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 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.
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.
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 bissell crosswave cordless 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.
We’re going to use the Roomba 694 as shorthand to refer to the 600 series throughout the rest of this section. But if it’s a Roomba and the model number starts with a 6, everything you’re about to read applies, except that Wi-Fi capabilities vary from model to model . The iRobot Roomba 650 Vacuum Cleaning Robot brings on-board scheduling to the standard-setting Roomba. With AeroVac™ Technology, Roomba 650 easily handles fibers like hair, pet fur, lint and carpet fuzz. The Roomba® j7+ & Braava jet® m6 accessories bundle combines the j series replenishment kit, dirt disposal bags, Wet Mopping pads, and Bona® Hard-Surface Cleaning Solution to provide everything you need for a complete clean. The Roomba® s9+ & Braava jet® m6 accessories bundle combines the s series replenishment kit, dirt disposal bags, Wet Mopping pads, and Bona® Hard-Surface Cleaning Solution to provide everything you need for a complete clean.
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.
Even the most advanced models can’t get into every crevice and hard-to-reach space, and they can’t vacuum upholstery, drapes, closets, drawers and kitchen cabinets, or anything else that isn’t a horizontal surface. When the j7+ is done cleaning, it returns to the base and empties itself into a bag in the larger dustbin at the back of the base. You need to change that bag every two months or so, but other than that, you likely won’t have to interact with it very much at all. The Proscenic M7 Pro is a smart, powerful robot vacuum that can also mop small spaces.
Samsung’s JetBot+ is a high-end, feature-rich machine that has LiDAR navigation and a self-emptying base. At 21 inches tall and 9 inches deep, the base is just so big and noticeable; we much prefer the smaller, less obtrusive base of the iRobot j7+. The vacuum has a forward camera and obstacle detection, but our testing found it not to be as precise as the iRobot j7+. Luckily the Eufy has a recharge and resume feature, so if it runs low on battery, it makes its way back to the base to recharge itself and when ready resumes the cleaning job. In our testing this worked well, except for the fact that it resumed right in the middle of a dinner with friends, but it was easy enough to stop the cleaning run by pressing the button on the vacuum. We provide a detailed analysis of each of these vacuums in our reviews, and you can see our vacuum product guide for the latest models.