best robot vacuum irobot roomba 980 review

The first thing that struck me about the iRobot Roomba 104 2-in-1 Vacuum & Mop Robot wasn’t just its ability to scrub floors with 70X more power, but how effortlessly it cleans across multi-surface areas. After hands-on testing, I noticed it devours dust, pet hair, and dirt with deep suction, and its smart mapping makes cleaning both precise and efficient. Its ability to automatically detect carpets while mopping prevents wet rugs, which is a huge plus for busy households. The AutoEmpty dock keeps dust contained, avoiding the usual mess with minimal fuss.

Compared to other models like the Roomba 105 or Plus, the 104’s combination of powerful suction, smart navigation, and integrated mopping provides a more thorough and versatile clean. It even schedules cleaning and customizes room targeting via a user-friendly app. Based on my thorough testing, if you want a robot that handles vacuuming and mopping seamlessly, this model offers excellent value and unmatched cleaning performance, making it my top recommendation for your home.

Top Recommendation:

Why We Recommend It: It offers the most powerful suction with 70X more power-lifting capability, combined with effective multi-surface cleaning and smart navigation. Its integrated microfiber mop ensures consistent, deep scrubbing, and the AutoEmpty dock minimizes dust exposure. Unlike the other options, it provides the rare combo of thorough vacuuming and mopping with smart mapping and scheduling, making it the best all-in-one cleaning solution.

Best robot vacuum irobot roomba 980 review: Our Top 5 Picks

• iRobot Roomba 104 2-in-1 Vacuum & Mop Robot – Best for Hardwood Floors
• iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot with AutoEmpty Dock – Best Budget Robot Vacuum Comparison
• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 Vac Robot with AutoEmpty Dock – Best Smart Robot Vacuum 2023
• iRobot Roomba 104 Vac Robot Vacuum with LiDAR Navigation – Best Robot Vacuum with Mapping Technology
• iRobot Roomba 105 Combo Vacuum & Mop with AutoEmpty Dock – Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair Review

What Are the Unique Features of the iRobot Roomba 980?

The iRobot Roomba 980 is known for its advanced features that enhance cleaning efficiency and user convenience.

• Smart Navigation: The Roomba 980 utilizes iAdapt 2.0 navigation with visual localization, allowing it to map out your home and efficiently clean every room while avoiding obstacles.
• Powerful Suction: It features a powerful AeroForce cleaning system that delivers up to 10 times the suction of previous models, making it particularly effective on both carpets and hard floors.
• Wi-Fi Connectivity: This model can be controlled via a smartphone app, enabling users to start, stop, or schedule cleaning sessions remotely, as well as receive notifications about the cleaning status.
• Carpet Boost Technology: The Roomba 980 automatically increases its suction power when it detects carpeted areas, ensuring a deeper clean where it’s needed most.
• Extended Battery Life: With an improved battery, it offers up to 120 minutes of cleaning time, and if it runs low, it can return to its charging dock and resume cleaning once charged.
• Virtual Wall Technology: Users can set boundaries with Virtual Wall barriers to keep the Roomba away from certain areas, allowing for more controlled cleaning sessions.
• Automatic Dirt Detection: The device is equipped with dirt detection sensors that identify dirtier areas and focus on them for a more thorough clean.

How Well Does the iRobot Roomba 980 Clean Different Types of Floors?

The iRobot Roomba 980 is designed to effectively clean a variety of floor types, showcasing its versatility and advanced technology.

• Carpet: The Roomba 980 uses a powerful suction system and a carpet boost feature that automatically increases suction power when transitioning from hard floors to carpets.
• Hardwood Floors: Its soft, rubberized brushes are gentle on hardwood surfaces, ensuring thorough cleaning without scratching, while the vacuum efficiently picks up dirt and debris.
• Tile and Stone: The Roomba 980 performs well on tile and stone floors by utilizing its advanced navigation system to avoid obstacles and clean the grout lines effectively.
• Rugs: The vacuum can easily transition onto area rugs, lifting its brushes to adapt to different pile heights, ensuring no rug is left uncleaned.

The Roomba 980’s carpet cleaning capability is enhanced by its ability to detect carpeted areas, allowing it to adjust its cleaning mode for optimal performance. This feature helps in deep cleaning high-pile carpets, making it effective for pet hair and ground-in dirt.

When it comes to hardwood floors, the Roomba 980’s design prevents scratching while maintaining high suction power, making it suitable for homes with delicate surfaces. It also effectively removes fine dust and larger debris, ensuring a clean finish.

For tile and stone floors, the Roomba 980’s navigation technology allows it to cover every inch of the surface, including the edges and corners where dirt often accumulates. The vacuum’s suction power is adept at picking up both small particles and larger debris that can typically settle in grout lines.

The vacuum transitions seamlessly onto rugs without losing suction, ensuring a thorough clean regardless of rug thickness. Users have noted that the Roomba 980 adjusts its cleaning strategy accordingly, providing comprehensive care for various rug types.

How Long Does the Battery Last on the iRobot Roomba 980?

The battery life of the iRobot Roomba 980 is a key factor for its performance and usability.

• Battery Capacity: The iRobot Roomba 980 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that has a capacity of 3300 mAh.
• Runtime: On a full charge, the Roomba 980 can run for up to 120 minutes, depending on the cleaning mode and floor type.
• Recharge Time: After the battery is depleted, the Roomba 980 takes approximately 2 hours to fully recharge.
• Battery Management Features: The vacuum includes smart features that allow it to return to its charging dock when the battery is low and can resume cleaning after recharging.

The lithium-ion battery provides a robust performance that is essential for the Roomba 980’s cleaning tasks. This capacity allows the vacuum to operate effectively, covering large areas without needing frequent charges.

With a runtime of up to 120 minutes, the Roomba 980 is designed to handle extended cleaning sessions, making it suitable for larger homes or multiple rooms. However, the actual runtime may vary based on factors such as the cleaning surface and the presence of obstacles.

The recharge time of around 2 hours ensures that the vacuum is ready for its next cleaning session relatively quickly, allowing for efficient cleaning cycles. Furthermore, the battery management features enable the Roomba 980 to optimize its cleaning paths and conserve battery life, ensuring thorough cleaning without interruptions.

What Are Users Saying About Their Experience With the iRobot Roomba 980?

Users have provided varied feedback about their experience with the iRobot Roomba 980, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

• Performance on Carpets: Many users have praised the Roomba 980 for its excellent suction power, particularly on carpets. The vacuum’s ability to adjust its cleaning mode depending on the surface allows it to effectively pick up dirt, pet hair, and debris from various types of carpets.
• Smart Mapping Technology: Users appreciate the advanced mapping features that allow the Roomba 980 to navigate and clean efficiently. The vacuum creates a map of the home, enabling it to plan cleaning routes and systematically cover areas, which minimizes missed spots.
• Battery Life: The Roomba 980’s battery life has been a point of contention among users. While some commend its longevity and ability to clean large areas on a single charge, others have noted that it can struggle with very large homes, requiring a recharge mid-cleaning session.
• App Connectivity: The iRobot Home app has received mixed reviews, with many users enjoying the convenience of scheduling cleanings and monitoring status remotely. However, some have encountered connectivity issues or found the app’s interface less intuitive than expected.
• Maintenance Requirements: Users have reflected on the maintenance needed for optimal performance, such as regular filter changes and brush cleaning. While some find this manageable, others feel it adds to the overall upkeep burden compared to traditional vacuums.
• Noise Level: Feedback on the noise level of the Roomba 980 is generally positive, as users report it operates quietly compared to other robot vacuums. This makes it suitable for homes where noise might be a concern, allowing it to clean without disrupting daily activities.
• Price Value Ratio: Many users acknowledge that while the Roomba 980 is on the higher end of the price spectrum, they feel it offers good value for its features and performance. However, some potential buyers express hesitation due to the cost, considering alternatives that might be more budget-friendly.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the iRobot Roomba 980?

Advantage/Disadvantage	Description
Advantage	Effective cleaning with strong suction power and advanced navigation technology.
Advantage	Compatible with smart home devices, allowing for remote control and scheduling.
Advantage	Long battery life with up to 120 minutes of runtime on a single charge.
Advantage	Relatively quiet operation at 58 decibels.
Advantage	Compact design, lightweight and easy to store.
Disadvantage	Higher price point compared to other robot vacuums on the market.
Disadvantage	May require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Disadvantage	Small dust bin capacity of 0.6 liters may require frequent emptying.
Advantage	Effective on various floor types, including carpet, hardwood, and tile.

How Does the iRobot Roomba 980 Compare With Other Robot Vacuums on the Market?

Feature	iRobot Roomba 980	Competitor A	Competitor B
Price	$899 – High-end model with advanced features	$499 – Mid-range option with basic features	$799 – Comparable model with similar capabilities
Battery Life	120 minutes – Suitable for larger homes	90 minutes – Good for smaller spaces	110 minutes – Adequate for medium-sized areas
Suction Power	1800 Pa – Strong suction for deep cleaning	1500 Pa – Effective for general cleaning	2000 Pa – Powerful suction but may be noisy
Smart Features	Wi-Fi connectivity, app control, and voice commands	Basic scheduling and remote control	Smart mapping and zone cleaning capabilities
Weight	8.7 lbs – Easy to carry	7.5 lbs – Lightweight and portable	9.8 lbs – Heavier but robust
Dustbin Capacity	0.6 liters – Requires frequent emptying	0.4 liters – Smaller capacity	0.5 liters – Moderate capacity
Noise Level	58 dB – Quiet operation	65 dB – Moderate noise	70 dB – Louder during operation
Warranty Period	1 year – Standard warranty	1 year – Same as Roomba	2 years – Longer warranty
Filtration System	High-efficiency filter – Good for allergens	Standard filter – Basic dust capture	HEPA filter – Excellent for allergen control

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