The 5 Best Roombas of 2024
When You Think About the Best Robot Vacuums, Chances Are the Roomba Brand Comes to Mind. This Well-Known Line of Vacuums, Created by iRobot, Boasts Powerful...
When you think about the best robot vacuums, chances are the Roomba brand comes to mind. This well-known line of vacuums, created by iRobot, boasts powerful suction and impressive navigation abilities, and today, the brand offers a wide range of robot vacuum models, including several robot-mop combination units. Because there are so many options available, it can be tricky to figure out which one will work best in your home.
“iRobot offers several Roomba models designed to meet the needs of a range of customers, from entry-level Roomba models starting in the $200-$300 range to our flagship Roomba j9 Series that are iRobot’s smartest and most intelligent flooring cleaning robots to date,” explains Ryan Stocking, a product manager at iRobot. “When you’re shopping for a Roomba, there are several factors to keep in mind: budget, the size of your home, the level of clutter on the floors and whether or not you have pets.”
We wanted to see the difference between today’s most popular Roomba models, so we tested five of the brand’s top-rated products alongside dozens of other robot vacuums. We evaluated each model on things like ease of setup, effectiveness on different floor types, obstacle avoidance, and more, and we sorted them into their best use cases to help you find the right fit for your home.
Here are the best Roombas that PEOPLE Tested.
Best Overall
iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Robot Vacuum
Amazon
Effectively picks up dirt and debris on carpeting and hard floors
The vacuum is quiet enough that it’s not disruptive while cleaning
This model is available with or without a self-emptying base
If you’re shopping for a robot vacuum, the Roomba i3 EVO will be a great addition to your home, helping to streamline your cleaning routine — without breaking the bank. This mid-tier model from iRobot offers good suction, smart mapping abilities, and a reasonable price point, and if you want a self-emptying model for less maintenance, you can upgrade to the Roomba i3+ EVO, which holds up to 60 days worth of debris in its base.
During testing, the i3 EVO proved to be effective on both hard floors and carpeting, picking up around 90 percent of dirt and debris. Its rubber brushrolls do a great job trapping dust and hair on all types of flooring, and the edge-sweeping brush helped it clean along baseboards — though, the vacuum wasn’t quite able to reach into corners. We also loved that this vacuum was quiet during operation, with a noise level of around 65 decibels.
Because it doesn’t offer obstacle avoidance abilities, the i3 EVO did occasionally get hung up on power cords and curtains, and it sucked up a sock on one cleaning run, as well. So, you will need to ensure your floors are free of obstacles before this robot starts cleaning — otherwise, you may have to give it a helping hand if it gets stuck somewhere.
It’s worth noting that iRobot recently updated its current lineup of robot vacuums and has stopped selling the i3 EVO on its website, replacing it with the new Roomba i4 EVO instead. (You can still get the i3 EVO from retailers like Amazon, though.) According to Stocking, the i4 EVO is the same robot, but it’s now equipped with a 20 percent larger battery, allowing it to clean for longer before recharging.
Dimensions: 13.26 x 3.63 inches | Weight: 7.44 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.5 liters | Runtime: 75 minutes | Smart Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: i3+ only
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People / Henry Wortock
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People / Donna Freydkin
Must Read
Best Value
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum
Amazon
This model offers solid cleaning abilities and basic features for a low price
This Roomba does an effective job cleaning up debris of all sizes
While it doesn’t have smart mapping, the robot still navigates around obstacles easily and can find its way back to the dock
Many of today’s best Roombas are equipped with high-end features like smart mapping and self-emptying dust bins, but if you want something simpler (and cheaper), the Roomba 694 is a great value. This basic robot vacuum punched above its weight class in our testing, effectively picking up all sorts of debris from both carpeting and hard floors. It had no problem tackling everything from Cheerios to pet hair, and even though it lacked smart mapping abilities, it was still able to navigate around obstacles like dining chairs and find its way back to the dock for charging.
The Roomba 694 connects to your smartphone, but you don't have to connect it to get a good clean. While its overall suction power is good, this model does have a few shortcomings to keep in mind: It isn’t able to avoid obstacles while cleaning — so you'll need to supervise it while it's running — and it’s also quite loud, with a noise level around 77 decibels while it works. Hair also gets wrapped around its brushrolls easily, so it may not be the best choice for anyone with long-haired pets.
Dimensions: 13.4 x 3.54 inches | Weight: 6.77 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.35 liters | Runtime: 90 minutes | Smart Mapping: No | Self-Emptying: No
