The Best Roomba Vacuum for 2024

The Roomba j9+ is iRobot's strongest and smartest standalone robot vacuum, with a price to match. It combines the camera vision-powered navigation of its predecessor, the j7+, with the strong suction power of its previous standard bearer, the s9+. With increased battery life from last generation and new smarts to prioritize dirty areas, plus self-emptying functionality and class-leading obstacle avoidance, it's the best vacuum-only Roomba.

If money is no object and you want the best vacuum-only Roomba available, the j9+ is the choice for you. With the same pet-poop-evasion guarantee as the j7+, along with increased battery life and suction power, it's a top choice for pet owners. Consider the Combo hybrids below if you want mopping capabilities as well, but if you just need a robot vacuum, this Roomba is as good as it gets. It navigates efficiently, cleans thoroughly, and avoids obstacles deftly.

While not quite as powerful as the newer and more expensive Roomba j9+, the Roomba j7+ offers the same advanced camera-based obstacle avoidance technology and also comes with a pet waste evasion guarantee, so you don't have to worry about running amok through an animal accident. It can intelligently suggest Keep-Out Zones to avoid certain areas, and automatically empty its dustbin at its base once it finishes cleaning.

If you live with an accident-prone pet or have a cluttered home but don't want to spend the money for the Roomba j9+, the Roomba j7+ is an excellent, more affordable alternative. It lacks the upgrades to suction power, battery life, and the new model's ability to prioritize dirty rooms first, but if you want a competent robot vacuum that won't smear pet waste everywhere, you can save at least $100 by opting for the j7+ over its newer sibling. It's also proficient at picking up fur, making it a top model for pet owners.

The Roomba 694 is iRobot's least expensive model, but it's still excellent. Although it lacks advanced navigation and obstacle-avoidance technology, it stays out of trouble quite well and never once got stuck during our test runs. Additionally, the bot ran for longer than its predecessor, the Roomba 675, and picked up a surprising amount of dust and dog hair. In terms of smart features, it supports app and voice controls, plus scheduled cleanings. 

In the ever-evolving robotic floor cleaner market, the basic Roomba 600 series continues to have appeal for first-time buyers because it rids your floors of dust bunnies without breaking the bank. As with all non-self-emptying robot vacuums, be prepared to manually empty the bin at least every couple of cleaning runs. If you can increase your budget, we highly recommend a lower-maintenance self-emptying model.

Self-emptying robot vacuums are more expensive than ones you have to empty yourself, but the convenience is worth it. The Roomba i3+ EVO is iRobot's most affordable auto-emptying robot, and although it certainly isn't cheap, it's much more affordable than the j7+ and the j9+. It lacks some of their smart navigation features, but you can still direct it to clean specific rooms and control it with your voice or an app.

If you don't want expose yourself to dust to maintain your Roomba, this is the most affordable model with the automatic bin-emptying feature.

If you're in search of a robot that can wash your hard floors, look to iRobot's Braava line of smart mops. The Braava Jet m6 robot mop can both sweep and mop hardwood, tile, and other non-carpet floors. It can't vacuum, but it's effective at getting your hard floors clean and shiny.

If you hate dealing with a mop and bucket (or even one of those wet-pad Swiffers), the Braava Jet m6 should be on your radar. It cleans, sweeps, and scrubs many hard floor types in a way that robot vacuums simply can't. You still have to put some of your own elbow grease into cleaning tough stains, but this device can save you time and sanity in the long run.

While the Combo j7+ offers more bang for your buck, the newer Combo j9+ offers increased suction power and has a more elegant base that features a large water reservoir that will automatically refill the smaller one in the vacuum between runs. It has the same retractable mop and reliable obstacle avoidance as its predecessor, but is more self-sufficient thanks to its auto-refilling base.

Go with the Combo j9+ if you want a 2-in-1 robot mop and vacuum that requires less maintenance than the j7+. It's a nice luxury not having to refill the robot's mop water reservoir regularly. It's also the top pick for you if you want a base station that's less of an eyesore. The elegant design of the Combo j9+ base can blend in with your home decor and double as a side table.

The Roomba Combo j7+ has a fully retractable mop. When it detects carpet, it automatically lifts its mopping plate out of the way, rests it on top of the device where it has no risk of wetting carpets, and continues vacuuming. Like the standard Roomba j7+, this Combo model features a self-emptying dustbin, AI-powered obstacle avoidance, and a poop-evasion guarantee.

With all the features of the standard Roomba j7+ plus mopping abilities, the Combo j7+ is an excellent option for homes with a mix of hard floors and carpeting. The newer Roomba Combo j9+ offers increased suction power and a self-refilling water reservoir, but it costs a lot more.