iRobot Roomba – A Series of Robotic Vacuum Cleaners to Suit Your Unique Needs.
These are the latest Roomba models:
In this handy post, I will provide you a detailed overview of the iRobot Roomba series of robotic vacuum cleaners.
Over the last several months, I have had many opportunities to test each one of them in my very own home. As you read, if you would like to learn more, simply click the links in each paragraph to check out my detailed reviews and personal experiences with each model. I have had a lot of fun reviewing them, and I am positive you will have a lot of fun with your own Roomba once you have chosen the model that works best for you.
Before diving right in, though, here is some information regarding each Roomba model from iRobot. Each one has a link that will take you to the related in-depth product review, so please click right through if you want to know more.
The iRobot Roomba 630
was the very first Roomba and the entry-level model. Although the Roomba 650 replaced it, you can still find it in thousands of homes around the world. I recommended it for homeowners who do not have pets or allergies. Click here to read the in-depth review: iRobot Roomba 630 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets.
The iRobot Roomba 650
replaced the 630, and I recommend this model for homeowners with or without pets, but perhaps without allergies due to the limited filtration (Non-HEPA Filters). The cleaning results are very good, and although it comes with limited features, the price is right for most first-time robotic vacuum owners. To learn more about it, click here: iRobot Roomba 650 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets.
The iRobot Roomba 770
boasts a uniquely advanced cleaning system, so it gives you even more thorough cleaning than the 650. It also comes with dual HEPA filters, making it my recommendation for anyone who has an allergy sufferer in his or her household. You can learn more by clicking here: iRobot Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets Allergies.
The iRobot Roomba 780
comes with two Virtual Lighthouses, making cleaning more convenient and efficient compared to both the 650 and the 770. However, like the 770, the Roomba 780 comes with advanced cleaning and dual HEPA filters, so this is our recommendation for anyone who has pets and/or allergies, but who wants faster, more efficient cleaning. Follow this link to get the lowdown on the 780 and the Virtual Lighthouses in a detailed review: iRobot Roomba 780 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets Allergies.
Roomba 650 vs. 770 vs. 780 – What is the Difference?
If you want the absolute best value for your money, the Roomba 650 is it. The features are simple, but the cleaning capacity is sufficient even if it lacks the full bin indicator and HEPA filters like the models after it.
The 700 models (770 and 780) have more features and technological advances than the 650. They clean better, they run longer, and they come with a full bin indicator and a remote control to make life easier all around. They both have dual HEPA filters, something that allergy sufferers will appreciate.
The iRobot Roomba 870
comes equipped with iRobot’s best cleaning system to date, dual HEPA filters, full bin indicators, a remote control, programmable cleaning for up to seven days in advance, and more. However, because the Virtual Lighthouse technology in the 780 spoiled us, we skipped reviewing the 870 since it does not offer them and we want efficiency in costlier models.
The iRobot Roomba 880
is iRobot’s top of the line model, and for good reason. It has everything that the 870 offers, but it also includes the two Virtual Lighthouses to make cleaning faster and more efficient. This is the best robotic vacuum cleaner we tested, and whether you have significant allergies or a house filled with pets, this model will not let you down. In fact, it is as pretty as it is advanced, and it recently won the Red Dot Design award! Read my in-depth review of this outstanding product here: iRobot Roomba 880 Vacuum Cleaning Robot.
Roomba 770 vs. 880 – What is the Difference?
The Roomba 880 is as good as it gets, folks. It boasts all of the same features as the 770, including the dual HEPA filters for allergy sufferers, but it also contains the improved AeroForce Performance Cleaning System, which picks up even more dirt than its predecessors do. The 880 also has the cool Lighthouses, which guide the Roomba from room to room with very little effort, making each pass as efficient as possible. If you want to feel like one of the Jetsons – as if you are truly living in the 21st century or even beyond – you will not want to miss the 880.
Click here for more current reviews and pricing.
Click here to review iRobot’s homepage.
….or, just keep reading for more details!
Why iRobot?
There are a few companies in the today’s world that manufacture high quality robotic vacuum cleaners, and of these, many are for those suffering with allergies or who fight with pet hair on a daily basis. However, iRobot stands out for several reasons, and not only because of their futuristic name and the 880’s recent Red Dot Design Award. Easily, iRobot has the best products. They care about their customers and the world in general, and their goal is to make the world a better, more efficient place for us to live. Thanks to their detailed website and their outstanding customer service, I am an iRobot fan for life.
Of course, this company is about much more than their vacuums. SWAT teams across the country – and even the US Military – utilize iRobot products for bomb detection and dismantling, saving countless lives every year both at home and abroad. Speaking of which, families separated from each other due to military service or job opportunities also use iRobot products to communicate with each other on a global scale. Thanks to iRobot, no continent or ocean is large enough to keep families apart.
My favorite part of iRobot is the customer service, without a doubt. In today’s day and age where we often struggle to find someone knowledgeable enough to help us with our technology, iRobot’s customer service agents are genuinely interested in their customers. You can reach these agents via telephone, email, and even live chat! Of course, if you prefer to resolve your own issues when you can, the iRobot website gives you access to product tutorials, user manuals, frequently asked questions, and even videos that show you how to use your Roomba’s many features.
What happens if your Roomba stops working for some reason? Must you send it off for repair or even purchase a new one? Not with iRobot! In fact, all you have to do is contact customer service and explain the issue. Some 99% of problems can be resolved in this manner, and all you need to do is wait for your replacement part, which arrives quickly and safely. The agent will send a part replacement video link to your email inbox, and you can refer to this video to swap the part yourself.
A Summary of the iRobot Roomba Vacuum Reviews
I, myself, am the very proud owner of a Roomba 650 (downstairs) and a Roomba 880 (upstairs). But this was no easy decision. Because of this, I decided to share all of my experiences with you so that you can make easier decisions about your robotic vacuum cleaner purchases. I tried every single model that Roomba makes, and I even bought (and later sold) a Bobsweep PetHair Edition during my journey. Below, you will find a summary of each of my iRobot Roomba reviews.
The iRobot Roomba 650
I personally own the iRobot Roomba 650, and it is my recommendation if you want an entry-level, affordable robotic vacuum cleaner and you do not have pets or allergies.
Just because it is an entry-level product does not mean that there is something wrong with it, though. It is by far the best value for the money and the perfect introduction to robot vacuum cleaners. It got my floors insanely clean, and since I can program it up to seven days in advance, it just makes my life simpler. My dogs live it, my kids love it, and I love it. It even drives itself back to the charger when it needs a break! The only thing I miss is the full bin indicator, which is included in some of the later models you will read about here.
To read my full review, click here: iRobot Roomba 650 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets.
The iRobot Roomba 770
If you want an intermediate-level robot vacuum cleaner that offers more advanced features for allergies and pets, but you still want to stick to a budget, the iRobot Roomba 770 is our recommendation.
I had the opportunity to review the 770 in my home since my brother, Daniel (who has both a cat and severe allergies), owns one. Although I loved it, he did not love being without it for a single day, to say the least. The things about the 770 that stood out most to me included the full bin indicator, which should be included on all robot vacuums, if you ask me, and the phenomenal job it did on my floors. What’s more, the 770 has Extended-Life Power Management, so it runs longer on every charge.
For more information (and quite the funny story), click here: iRobot Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets And Allergies.
The iRobot Roomba 780
The 780 boasts a few additional features that the 770 does not, and I highly recommend this model if you want an affordable robotic vacuum cleaner with some of the best technology money can buy.
I borrowed the 780 from my neighbor, Heath, no other reason than to experiment with it. I wanted to know why he loved it so much, and he mentioned the Virtual Lighthouses. This is what really got me interested. For the most part, this is the only real difference between the 770 and 780. With the Roomba 780, you can set two Virtual Lighthouses in doorways to essentially guide the Roomba from room to room, eliminating unnecessary passes and making cleaning all the more efficient. The HEPA filters are another difference from the 770, and as a mom of a kid with allergies, I know I slept better that night since my son could breathe easier.
To read all about my experience with this particular robot vacuum for pets and allergies, click here: iRobot Roomba 780 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets And Allergies.
The iRobot Roomba 870
This is the only Roomba I did not try out in my home. After experiencing the Virtual Lighthouses and determining that they are necessary, the 870 did not seem worth the money to me for my particular needs.
If you want to know more about it, check out the Roomba 880 review below and subtract the efficiency afforded by the Virtual Lighthouses.
The iRobot Roomba 880
If you want a top of the line robotic vacuum cleaner with the most recent technologies, and if you have pets or there are people in your home who have allergies, the Roomba 880 is the absolute best product you can buy. In fact, I purchased one to replace a Bobsweep PetHair Edition on the upper level of my home.
I initially borrowed my best friend Fawn’s 880 for a day, and I was so entranced I knew that I had to have one. It boasts the Virtual Lighthouses like the 780, and it comes with two HEPA filters like the 880, but the cleaning technology is incredibly advanced and once it had finished cleaning my home, I could not find a speck of anything – even right up against baseboards and in corners. The Roomba 880 does not tangle on rugs or wedge under low furniture, and thanks to the combination of the Extended-Life Power Management, the newfangled battery that I can charge repeatedly before it wears out, and the Virtual Lighthouses, it is the smartest and most efficient machine I have ever owned. I’m not even sure that iRobot can create something more powerful and feature-filled, but if they do, I know I’ll be in line to review it.
To read more about my experience and my reasons for choosing this model, click here: iRobot Roomba 880 Vacuum Cleaning Robot For Pets And Allergies.
Making Your Decision
Hopefully, with all of this information about iRobot and its various robotic vacuum cleaners, you will be able to make a more informed decision regarding your own purchases. From a team of engineers and students in an MIT laboratory directly to your front door, the iRobot Roombas will not disappoint.
I know that my life is simpler with the affordable but powerful Roomba 650 on my lower floor and the top-notch 880 residing upstairs. My son breathes easier in his own room now, and that truly makes me feel as if I’m doing something right as a parent. What’s more, although I do need to manually vacuum from time to time, it is no longer as frequent – especially upstairs where the Roomba 880’s technology ensures an efficient clean every single night while my family sleeps.
Please feel free to follow the links in any of the paragraphs above to find out more about any of the Roombas I have reviewed. I’m confident that you will enjoy your handy little robotic helper just as much as I enjoy mine.
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