Last updated on February 16th, 2022. We’ve officially done it. We’ve joined the future. The task of vacuuming was once a weekly manual chore, but has since become a programmed, automated operation. How? We bought a Roomba. In case you’re not sure, the term ‘Roomba’ denotes iRobot’s product line of robotic vacuum cleaners. You’ll quickly come to know them by sight, as they resemble either a large hockey puck or a small flying saucer. Roombas systematically and automatically vacuum your floor using robotic technology. Not only that, but you can program it to run automatically on a schedule, set it to clean certain rooms at specific times and more – all of which can be controlled through iRobot’s mobile app. With that out of the way, let’s get into the real questions. Is a Roomba worth it for a small apartment? What’s the best Roomba for a small apartment? I’ll be answering this question based on my experience owning one, as well as by comparing the features of four popular models.
Navigation
- Recommended Models
- Model Comparison
- Which Roomba We Bought & Why
- FAQ
- Why iRobot?
- iRobot Roomba Alternatives
- Our Initial i7+ Experience + Tips
- UPDATE: Our Roomba i7+ User Review After 1 Year
Is A Roomba Worth It For A Small Apartment?
Before we compare model features, let’s discuss why Roombas are great for apartments – even small ones – and some of the factors we considered when shopping between models. It’s easy to see why Roombas can be beneficial in general since they save time and effort, automate the cleaning process, etc – so I’ll try and stick with apartment-specific topics.
You may be asking yourself, “Can I use a Roomba in a small apartment?” Our answer is yes indeed! The things that make Roombas work well for small apartments include the following factors:
- Size: Small apartments aren’t known for storage space. Roomba’s compact size can fit many places a traditional vacuum cannot when stored.
- Less Battery Life Required: A small cordless vacuum like a Roomba is ideal for a small apartment, because it won’t require that much battery power to clean the entire thing.
- No Stairs: Stairs are kryptonite to a Roomba – they’ve not yet been able to scale (or hover!) down them yet. Luckily, this is not a hinderance in an apartment.
Here are a few additional factors we considered when choosing the best Roomba for a small apartment, too:
- Height: The short height of a Roomba is great for getting under tables, beds and other furniture – no need to rearrange.
- Smaller Bags: In a small apartment, there’s generally less dust to pick up than in a larger space. The bag size Roomba offers is plenty for regular usage, but not way too big for the amount getting picked up.
- Wireless & Bluetooth Distance: Roomba relies on a connection to your Wi-fi in order to run. Proximity to a router is no issue in a small space.
What’s The Best Roomba For Small Apartments?
Now for the good stuff – comparing Roomba models! We’ll be comparing four Roomba models that are presently in production. These four models are as follows:
- Roomba 694
- Roomba e5 (5150)
- Roomba i3 (3150)
- Roomba i7 (7550)
All four of these models have the following features:
- Alexa Voice & Google Assistant Compatible
- Wi-Fi & Mobile App Compatible
- DirtDetect Sensors
- Intelligent Navigation
- Personalized Cleaning Recommendations
- Scheduled Cleaning
- Self-Charging
- Multi-Surface Cleaning
Choosing The Best Roomba For A Small Apartment: Comparing Models
Below is a table that compares key features of four Roomba models – 694, e5, i3 and i7 – that are well-suited for small apartment living. We did not include the Roomba s9 or Roomba s9+, because we personally feel that they’re “too much vacuum” to justify recommending for a small apartment. These two heavy-duty Roombas will work in small apartments for sure, though – it’s ultimately up to you if you want the extra capability.
Roomba 694 vs e5 vs i3 vs i7 Comparison Table
The New Roomba j7: Features & Changes [9/22/21]
We originally published this article in the fall of 2020, and the four models we’ve compared above were the latest and greatest iRobot had to offer at the time. All of these models are sold by iRobot presently but in 2021, iRobot released two new models: the Roomba j7 and the Roomba j7+. These models effectively serve as the successor of the Roomba i7 and Roomba i7+.
We own the i7+ ourselves, and if you’d like to read our detailed review of the i7+, just scroll to the next section. As for the new j7 and what’s been changed from the i7, here’s a brief list:
- PrecisionVision Navigation Object Avoidance: The j7 and j7+ are the first iRobot models to have this feature, which allows the Roomba to avoid things like pet waste and cords.
- P.O.O.P.: Yep. iRobot now offers their official Pet Owner Official promise – if your j7 fails to avoid pet waste and gets ruined, iRobot will replace it for free. There are some additional terms to that promise, but it’s…comforting anyways.
These are just a couple changes that the j7 introduces. To read more about the j7, click here.
Which Model We Bought: The Roomba i7+
After shopping around and comparing models, we ended up choosing the Roomba i7+ for ourselves. As said previously, this model is exactly the same as the i7 in the table above, except it offers the self-emptying feature, dust collection / charging base included. It also comes standard with a “Virtual Wall” that comes in handy – more on that below.
We chose this model for the following reasons:
- Pets: As you may know, we have a cat. She sheds quite a bit and makes a mess regularly coming out of her litter box. It’s not uncommon for our Roomba to empty itself mid-clean!
- Automation: We run the Roomba a couple times per week, including when we aren’t home. Knowing it’ll empty itself is one less thing to think about.
- Long-Term Ownership: We hope this vacuum lasts 5 or more years. When considering the extra $200 for self-cleaning divided over 5 years, the extra $40 / year in exchange for saving some effort seems worth it.
If this is something your want, then go for it!
Roomba FAQ
Before you invest in a Roomba, you likely have some question. We did as well. Although we’ve covered a fair bit of key information so far, here are a few specific questions we had when comparing models, along with the answers we found – plus some of our thoughts, too!
Are Roombas Loud In Apartments?
Like all vacuums, Roombas do make noise while in use. However, you’ll likely find that they’re a bit quieter than a conventional vacuum due to having a smaller motor and not leaving the floor as they’re run. The vacuum noise will generally be quieter on carpeting when compared to tile, wood or other hard surfaces.
The Roomba also makes some noise as it moves around. Crossing over doorway thresholds or bumping into a hard object generate the most noise, but it’s no louder than a standard vacuum.
I do recommend scheduling your Roomba to run during daytime hours as opposed to early morning or late night, so as not to disturb neighbors below you. That said, the same practice applies to any type of vacuuming.
Do Roombas Need Wifi?
If you’re wondering whether Roombas need Wi-Fi, the answer is…yes and no. Roombas do not need Wi-Fi to run a cleaning cycle. That said, Roombas DO need to be connected to your Wi-Fi in order to control it via their smartphone app. This includes creating ‘smart maps’, setting a routine cleaning schedule and using some of its’ built-in capabilities.
Do Roombas Work On Carpet? Tile? Wood Floors?
This is an easy one – yes! Roombas work on carpet, tile and wood floors alike.
Will Roombas Go Over Rugs?
In you’re wondering about whether Roombas work on area rugs, the answer will depend on the type of rug. A shaggy carpet, bathmat or lightweight flexible area rug may cause the Roomba to jam. This isn’t to say that it won’t work, but we’ve had ours get stuck on rugs like these on occasion. The same can be said for tassels on rugs. For larger area rugs that have some weight to them and/or have flat surfaces, it’s likely that your Roomba will work fine.
Of course, these same principles apply to any type of vacuum anyways.
Roomba i3 vs Roomba i7: What’s The Difference?
What’s the difference between the Roomba i3 vs. i7, exactly? Both models are extremely similar. In fact, we chose the Roomba i3 as our ‘best value’ pick, despite the fact that we bought the Roomba i7+ ourselves.
The Roomba i7 comes standard with a “Virtual Wall“, while the i3 does not. This portable, battery-powered device allows you to set a laser line wherever you choose, which the Roomba doesn’t cross. It detects the laser and treats it as a wall. The device can also do the same thing in a radius, essentially forming an invisible laser circle on your floor to block off the space from the Roomba.
The Roomba i7 also features ‘Smart Mapping’. While both the i3 and i7 vacuum your apartment based on mapping technology, the Roomba i7 can distinguish between rooms, too. For instance, we sometimes tell our Roomba i7 to vacuum the living room specifically since we use it so much, and it’ll use it’s built-in Smart Map of the apartment to do that.
Other than these differences, the Roomba i3 and i7 are very similar. Given that the i3 is $200 less than the i7 as of today, we chose the i3 as the best overall value for a small apartment.
Roomba i7 vs i7+ & Roomba i3 vs i3+: Self-Emptying Feature
The i3 & i3+ are literally identical, as are the i7 & i7+. The only difference between the two models is that the Roomba “plus” models offer a self-cleaning feature – the Roomba docks itself as usual but instead of just charging, the specialized self-emptying base automatically cleans out your vacuum and stores the dust in a collection bin.
At the time of writing, the “plus” models are $200 more than their non-plus counterparts. In other words, adding the self-cleaning feature & special dock to the Roomba i3 or i7 by buying the “plus” versions costs $200.
If you decide to buy Roomba’s automatic dirt disposal base at a later time instead, you can! However it will be a bit pricier on its’ own when compared to buying one of the “plus” models where the disposal base is included.
Roomba 694 vs 614: What’s The Difference?
A Roomba 694 is essentially the same as the Roomba 614, with one major exception – the Roomba 694 can be controlled through iRobot’s mobile app, whereas the 614 is not. At the time of writing, the Roomba 694 is $30 more than the 614. Said another way, the ability to control to control your 614 robot vacuum via mobile app is an extra $30 (the 694).
Is Roomba The Best Robot Vacuum For Small Apartments? Here’s Why We Chose Roomba
So, why did we buy a Roomba vacuum for our apartment vs. a competitor? Here are our anecdotal reasons:
- Reviews: Roomba generally have great reviews (mostly 4.5 of 5 stars or greater). While some other makes have decent reviews too, Amazon’s Roomba listings have thousands, or even tens of thousands, of positive reviews.
- Priced Close To Competition: Many of Roomba’s competitors offer less expensive models, but we found that after comparing features apples-to-apples, the +/- hundred or so dollars we could save were offset by Roomba’s brand reputation – including people we know.
- Our Buying Style: We typically buy things and keep them for a long time. In turn, we hope to encounter the least amount of maintenance and issues possible. Thus, for infrequent purchases like a vacuum, we’ll pay a little more up front for a high-quality one.
- Updates Over Time: Many Roomba models receive software updates as iRobot releases them over time, so performance is expected to improve over the life of ownership.
These are our opinions only!
Roomba Robot Vacuum Alternatives
Roomba is a model of robotic vacuum cleaner manufactured by iRobot. Roomba is not a generic name used to describe any type of robotic vacuum.
‘Roomba’ is becoming similar to ‘Q-tip’, in that the brand name has become the household name that everyone uses to describe the product. Very few people ask for a ‘cotton swab’ – they ask for a Q-tip.
There are other manufacturers of robotic vacuum cleaners out there. Here are some Roomba alternatives in case you’re wondering:
In this article, we’ve focused solely on Roomba, as we own one presently and have done more in-depth research on choosing which Roomba model suits our high rise apartment best.
Our Initial Experience With The Roomba i7+
Now a bit about our experience thus far. After about a month of ownership, we are loving our Roomba so far.
The scheduled cleaning is our favorite part. Vacuuming is no longer scrubbed on our weekly to-do list – the Roomba does everything on its’ own.
The mobile app is really useful and cool. Create schedules, vacuum certain rooms and send your Roomba back ‘home’, all from the app. You can start your Roomba at the press of a button any time, whether you’re home or not. If you have a model with Smart Mapping, you can view the map of your home from the app as well.
You’ll probably want a “Virtual Wall“. As said above, the Roomba i7 comes standard with one, but you can buy one separately if you choose a different model. If there’s any area you wish to block Roomba from accessing (i.e. under a desk with lots of wires, etc.), the Virtual Wall puts out a laser beam that the Roomba won’t cross.
The Roomba does save time and effort, but isn’t completely effortless. It’s common sense, but the Roomba doesn’t know to avoid sucking up things it shouldn’t, like string hanging from blinds, a cord or other such things. Therefore, I recommend checking the house for loose items like these prior to the Roomba doing its’ thing. Same goes for moving furniture to give your Roomba access to corners and whatnot.
Update: Our Roomba i7+ Review & Tips After 1 Year
Hello again! After owning our Roomba for one year, we figured it’s time to provide everyone with an updated Roomba i7+ user review. We’ve put together a brief list of things we’ve learned about our Roomba, some experiences we’ve had and a few tips from our experience:
Do a walk-through before vacuuming. We did mention this above, but it bears repeating. One of the biggest benefits Roomba offers is its’ automatic vacuum feature. With this in mind, it’s easy to get a little…lax about paying attention to vacuuming after having it done for you. Believe me! This can mean leaving stuff on the floor for the Roomba to suck up when we’re not paying attention. This includes cords, phone chargers, socks, flip flops and other items like that. We recommend doing a quick walk-around to pick this stuff up before the Roomba runs!
Sensors need to be cleaned often. Over time, the sensors on the front of our i7+ have gotten dirty with dust and other stuff. The same can be said for the sensor on the i7+’s self-emptying base. If the Roomba doesn’t encounter an error from this already – which you can diagnose and fix through the mobile app – it may start docking crookedly and generally not “driving” right. It seems to work best after wiping the sensors down with a cloth once every two weeks or so.
Bags only last for 10-15 cleanings before needing replacement. While we can only speak from our own experience, the bags for the self-emptying base need to be replaced every 10 – 15 cleanings, which amounts to replacing them every six weeks or so (with a cat). This isn’t too bad for us, but we’re only cleaning a 1,200 SF apartment twice per week. Given that the bags are single-use, I wanted to mention it.
Cleaning will take a little longer if you’ve moved furniture. Just a small tip, but something we’ve noticed. If we move furniture around or put a large object in our Roomba’s path, the Roomba will have to feel its’ way around the object and modify its’ existing map of the room. Awesome? Yes. Takes a little longer? Yes.
Your Roomba will likely recharge itself at least once during cleaning. As we said earlier, our place is not particularly big at 1,200 SF. Even for a relatively small area like ours, our Roomba has to recharge about 2/3rds of the way through vacuuming our apartment. If you’re short on time, you’re probably best off assigning it to clean a specific room first. Thankfully this is easy to do through the mobile app once Roomba has programmed itself through mapping!
Overall, we still love our Roomba and it performs as well as it did when we first bought it. Between scheduling and controlling it through the app, letting it do its’ thing on autopilot and the self-emptying feature, our Roomba has definitely made our life easier. Given that it’s also been reliable and easy to remedy if need be, we’d recommend checking Roomba out to anyone.
That said, it can be helpful to know the nuances and particulars of how a more expensive product will actually be to own! Hopefully our list has been helpful.
In Summary
I hope this article has been helpful in helping you choose the best Roomba for you. Our mission is to provide as much detail as we can for each model, along with any of our experiences of owning our own, to help you make an informed decision. All four of the above Roombas work in small apartments just fine – it really comes down to the specific features you do or don’t want to pay for. Thanks for reading!
One reply on “Best Roomba For Small Apartment [2022]: Model Comparison & Review”
[…] 2021 Roomba Guide […]