The 4 Best Roombas for Every Home, Tested by PEOPLE

Other Roombas to Consider

• iRobot Roomba i4 EVO: The Roomba i4 EVO is the new, updated version of the i3 EVO. It has all the same features, including smart mapping and dual rubber brushes, but it’s equipped with a larger battery. This means it can clean for longer periods of time before needing to return to its base and recharge. It’s also available in a “Plus” model.
• Roomba Combo i5: Roomba recently released several new robot vacuum and mop combo units, and the most affordable option is the i5. This model comes with a separate mopping module that you can attach in place of the traditional dust bin, allowing it to wash your hard floors with either plain water or a special cleaning solution. 

What to Know About Roombas

Self-Emptying

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when selecting a Roomba is whether or not you want a self-emptying model. Products like the Roomba 694 have a small onboard dustbin that generally needs to be emptied after every cleaning cycle, while any of the “Plus” models, such as the Roomba j7+, empty their dustbin into the base when it gets full. 

“If you’re an allergy sufferer, pet owner, have children, or generally just want a hands-free cleaning experience, consider a Roomba with a self-emptying bin, which can empty up to 60 days' worth of dirt, debris, and pet fur in an enclosed bag,” recommends Stocking. “iRobot’s self-emptying Roomba robot vacuums expel their debris into a sealed bag, trapping and locking away the dirt and debris and preventing it from re-entering the home’s environment.” 

Smart Mapping

Once upon a time, robot vacuums used to travel around the floor in a randomized pattern, bouncing off walls and other objects like a nightstand or bookcase before heading in the opposite direction. Today’s Roombas work in a more methodical pattern, and some models also offer smart mapping abilities, which allow you to direct the vacuum to specific locations. 

“Smart mapping robots can seamlessly and efficiently navigate an entire level of a home and keep track of its location,” explains Stocking. “Users can label rooms, clean them in any order they want, and set up ‘Keep Out Zones’ to keep the robot out of unwanted areas. Similarly, users can establish ‘Clean Zones’ so the robot will concentrate on more defined areas, such as in front of the living room couch or under the dining room table.”

Obstacle Avoidance

Obstacle recognition and avoidance are other features that you may want to look for in a Roomba. One common complaint about robot vacuums is that they can get stuck on things like power cords or even small area rugs, but certain Roombas — namely the Roomba j7 — have sensors that allow them to avoid these obstacles.

“If you have a mix of floor types or your floors are often cluttered — perhaps you have children or pets — you should consider a Roomba with object detection and avoidance, such as the Roomba j Series,” says Stocking. “These robots are trained to identify common hazards on the floor, such as shoes, socks, clothes, cords, backpacks, and even pet waste.”

Budget

Roombas can vary significantly in price — you can pay as little as $150 or upward of $1,000, depending on the model you select. You’ll want to take your budget into account as you shop and rest assured that even the cheaper models will do a good job picking up dirt off your floor. However, more expensive models are generally equipped with advanced features like smart mapping and obstacle avoidance. 

Behind the Scenes

We tested current iRobot Roomba vacuums alongside dozens of other robot vacuum cleaners. For each model, we evaluated them in the following areas: 

• Setup: While setting up each robot vacuum, we timed how long it took to unbox the product and get it ready for testing. We noted whether the process was intuitive and if we had any issues connecting smart models to the Wi-Fi network. 
• Effectiveness: To assess each vacuum’s suction power and debris pickup, we created a test area with both hard floors and carpeting. We spread several types of debris on the floor, including hair, Cheerios, and sand, and we noted how much of each material the vacuum was able to pick up. 
• Noise Level: To measure how loud each vacuum is while cleaning, we used a decibel meter to test the noise level in a small room with a closed door. 
• Maneuverability: During testing, each vacuum had to navigate around large obstacles, including a medium-pile area rug, couch, and coffee table. We also tested their ability to avoid small items that may be left on the floor, including a USB cable, a baby sock, and a glob of chocolate pudding, which we used to imitate pet waste. 
• Emptying: We assessed each vacuum on how much debris it could hold and how often it needed to be emptied, noting whether the process was straightforward, easy to accomplish, and/or messy. 
• Long-Term Testing: In addition to lab testing, we also sent each Roomba model home with one of our testers for long-term evaluation. Testers used each vacuum in their homes over the course of three or more months, and they answered questions about how the vacuum fit into their cleaning routine and whether there were any performance changes after several weeks of use. 

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who specializes in home, kitchen, and pet products, and she’s personally tested dozens of different robot vacuums, including Roombas, in her career. To compile this roundup, she consulted our testing insights for information on all the different Roomba models we tried, taking into account each product’s overall scores and their best use cases. 

What Is PEOPLE Tested? 

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.