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 you can still find their models in stock, with some new models appearing recently, it's difficult to recommend buying an iRobot vacuum due to the perceived uncertainty surrounding the company's future, as well as their recent trend of quietly discontinuing support for certain legacy models. Legacy models are still also readily available for purchase, but often at exorbitant prices, especially on third-party resale marketplaces.
We've tested over 95 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
- 01/27/2026iRobot Roomba Max 705 reviewed
- 01/27/2026iRobot Roomba 105 reviewed
- 02/11/2025iRobot Roomba i3 updated
- 02/23/2024iRobot Roomba j9+ reviewed
- 01/18/2024iRobot Roomba 694 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, covering 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 retest them against the latest 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 HouseholdPetsDebris Pickup: Hard FloorDebris Pickup: CarpetDebris Pickup: Pet HairVacuum & Mop Combo:See all our test resultsBattery:The 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, and units on the resale market are routinely marked up well beyond what they're worth. We'd recommend the Roborock Saros 20 instead. It offers LIDAR-based navigation and comes from a brand you can count on for ongoing support.
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Best Upper Mid-Range iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface HouseholdPetsDebris Pickup: Hard FloorDebris Pickup: CarpetDebris Pickup: Pet HairVacuum & Mop Combo:See all our test resultsBattery:If 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, 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. Consider the Roborock Qrevo Curv as an alternative in the same price range. It offers better overall performance and functions as a robot mop along with vacuuming.
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Best Mid-Range iRobot Vacuum
Multi-Surface HouseholdPetsDebris Pickup: Hard FloorDebris Pickup: CarpetDebris Pickup: Pet HairVacuum & Mop Combo:See all our test resultsBattery:The 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. Pricing for the i3 has become inconsistent since iRobot's bankruptcy, and third-party sellers are charging more than this vacuum is worth. The MOVA P50 Pro Ultra is a great alternative that offers mopping and better overall cleaning performance.
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
iRobot vacuums used to be a strong choice for build quality and pet hair pickup, thanks to their twin rubber brushroll system. Roborock has since caught up and pulled ahead on both fronts, while also equipping most of its lineup with LIDAR sensors for quicker, more precise room mapping, even in the dark. Many of its models also feature onboard mopping modules for handling light stains. Given iRobot's current uncertainty, check out Roborock instead.
iRobot vs eufy
iRobot vacuums used to justify their higher price point over eufy models with superior cleaning performance, a wider feature set, and sturdier build quality. eufy has closed much of that gap with its recent releases, and given iRobot's uncertain future, eufy is worth checking out as the more dependable option.
iRobot vs Dreame
iRobot vacuums used to offer cleaning performance on par with Dreame's lineup. Dreame has since pulled ahead, equipping most of its lineup with LIDAR sensors and advanced obstacle avoidance for more precise navigation. It also delivers better value, with lower-priced models like the Dreame L10s Ultra matching the performance of iRobot's premium offerings. Check out Dreame if you want similar performance without iRobot's current uncertainty.
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. iRobot vacuums used to have an edge in build quality, but many brands now match or exceed it while offering more features and far more reliable long-term support.
Lineup
- Roomba 705 series: The brand's 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 come 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
Jul 23, 2026:
We updated this article to reflect the current state of iRobot's offerings and to recommend alternatives to their products.
Apr 15, 2026:
We added a note about product availability because of the company's current status.
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.