It could come as a shock to extra individuals than you assume that “roomba” is not the common time period for a robotic vacuum. It’s, the truth is, a capital “R” that denotes Roomba as a correct noun reasonably than a generic trademark — Roombas are simply robotic vacuums made by iRobot, and searching for the most effective Roombas is a way more particular search than searching for the best robot vacuums typically, no matter model. Nonetheless, Roomba’s Band-Help or Kleenex degree interchangeability actually does exemplify simply how iconic iRobot has grow to be on the planet of automated ground cleaners.
That may be attributed to the truth that iRobot has persistently delivered a few of the most dependable robotic vacuum fashions for twenty years. Greater than 20 Roombas have come out because the first one hit properties in 2002, however holding monitor of the most effective Roombas is not so chaotic when you think about that solely a handful of these fashions are literally related on the time of your buying.
The way to inform the distinction between the Roomba fashions
The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba household tree are complicated at face worth, however nothing that may’t be informed aside after studying a couple of tremendous common classification themes.
That may be attributed to the truth that iRobot has persistently delivered a few of the most dependable robotic vacuum fashions for twenty years. Greater than 20 Roombas have come out because the first one hit properties in 2002, however monitoring the most effective Roombas is not so chaotic when you think about that solely a handful of these fashions are literally related on the time of your buying.
The way to inform the distinction between the Roomba fashions
The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba household tree are complicated at face worth, however nothing that may’t be informed aside after studying a couple of tremendous common classification themes.
When purchasing for a Roomba, you may actually solely be selecting from what I name iRobot’s core lineup: the group of three to 5 Roomba sequence which are actively offered on iRobot’s web site. Any Roomba whose title features a letter and a quantity (like j9+ or i5) or the phrase Max is extra superior than a Roomba with simply numbers within the title (like 692) or simply phrases (like Roomba Vac or Important).
As of early winter 2025, the 5 principal Roomba collections up for grabs are as follows, from most superior to least superior: Max, j sequence, s sequence (although practically out of date), i sequence, and Important sequence.
A plus signal (like j9+) denotes that the mannequin comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop can have “Combo” within the title. Word that there are a number of Roombas that may be bought with or with out mopping capabilities or self-emptying docks. “Max” is a brand new layer of Roomba typology that was launched with the drop of the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers back to the means of a mopping Roomba to scrub and dry its personal mopping pad inside the self-empty dock. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, “Important” means “most simple” within the Roomba household, and meaning no good mapping.
To pinpoint which Roombas have good mapping, pay shut consideration to how navigation is mentioned within the title or within the listing. In the event you do not actually see the phrases “Sensible Mapping” wherever, that Roomba can’t map your own home and clear particular rooms on command. No, “Sensible Navigation” or something about cleansing in “neat rows” doesn’t rely.
When is a brand new Roomba popping out?
We in all probability will not see a brand new Roomba no less than till spring 2025, however that in all probability will not even be the brand new flagship Roomba. If, in your eyes, a query about “the brand new Roomba” refers back to the subsequent Roomba that’ll be an enormous deal, you may probably be ready till August or September 2025.
iRobot is on a special launch schedule than most different large robotic vacuum manufacturers, who sometimes debut their new flagship fashions for the 12 months on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Alternatively, iRobot tends to debut its flagship mannequin for the 12 months in late summer time — the previous two flagship Roombas (the 2023 Combo j9+ and 2024 Combo 10 Max) had been introduced in September and July, respectively, each with releases slated for later that fall.
Except for The Huge One, iRobot does drop different Roombas all year long, like an up to date model of a base-tier Roomba.
Plus, enjoyable stuff occurs to the Roombas which are already out on a regular basis. Roombas go on sale fairly ceaselessly, even when it is not the Black Friday, vacation, or Prime Day season. So it is potential that at any time limit you are studying this, the actual Roomba you are eyeing is $100 or $200 off. I listing the MSRP for every by default, however will point out the most typical sale value that every Roomba drops to in “The Good” part beneath.)
Undecided which Roomba could be essentially the most value it in your family? I’ve examined practically each Roomba sequence launched since 2019 in my own residence, and have composed a operating Roomba mannequin comparability information to the entire finest iRobot choices at any level within the 12 months.
Not each single Roomba mannequin in existence shall be listed on this information, and never each “principal” Roomba on iRobot’s web site shall be advisable as among the best. Slightly, I’ve pulled Roombas from a number of value factors that I feel supply the most effective worth in varied classes that individuals care about, whether or not that is mopping, good mapping, small impediment detection, the most cost effective potential path to all of these options, or price range alone. Every Roomba’s battery life and computerized emptying capabilities shall be famous, together with my reasoning for selecting the highlighted mannequin over different Roombas with comparable costs.
Here is your straightforward breakdown of the entire finest Roomba vacuums in the beginning of 2025:
