Top 10 Best Roomba – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

If you’re looking for a Roomba in 2020, you will quickly realize there are quite a few to choose from. They all have a similar, circular shape, but don’t let the similarities fool you. These units have quite a bit of diversity to them. There’s a vacuum for every budget and need.

So in this article, we’re looking at some Roombas for every need, and helping you determine which one is the best for you.

Let’s get started.

Our Top Pick

The Best Roomba List 2020

10 Best Roomba Reviews

How Does Roomba Compare to Other Brands?

Roomba isn’t the only vacuum brand that creates robot vacuums; brands that are known for traditional cleaners are stepping into the arena with their own take on the robot vacuum. Let’s take a look at a few vacuum brands and see how they compare.

Roomba vs Dyson

Dyson tends to be a heavy competitor in the vacuum world, and they’ve recently created their own line of robot vacuums to compete with Roomba. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between Dyson and Roomba models.

• The Dyson is much bigger, being an inch more than most Roomba models. Size is something that a person may or may not care about. Someone may like a more compact robot, or want something bigger to clean their floor.
• The way they vacuum is different. The Roomba tends to go in a straight line, moving when it hits an object. Meanwhile, the Dyson uses a grid pattern to move around.
• The Dyson tends to have a smaller dustbin. If having to empty out a dustbin more is a dealbreaker, you may not want the Dyson.
• The Dyson’s battery life is much poorer. A Dyson tends to run around 45 minutes before needing a charge, while the Roomba lasts much longer. If you have a smaller home, this may not matter, but for some, it’s a dealbreaker.
• Higher-end Roomba models do adapt to carpets, using more power. The Dyson uses high power all the time, which may not be good if you’re trying to conserve energy.
• They move differently. The Dyson has treads, allowing it to move around like a tank. Meanwhile, the Roomba uses wheels.
• The Dyson is a lot less loved by reviewers than the Roomba models. The Dyson 360 has a mere 2.5 stars on Amazon, while most Roombas tend to have at least 4 stars. Of course, with electronics, the negative reviews tend to be a more vocal minority.

The Dyson does have some unique features, but when comparing them, we have to go with the Roomba. It offers more for the price. Here is hoping Dyson can catch up.

Roomba vs Eufy

Do you want a robo-vac on a budget? Eufy offers robo-vacs for under $200. If you’re someone who is pinching pennies, but you want a robot, Eufy may be a good brand to look at. Here are some features of Eufy vacuums, particularly its RoboVac 11+ lineup.

• The Eufy doesn’t have smart device control. That’s a little less convenient, but people on a budget may not have a problem with its lack of smart features. The 15c model of Eufy does have a WiFi feature, though.
• The Eufy does have a longer battery life than many Roomba models, but the downside is that it doesn’t charge as fast. Both do automatically recharge.
• The Eufy is much lighter. The Roomba tends to be two extra pounds, which isn’t too much of a difference, but some may not like that.
• Eufy boosts its power when it encounters high-soiled areas. Of course, the Roomba is great with soiled parts as well.

Overall, we have to say that the Eufy has quite a bit going for it considering it’s a budget model. Try it out and see if it’s for you.

Roomba vs Xiaomi

Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone maker, has come out with some cleaning robots that have been getting some rave reviews. These robots compare to higher end Roomba models, such as the Roomba 980. The difference is that the Xiaomi is a lot cheaper, going for a little under $300, while the 980 goes for three times as that. Is the Xiaomi a good rival to the Roomba, or a knockoff? Let’s contrast.

• The Roomba 980 uses a camera to map the room, while the Xiaomi uses a laser. The laser is better for darker areas. If it’s evening, and you scheduled a cleaning, the Roomba may not work as well in mapping out your home.
• The Roomba is better for carpets overall. The Xiaomi cleans up well, but the Roomba offers a smoother transition between hardwood floor and carpet.
• Both use an app, but the Xiaomi does have a live-view mode, allowing you to watch it clean your house when you’re gone.

We’re actually impressed with the Xiaomi. It’s a robot cleaner that may end up competing with the Roomba. It offers some great features for less money. If you find one, you might want to give it a try. Step up your game, Roomba.

Roomba vs Ecovacs Deebot

Deebot is another Chinese-based company that is offering some great robots for a fraction of the price. Some may want to support Roomba because they are an American company, but if the origin of the robot doesn’t matter to you, let’s compare Deebot and Roomba and see which is better.

• Both have many similarities. The higher end Roomba and Deebot do map out the floors in order to get the best clean. Both use side brushes as well.
• The Deebot does have more cleaning options, such as using either direct suction or having the main brush do the work. The main brush is great for carpets, while the suction is good for pet hairs. You can worry less about the pet hairs getting tangled in the brushes, which is always a hassle for the Roomba.
• Both have smart features to make everything much easier for you. You can schedule cleanings, control them remotely, and more.
• The Deebot does have mopping features as well, allowing your hardwood floor to get the best clean possible.

Overall, both are great robots, but we’re honestly impressed with what the Deebot has to offer. Compare models for yourself and see which comes out on top for you.

Roomba vs Neato

Neato sounds like a silly name for a vacuum brand, but don’t let that fool you; they have quite a bit of competition with Roomba, and it’s easy to see why. Neato has various robo-vacs in the market today, each with some unique features, just like the Roomba. Let’s compare some of the features of Roombas and Neatos and see which one comes out on top.

• There are more types of Roombas than there are Neato vacuums, which gives Roomba a bit of an upper hand, unless you’re someone who doesn’t like to choose between too many models.
• The Neato vacuums use a square head. This is useful for cleaning angled areas and walls. The Roomba works well with walls as well, but it feels like the Neato has the upper hand in this case.
• The Roomba is overall better with suction. The best Roomba models around offer some incredible suction power, but even the ones that are lower-end have some great filters to avoid any allergens. The Roomba is also easier to clean. If something is tangled in the brush, it’s easy to remove.
• Both Neato and Roomba use smart features. From smart device connectivity to Alexa, they have it. Both have invisible barriers and mapping features, which are available in higher models. The higher model Roomba does have that self-emptying feature, which is quite convenient, but it’s only available for expensive models. The future may change this.
• The Neato line of Botvacs has some different power saving modes. You can put your vacuum in eco mode, which sacrifices power for energy. This is good if you have light messes. You can switch it to turbo mode if there’s a large mess.
• Both types have spot modes, which clean off particularly messy spots.
• Both models have decent battery lives, and they do return to their charging station when the power is low.
• Roomba has a diverse series of models for every budget. From models that are only a couple hundred to over a grand, there’s a Roomba out there for everyone. Neato’s Botvac line focuses more on the mid-range aspect.

Both of them have their pros and cons. Botvacs are better for walls, but Roombas are better for every other part of the house. We recommend comparing some Botvacs to the Roombas on this list, and seeing which is the best fit for you.

Roomba vs Shark

Shark has been a name in reasonably-priced vacuums for a while. As of recently, they have dipped their toes in the robot vacuum world. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from a Shark robot, dubbed the Ion, when compared to a Roomba.

• The Roomba tends to be a bit bigger and heavier than the Ion. Depending on who you are, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. A heavier Roomba is less likely to fall over and can clean more, but a lighter robot is convenient as well.
• The Ion does have more side brushes, which are great for walls and angles.
• The Ion’s filters tend to be a little bit better, having a HEPA rating. HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air, is a powerful filter that removes 99.97% or more of the particles. A particle that is as low as 0.3 microns will be no match. For reference, a micron is a millionth of a meter. That’s tiny! Of course, higher-end Roombas tend to use HEPA filters as well.
• Both use technology to adapt to your room, but both use different types. The Ion has Smart Sensor Navigation, while the Roomba tends to use iAdapt. Your results may vary.
• The Ion tends to have a slightly longer battery charge time, charging for about an hour more than the Roomba. If you have a big house, this can be frustrating.
• The Ion doesn’t tell you when the bin is full, while many Roomba models will indicate when your dustbin needs emptying.
• Both have similarities as well, using smart technology to allow for remote cleanings and scheduling.

Like the previous one, there is no clear winner. Both models have their pros and cons. Your best bet is to look at some Shark robots and compare them to the Roombas on this list. Chances are, you can find one that works for you.

Roomba vs ILife

Ilife has entered the ring as well, offering robots that go toe-to-toe with Roomba. What do Ilife models have? Let’s take a look.

• ILife robots are even more budget friendly than the Roomba. The Roomba does have budget models, but they are still $300. Meanwhile, the ILife tends to go much cheaper, with some models going in the $100 range.
• The Roomba uses more navigation technology, meaning it moves around the floor much better than the ILife can. The ILife does clean, but it takes more time due to hitting more obstacles. Of course, different models may have more technology.
• ILife’s robots tend to be smaller and lighter. As mentioned before, this is something that you may or may not want. It all depends on your needs.
• Both clean well, but the Roomba does it better. The newer Roomba models have debris extractors and clean much more powerfully. However, the ILife is still nothing to laugh at, having quite a bit of power as well.
• The ILife does have a better battery life. The higher-end models run for two and a half hours. Even the cheaper models go for up to 70 minutes, which is better than some models of a Roomba. Because the Roombas automatically recharge, battery life may not be a concern for you, but it’s understandable if it is. The ILife does recharge as well, but the V1 model doesn’t.
• The ILife does have a unique feature that the Roomba doesn’t, and that’s a wet mopping mode. Switch the dustbin with a water tank, attach the cleaning cloth, and the ILife can wet mop the floor. The V5 and X5 are a few models that offer this. 
• Both the ILife and the Roomba use some powerful filters, making sure that you don’t run into any allergens.
• The ILife doesn’t have a full bin indicator, while newer Roombas do.

In conclusion, the ILife models tend to be slightly inferior to the Roomba, but do offer some advantages as well. The fact that there are more budget-friendly models available helps. So does the wet mopping feature. Once again, we can’t stress that you should compare models and make the decision.

How Does The Roomba Work?

The Roomba works in quite a few different ways, depending on which model you get. While we can’t describe the exact science, we can explain it in layman’s terms. Let’s look at how most models work: through randomness.

Random Cleaning

Most Roombas follow a technique known as the random bounce. This is where the Roomba goes forward in a direction, and then moves in another direction once it hits an object. In addition, the random bounce technique does employ some wall hugging as well. Using a side brush, it will stay across any walls so that it cleans the sides of your home to the best of its ability.

Sensors

The Roomba isn’t entirely dependent on random movement. It also uses a sensor to help it find its way across the room. This sensor typically sees objects and slows down so it doesn’t get damaged, or knock the object over. This also helps the Roomba look out for stairs and other drops. Sometimes, the Roomba may have false positives on cliffs, stopping for a cliff even if there isn’t one, but that’s better than your Roomba jumping off your stairs like a Lemming.

In addition, the Roomba has a sensor that detects dirt. This is done through a piezoelectric sensor, which causes the Roomba to slowly clean the area and circle around it a few times. For dirty spots in your home, this is an awesome feature.

Another sensor is the virtual wall, which uses infrared lights to tell the Roomba not to clean in a certain area. Again, this is quite a convenient feature.

Maps

More expensive models, such as the s9+, can map out your house. They may use cameras to photograph your room, and this helps the Roomba build up a profile. They’ll avoid areas they already cleaned, and have a cleaning style that’s more like you with a vacuum, which is quite nice. It’s a feature still in its infancy, but one day, the Roomba may clean better than you can.

Many vacuums are being discounted right now because of Black Friday. Take a look at our special Black Friday deals pages for Roomba (e5 and s9), Shark, Dyson, Bissell (crosswave), and neato.