As of late 2021, it’s no longer one of iRobot’s “core” products and won’t be available through as many retailers as other models, but you can still find it in plenty of places for now. The functionally identical dyson robot vacuum Roomba i6 is also common, as are the auto-emptying Roomba i6+ or Roomba i8+. The Roomba i3 stands out from other brands’ robots at this price mostly because it’s more durable and easier to repair.
You no longer have to suffer the indignity of dragging around an unwieldy plastic hose connected to a clumsy, wheeled canister the size of a Galapagos tortoise. There are many good robot vacuums available to help you dispose of dust, pet hair, and other debris in your home—without needing to lift a finger. We’ve rounded up our highest-rated robot vacuums, and provided a few pointers to help you find just the bot you’re looking for. The affordable Wyze Robot Vacuum methodically zips around your home sucking up dust and pet hair from hard flooring and carpet thanks to top-notch laser mapping and efficient route planning. The 11S is quiet enough that you could easily forget that it’s running if you’re home while it’s working.
At some point, you might have to erase your old maps and re-train the robot. The main thing that makes the Roomba 600 series stand out from other affordable robot vacuums is that it’s more durable and easier to repair . They generally don’t break, spare parts are always in stock, and you can swap in everything from a new filter to a new transmission with nothing more than a screwdriver.
On that note, there is still a place in the world for cheaper robots that rely on semi-random navigation. (We like to call it bump-and-run navigation.) If you only need to clean a few rooms at a time , then one of these models can get the job done. The Roomba 694, like most affordable robots, is what we call a bump-and-run navigator. Basically, it bloops around semi-randomly until its battery runs low, and then it tries to get back to its dock before it completely runs out of juice (and doesn’t always succeed). And even though it navigates with absolutely reckless abandon, we’ve found that it’s actually a lot less likely to get stuck on random hazards around the house than other bots; it has several specific “escape” routines for common traps.
All Roomba bots, including the i3, also have a dirt-detection system—another unique feature you can’t find in other brands’ bots. When the Roomba senses that it’s passing over an area with a lot of debris, it’ll stop and make a few passes bissell crosswave cordless back and forth to pick up as much as possible. If you don’t mind picking up toys and lamp cords and anything else that might get in the way or get snarled in the roller brush, then you can get one of the more affordable robot vacuums.
A self-emptying (or auto-emptying) robot vacuum comes with a big charging dock, which sucks debris out of the robot through a trapdoor in the dustbin, and stores it in a disposable bag or bagless bin . Instead of emptying your bot’s bin after every cleaning session, you only have to empty the dock every month or two. Robot vacuums are rightly famous for their ability to find their way around your home, avoiding obstacles like furniture, loose shoes, and the like. But even with their optical sensors and ability to map your home’s floor plan, even the best robot vacuums can find their way into situations that they can’t get out of.
Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. For a dependable, versatile, and affordable cleaner, we prefer a bagless upright, but we have recommendations for other types of vacuums as well. If you understand that you’ll probably be disappointed but want to try an AI bot anyway, consider the iRobot Roomba j7 (or j7+) or the Roborock S6 MaxV (both are higher-end versions of our top picks, and each cost a few hundred dollars extra). We’ve tested most of the auto-empty docks out there, including multiple versions from iRobot and Shark, and one each from EcoVacs, Roborock, and a generic-brand dock that came with a generic-brand Roborock knockoff . The Trifo Max worked fine in our tests, nothing impressive or obviously bad.
It’s a similar robot, with semi-random navigation, plus some extra suction and nubbed “extractor” rolls that are great at getting debris out of rugs . It’s a semi-discontinued model, and at this point may cost less than the weaker Roomba 694, so keep an eye out for deals. If you somehow stumble across a good deal for an old Roomba 800 Series model, that’s also very similar to the Roomba e5, but may not have Wi-Fi. Most robot vacuums will get snagged on charging cables, which jam the brush roll or sometimes pull the bots off course.
In addition to how long a model will hold its charge and how much dirt it can hold onboard, also take into account whether it has a self-emptying feature, which may need to be purchased separately. Unlike some of the latest models of Roomba vacuums, the Roomba 675 uses a pair of bristle brush rollers to conquer dirt and debris. So, while the bristles do an excellent job of gathering hair, it occasionally becomes caught around the brush itself and requires extraction. Just make sure to empty it of hair regularly and it will repay you with consistent trouble-free operation.
This ends up in surprisingly good overall coverage, but you may find that some areas that trap the robot get lots of attention, and more open areas just get one quick pass. The budget-priced iLife V3S Pro uses a suction tube like a traditional vacuum cleaner rather than the roller brushes employed by other robot vacuums, and does a better job picking up pet hair without clogging. There are also a few workarounds to get the Roomba i3 to clean a smaller space in a given session. These are small, AA-battery–powered beacons that project an invisible do-not-cross barrier.