iRobot is an American manufacturer specializing in consumer robotics, best known for being a pioneer in the design of robot vacuums, with the introduction of the first Roomba model in 2002. The brand name became synonymous with robot vacuums, but the company struggled to keep pace with emerging trends and filed for bankruptcy in December 2025. Their primary supplier, Picea, has acquired them. While availability may be limited going forward, their vacuums remain popular for their easy-to-use design.
We've tested over 80 robot vacuums, and 14 of those are by iRobot. Below are our recommendations for the best Roombas. For more recommendations, check out our lists of the best robot vacuums, the best budget robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors, and the best robot vacuums for carpet.
Updates
- 02/11/2025iRobot Roomba i3 updated
- 02/23/2024iRobot Roomba j9+ reviewed
- 01/18/2024iRobot Roomba 694 updated
- 12/09/2022iRobot Roomba i1 reviewed
- 12/01/2022iRobot Roomba 675 updated
Our robot vacuum recommendations come from our independent testing of more than 80 different models. We purchase every robot vacuum we test, with no cherry-picked units or data. Every robot vacuum goes through the same suite of tests that covers everything from user maintenance to obstacle avoidance. Our testers and writers validate the results to ensure you can easily compare each model side by side, and we keep the products in our lab so we can continuously go back and retest them against the newest models.
Check out our How We Test Robot Vacuums article to learn more about our purchasing, testing, and writing procedures.
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Best iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface Household6.4Pets5.2Debris Pickup: Hard Floor8.5Debris Pickup: Carpet7.7Debris Pickup: Pet Hair7.5Obstacle Handling4.5Obstacle Avoidance Technology:Light-BasedLowest Height Cleared:9.5 cm (3.7'')Max Threshold Height:1.9 cm (0.7")Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA):YesSee all our test resultsWet Compatible:NoThe best Roomba vacuum we've tested is the iRobot Roomba S9. This high-end robot vacuum has the most powerful suction motor in iRobot's lineup, delivering good performance on both bare floors and carpeting. Its twin rubber brushrolls are great for dealing with pet hair. The S9+ variant comes with a self-emptying base station, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements. Its vSLAM navigation system is camera-based, so it doesn't map out a room as fast as a LIDAR sensor and struggles in low light. It still does a good job of plotting out efficient cleaning routes, though it's best to enable the 'Careful Drive' setting to keep it from bumping into walls and furniture.
A full charge lasts about 50 minutes, which might not be enough to clean large carpeted areas in a single go with the vacuum running in its most powerful suction mode. Its recharge-and-resume functionality allows it to resume a cleaning session from where it left off if it needs to return to its dock. This model is no longer readily available from major retailers. For an alternative with a LIDAR sensor, consider the Roborock Saros 10R.
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Best Upper Mid-Range iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface Household6.8Pets6.9Debris Pickup: Hard Floor7.5Debris Pickup: Carpet7.0Debris Pickup: Pet Hair7.0Obstacle Handling8.4Obstacle Avoidance Technology:Camera-BasedLowest Height Cleared:8.5 cm (3.3'')Max Threshold Height:1.9 cm (0.7")Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA):NoSee all our test resultsWet Compatible:NoIf you're shopping for something less expensive, consider the iRobot Roomba j7. In many ways, it's more of a side-grade than a downgrade compared to the best Roomba vacuum, the iRobot Roomba S9. The j7 has a less powerful suction motor, so it has a harder time with heavy debris and material embedded deeply within carpet fibers. However, it's smarter because, unlike the S9, it has a hazard-recognition system that uses an additional front-facing camera to identify obstacles beneath the view of its top-mounted camera. This allows the j7 to react to hazards in real-time, so you don't have to ensure your floors are completely free of slippers or loose socks. It also has a broad range of in-app automation features, like support for virtually drawn no-go zones and multi-floor mapping and the ability to direct it to a specific room in your home. Plus, it's quieter than the S9.
The j7+ variant of this vacuum comes with a self-emptying base station, allowing the vacuum to transfer debris into a dirtbag inside the station every time it docks. If you have an iRobot Braava Jet M-Series robot mop, the Imprint Link feature allows it to start mopping hard surfaces like laminate or hardwood automatically after the j7 has finished its vacuuming session.
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Best Mid-Range iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface Household6.4Pets6.4Debris Pickup: Hard Floor6.5Debris Pickup: Carpet7.2Debris Pickup: Pet Hair8.0Obstacle Handling5.8Obstacle Avoidance Technology:Light-BasedLowest Height Cleared:9.5 cm (3.7'')Max Threshold Height:1.9 cm (0.7")Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA):YesSee all our test resultsWet Compatible:NoThe iRobot Roomba i3 doesn't have the iRobot Roomba j7's real-time hazard recognition system and has a less powerful suction motor than the iRobot Roomba S9. That said, the i3+ variant comes with iRobot's Clean Base self-emptying docking station. Its iRobot HOME companion app lets you label different areas of your home, and the vacuum has a recharge-and-resume feature that allows it to resume a cleaning session from where it left off if it needs to return to its dock. It's also compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa for voice commands.
Similar to the j7 and the iRobot Roomba S9, this vacuum has a HEPA filter that does a great job of sealing in allergens like dust or pet dander. Its build quality is impressive, with sturdy rubber wheels and a durable plastic body. Unfortunately, its debris-pickup performance isn't particularly impressive, especially on carpets; it'll need to make several passes to collect everything embedded within carpet fibers.
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Best Budget iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface Household6.0Pets5.3Debris Pickup: Hard Floor8.5Debris Pickup: Carpet4.8Debris Pickup: Pet Hair8.0Obstacle Handling4.8Obstacle Avoidance Technology:Light-BasedLowest Height Cleared:9.5 cm (3.7'')Max Threshold Height:1.9 cm (0.7")Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA):NoSee all our test resultsWet Compatible:NoOur best budget pick is the iRobot Roomba 694, which is an incredibly bare-bones robot vacuum with few automation features, even when compared to only slightly pricier mid-range models like the iRobot Roomba i3. There's no room mapping capability; instead, the 694 uses random bump navigation to move around its cleaning area. As a result, it might clean some areas more than once, but the overall room coverage is impressively thorough. It also lacks features like recharge and resume, and doesn't support user-generated no-go zones or individual area cleaning. That said, it's a worthy option if your Wi-Fi coverage at home is spotty since you can control all of the vacuum's major functions using the included remote control, with no need for a companion app on your smartphone.
Unusual for a robot vacuum in this price range, it has a surface-detection system that automatically increases its suction power on carpets. While the 694 has no trouble dealing with debris on bare floors, it struggles on carpets. It also uses an older brushroll design with an array of closely packed bristles that get easily tangled up with pet hair, reducing its overall efficiency. Its air filtration performance is also terrible, with fine particles spewing out the exhaust. Since this model has been discontinued, consider the similarly priced Dreame L10s Ultra, which features a LIDAR sensor for superior obstacle avoidance and is better at tackling pet hair.
Compared To Other Brands
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Generally strong pet hair pickup.Newer iRobot models come equipped with twin rubber brushrolls that are very effective when collecting pet hair and are much easier to clean than comparable rollers that use fabric bristles.
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Great build quality.Even budget-friendly iRobot vacuums have a premium look and feel. Panel gaps are tight enough to help prevent fine dust from escaping, with some models having an onboard HEPA filter, resulting in great filtration performance.
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Easy to use companion app.
While features might vary depending on your model, iRobot's HOME app is fairly intuitive. Even budget-friendly models support voice commands, so you can control them with your Amazon Alexa or Google Home device.
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Most models don't offer LIDAR mapping.
Most iRobot vacuums don't incorporate LIDAR mapping, though some of their newer models do. Their optical sensors tend to map out rooms slower than alternatives with LIDAR sensors, and they also don't work as well in the dark.
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Weak debris-pickup performance on lower-end models.
Most of iRobot's mid-range and budget models struggle to handle debris embedded deep within carpet fibers and in cracks and crevices.
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Uncertain support and warranty coverage moving forward.
Following the company's bankruptcy filing, users are concerned about long-term support for their devices.
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Privacy concerns following acquisition.
iRobot's acquisition by Picea has raised privacy concerns among users about how their mapping data and usage information.
iRobot vs Roborock
Unlike most iRobot vacuums, Roborock equips most of its product lineup with LIDAR sensors, resulting in quicker, more precise room mapping, even in the dark. Many of its models also feature onboard mopping modules, though most are passive systems that provide little surface agitation. That said, iRobots tend to feel sturdier, and their twin rubber brushroll system usually results in better pet hair pickup.
iRobot vs eufy
iRobot vacuums tend to target a higher price point than eufy models, reflected in their superior cleaning performance, wider array of features, and sturdier build quality.
iRobot vs Dreame
Unlike most iRobot vacuums, Dreame equips the majority of its product lineup with LIDAR sensors and advanced obstacle avoidance systems, resulting in more precise navigation. While both brands offer similar cleaning performance overall, Dreame provides better value, with lower-priced models like the Dreame L10s Ultra matching the performance of iRobot's premium offerings.
iRobot currently has a relatively small range of robot vacuums and filed for bankruptcy in late 2025, which may affect long-term availability and support. Unlike alternatives from Roborock and Dreame, most iRobot robot vacuums don't use LIDAR sensors, resulting in slower room mapping, though some newer models offer real-time hazard recognition. Another point in Roborock's favor is that many of their models have mopping attachments, which is rare for iRobot. The best Roomba vacuums are better built than similarly priced Roborock models and offerings from Shark or eufy.
Lineup
- Roomba 705 series: The brand's newest high-end robot vacuum line, which comes with dual brushes, LIDAR sensors, and AI debris detection.
- Roomba 105 series: iRobot's latest entry-level line features LIDAR sensors but lacks the dual brushes and AI debris detection that comes with the 705 series.
- Roomba S series: Robot vacuum series with VSLAM navigation and the most potent suction motor in the company's lineup. Models with the '+' suffix come bundled with a base station.
- Roomba J series: Robot vacuum series with VSLAM navigation and real-time hazard identification to spot and avoid obstacles in real-time. The j7+ Combo variant is the first iRobot with a swing-out mopping attachment for cleaning stains.
- Roomba I series: Robot vacuums with VSLAM navigation. Higher-numbered model designations indicate a greater array of automation features and overall cleaning performance, with some exceptions; the i4 and i8 are merely Costco-exclusive variants of the i3 and i7 models, respectively, with no major mechanical differences.
- Roomba 600 series: Entry-level random-pathing robot vacuums. Newer 690 models offer Wi-Fi connectivity.
Recent Updates
Jan 08, 2026:
We updated the article to reflect the fact that iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025.
Apr 22, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock, but our recommendations haven't changed.
Jan 10, 2025:
Verified that all picks are valid and available. Small text changes for conciseness and clarity.
Oct 07, 2024: We've verified that all our picks are available and represent the best options on the market. We've also made small edits for clarity.
Aug 08, 2024: We've updated the article for clarity and verified that our recommendations are all available and represent the best choices.
Conclusion
iRobot is a manufacturer specializing almost exclusively in robot vacuums and mops. Following the company's bankruptcy filing in late 2025, long-term product availability and support remain uncertain. The best Roombas are well-built and easy to use. However, their reliance on optical sensors means they're generally slower to map out their coverage area compared to alternatives with LIDAR.