iRobot Review

Wednesday, January 15th

2025 Robot Vacuum Reviews

iRobot

• $499 to $1,399
• Established in 1990 by a group of roboticists from MIT
• Roomba's two-brush system is especially good for cleaning carpets
• Interactive quiz available on the iRobot website to help recommend the right model
• Roomba Combo j5+ model can vacuum and mop your hard floors
• i5+ model can empty its own bin into a bag that holds up to 60 days of dirt
• All models work well with smart home systems for voice commands
• j9+ model comes with a P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise)
• 60-day satisfaction guarantee and 1-year warranty on all models
• High customer satisfaction with the cleaning performance of the vacuums

iRobot, the creators of Roomba, was established in 1990 by a group of roboticists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Initially, their focus was on robots for space exploration and military defense. However, in 2002, they introduced the first Roomba, a key development in making robots a common household item. They've been in business for 34 years and have an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Roomba's two-brush system, especially good for cleaning carpets, was patent-protected for a long time. But since the patent expired in May 2023, other brands have started using similar systems.

Fun, interactive quiz available

Not sure what you want from your vacuum? You can take a quick quiz on the iRobot website that will help recommend the right model for you. The quiz will ask you about your lifestyle and home. It will inquire about who lives in your house - kids, adults, pets, or shedding pets. It will ask if your living space is spotless or lived-in, which helps determine whether you need a Roomba with obstacle detection. You will be asked to indicate the level of mess in your home using an entertaining slider, and items will appear on the floor in the animation as you adjust it. (It's a fun process that reminds us a little of those online dress-up games from the early 2010s.) The quiz will also ask about the type of flooring in your home, whether it's carpet, hard floors, or a mix, the number of levels in your home, and your preferred level of cleaning customization.

Mops can be used with your favorite cleaning solutions

We were recommended the $729 Roomba Combo j5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop. It can vacuum and mop your hard floors, switching between the two with just a simple change of a bin. It's smart too - it learns how to clean different rooms and messes, and can even avoid obstacles. Plus, you can use it with any floor cleaner you like. This means you can keep using the cleaning products that you trust and love.

Mopping feature on Combo models isn't great

If you buy the Roomba Combo j5+, you'll find it's great at vacuuming different surfaces like tile, carpet, and wood. To get the best results, try to declutter your rooms before the first use, so it can map your rooms accurately. Although many reviews focus on a robot vacuum's navigation skills, the real value of the Roomba is in its cleaning performance. For example, if you have carpets, Roomba is a top choice. The mop feature, however, might not be as effective as you'd like. It's more like a damp cloth dragged around the house and might not clean up small dirt spots as you'd expect. While it's not designed for deep cleaning, you might expect a bit more from the mopping feature - one customer recommends you avoid the combo models altogether and opt for just the vacuums. Roomba's has two vacuum-only models, priced at $499 and $899.

i5+ is a good basic robot vacuum

With the $499 i5+, you're getting a dependable vacuum that navigates your home in neat rows, thanks to its Imprint Smart Mapping technology. This model is good at picking up everyday mess and pet hair from different floor types, and it won't get tangled. One of the best features is that it can empty its own bin into a bag that holds up to 60 days of dirt, so you won't have to think about vacuuming for two months. If you have a smart home assistant like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, you can control your Roomba with just your voice.

J9+ comes with P.O.O.P. Promise

On the other hand, the $899 j9+ model takes cleaning to the next level with its high suction power and special features for pet owners and larger homes. This model shines because it's great at picking up stubborn dirt, pet hair, and debris due to its strong suction and three suction power levels. The j9+ uses a smart navigation system to avoid obstacles and focus on cleaning areas where people walk the most, so you get a deep clean. If you have pets, you'll like the P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) - if the vacuum fails to avoid pet waste, you'll get a free replacement. Just like the i5+, the j9+ can empty its own bin and hold up to 60 days of dirt, and it works well with smart home systems for voice commands. But what makes the j9+ stand out is its advanced navigation, better pet features, and focus on deep cleaning.

60 day satisfaction guarantee, 1 year warranty

If you're not happy with your iRobot purchase, you can return it within 60 days for a refund, but shipping costs aren't covered. (However, this only applies if you bought your vacuum from their website.) If you want a full refund, you must return any free gifts or promotional items with your iRobot vacuum. Your iRobot vacuum comes with a one-year limited warranty from the day you buy it. This warranty covers any issues with the materials or workmanship if you bought your vacuum from iRobot or an authorized dealer. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from misusing the product or accidents, or if you used parts or cleaning solutions that aren't approved by iRobot. Also, remember that this warranty is only good in the country where you bought the product.

Technical support could be better

Despite their great rating from the Better Business Bureau, we found many unhappy customers elsewhere. On Trustpilot, we encountered numerous complaints about how iRobot's customer service handles issues with Roombas. In one case, a customer's vacuum broke three times and was returned to them still broken after supposedly being fixed. They had to spend 20 minutes troubleshooting the robot themselves. Another wrote that while they were generally satisfied with the product during the warranty period, the customer service was subpar. They had to wait four working days for a response and were given insufficient information to make informed decisions about out-of-pocket repairs. Another customer tried seven times to get assistance from iRobot's customer service and tech support to no avail. They had a brand-new vacuum that wouldn't connect to the app despite trying all suggested solutions.

Overall a good robot vacuum

Remember, a robot vacuum, even the ones from iRobot, can't completely replace a traditional vacuum, especially if you have carpeted stairs. It does a decent job, but it's not perfect. If you're expecting the power of a high-end vacuum, a robot vacuum might not be the right choice for you. However, iRobot's Roombas can generally get about 95% of the dirt and hair on your floors, making it possible for you to relax a bit between more thorough cleanings. While we think iRobot's vacuums have a lot going for them, their customer service has room for improvement. Still, they earn a highrating in our review.