iRobot Roomba i3 coordinates with the Braava Jet M6 robot mop so users can vacuum and then mop in sequence. When it’s marketermagic running low on battery—after about 75 minutes of runtime—the Roomba will automatically recharge and then resume cleaning. In those same cleaning tests the Shark IQ removed 98% on hardwood, 74% on low carpet, and 90% on high carpet. For whatever reason, it really seemed to struggle on low carpets.

The best Roomba vacuums offer enough suction power and smart capabilities to meet the needs of the users. Whether you’re looking for a crumb finder or a pet-hair attacker, the hands-on testing results of these robot vacuums can help shoppers pick the best Roomba for their needs. We tested these models in a home to see how they dealt with real dirt, pet hair, and debris as well as simulated dust and heavy crumbs to put the robot vacuums through their paces. Like many robot vacuums at this price, the Roomba i3 EVO can thoroughly clean big spaces by following a logical, orderly path throughout a home. To do so, the i3 EVO uses floor sensors, bump sensors, gyroscopes, and infrared . That means it doesn’t miss many spots or waste much time recleaning the same areas, as our budget picks, or other low-end models that navigate semi-randomly, usually do.

From what I have read, no Roomba vacuums have a HEPA filter, all that say HEPA in your chart are marketed as having High Efficiency filters, not HEPA. Derek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader’s Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University.

They were less expensive models intended for first-time purchasers. The Roomba Dirt Dog contained sweeping brushes and a larger dust bin, but lacked the vacuum motor, using the space that would be required for the vacuum for additional dust bin volume. The Roomba Model 401 was similar but had a standard-size dust bin and vacuum system. All models have a patented design using pair of brushes or rollers, rotating in opposite directions, to pick up debris from the floor. In some models, the brushes are followed by a squeegee vacuum, which directs the airflow through a narrow slit to increase its speed in order to collect fine dust. A horizontally mounted “side spinner” brush on the right side of the unit sweeps against walls to reach debris not accessible by the main brushes and vacuum.

If you have thicker rugs, or if you just feel like owning a stronger bot, go ahead and spend a little more on a bot with better brushes or stronger suction. The iRobot Roomba i1 is an entry-level smart-pathing robot vacuum that’s fully compatible with a self-emptying base station. Unfortunately, it carries over a lot of the i3’s weaknesses, with poor overall debris pickup performance on carpeted floors. It also struggles with bulkier debris, which can clog the entrance to its dustbin. The iRobot Roomba i1 is an entry-level model in iRobot’s lineup of smart-pathing i-series robot vacuums.

The Roomba 980 has the longest run time at 120 minutes thanks to its large-capacity lithium-ion battery . It has a bagged system capable of storing an equivalent of 30 bin fulls of dirt. However, that may vary depending on the size of your home and the frequency of runs.