Club Benefits
Truth be told, now's not a good time to buy a Roomba. Once synonymous with the very best robot vacuums, iRobot Roomba went into administration in 2025, and was acquired in February 2026 by major Chinese technology company Picea. We reached out to iRobot, who confirmed that it will be "operating as before", and said "there are no changes to existing models or our support of them". But, with that being said, we're seeing a lot of classic iRobot models such as the J9+ Combi and the i3 being taken out of circulation.
With that in mind, the three models I've included in this guide are still readily available to buy and also almost permanently heavily discounted. The most recent model we tested, the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo, offers the latest Roomba tech and scored very highly across the board when we tested it in 2025. More interested in mopping? The Braava Jet M6 has been a favorite of ours for years, and is heavily reduced at a number of a retailers.
But a lot's changed since we tested these robot vacuums, and the brand recently announced a new range of budget-friendly models (the first to be released under the brand's new ownership), which we expect to launch later this year. Can't wait for then? Take a look at the three best Roombas I recommend below.
The best Roombas you can buy today
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The best Roombas you can buy today
As part of a series of newly-launched robot vacuum mops from Roomba in 2025, the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo is by far one of the best robot vacuums we’ve tested.
Our tester, Annie, (who is also a busy mom to a toddler and dog), put the Roomba Plus 505 to good use in her home. After months of testing she was impressed by its sheer cleaning power, mopping results and pet hair pick-up. In other words, a great overall robot vacuum to suit every task.
Not only was the Roomba Plus 505 able to do a thorough clean on her carpets, it did a good job of tackling messes on hard floors, particularly in corners. It also managed to maneuver its way over thresholds and around doors and other obstacles without any problem.
Perhaps what impressed our tester the most though, was its excellent mopping results that actually scrubbed floors well. Promising ‘70x more suction’, our tester could clearly see where areas had been scrubbed, and was glad to see floors were left dry and free from wet streaks. What’s more, the Roomba Plus 505 tackles pet hair really well, and Annie didn't find a single strand of her dog's hair tangled in the brush at all. Impressive!
She also loved the fact that it empties its bin, fills itself with clean water, and empties the dirty water away for up to 75 days. In fact, the only downsides Annie noted was the ‘spot cleaning’ mode to be a little hit and miss, and the App could be glitchy at times. However, for an overall, robot vacuum and mop hybrid to handle everyday cleaning, the Roomba Plus 505 was good enough to retire her cordless vacuum.
Read our full iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo review.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Overall | Cheerios | Kitty Litter | Pet hair |
Hardwood Floor | 94.75 | 97.3 | 94.45 | 92.5 |
Carpet | 88.9 | 99.35 | 94.75 | 72.5 |
Best premium
One of iRobot's more premium models, the J9+ Combo is pricey, but it vacuums and mops homes with a healthy mix of carpet and hard floors thoroughly while avoiding obstacles. Its retractable mop design folds over the top of the bot like a convertible car's roof. This completely avoids spilling even a drop of water on carpets — but it requires you to manually remove and clean the mop pad after each job, which is some outdated tech compared to more modern releases from brands like Dreame and Dyson.
The J9+ had no problem sucking up nearly all of the Cheerios and kitty litter placed on both surface types. It even ripped through 93 percent of pet hair on carpet which is where most models struggle.
Our tester, Hunter, noted that only place this Roomba dropped the ball was when collecting pet hair on hard floors. While it managed to collect around 80% of the hair it struggled for the majority of the cleaning and often pushed it all together in clumps.
Its onboard AI powers advanced obstacle avoidance and uses a camera to detect dirt and optimize cleanings ensure that your floors are left clean and shiny. The algorithm's "SmartScrub" feature can even determine how effective a mop passthrough was to apply more pressure like a human would. If your home is equal parts hardwood to carpet then the Roomba J9+ Combo can't be topped.
Read our full iRobot Roomba J9+ Combo robot vacuum and mop review.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Overall | Cheerios | Kitty Litter | Pet hair |
Hardwood Floor | 91.2 | 95.7 | 97 | 81 |
Carpet | 97.0 | 98 | 99.9 | 93 |
Best robot mop
The iRobot Braava jet m6 is, in essence, the Roomba s9, but solely for mopping. This impressive bot uses the same advanced navigation found in the Roomba s9 and Roomba i7 to clean and map your home. It’ll save a map of your home’s layout that can be customized, giving you the power to command the Braava jet m6 to clean specific rooms while avoiding no-go areas such as pet food bowls. While this is a handy feature in a vacuum, it’s nearly essential in a mop. No one wants to deal with a wet rug.
The square shape of the Braava jet m6 means it cleans well along baseboards. We like the easy-to-fill removable water tank, too. Like some Roombas, when the mop’s battery gets low, it’ll head back to its base, recharge, and then get back to work. Perhaps the neatest feature of the Braava jet m6 is how it works in tandem with the Roomba s9 and Roomba i7. When the vacuum has finished cleaning and returned to its base, the mop goes to work.
Like the Braava jet 240, the Braava jet m6 uses proprietary wet and dry cleaning pads that are available in reusable or disposable versions.
The m6 is at the top of our list of the best robot mops; as we found in our Braava jet m6 review, it was the best at both mopping and sweeping, and all of its smarts made it the easiest to use, too.
Read our full iRobot Braava jet m6 robot mop review.
How we tested
Our list of the best Roombas has been compiled through a combination of hands-on testing alongside extensive online research. Those which are tested in-house must demonstrate high levels of pick-up on everyday debris, including Cheerios, kitty litter and dog hair across both carpet and hardwood floors. We also take into account the effectiveness of the navigation as well as how much noise it makes on route. Speed is also considered as part of this test.
On top of that, we give the overall design a once-over, checking how easy the dustbin and filter are to remove and refit, as well as factoring in the settings and features on offer. We also test the app to see how easy it is to navigate and how intuitive the Roomba is to use on the whole.
Those models which are assessed based solely on online research need to have a proven track record in performance. We check this by referring to online reviews which must be commendable as well as consistent. Specifications are also compared to find the models which have the most to offer. Battery life and dustbin capacity are considered along with special features such as obstacle recognition and self-emptying bases.
Should you still buy a Roomba?
In December 2025, iRobot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and proposed that its business be acquired by Picea Robotics, a Chinese manufacturer. In the court documents, iRobot registered its intent to continue normal operations during the process, which is expected to complete in February 2026.
This includes deliveries to retailers, sales from its own website, returns and warranty programs, and the proper function of the brand's app, which you use to control the vacuum and create maps of your home.
Since this is only a guarantee to operate as usual during the process, and not after once iRobot officially becomes part of Picea, we don't currently recommend that you buy the company's devices when there are alternatives that don't have the same risks.
Of course, it's totally possible that everything will work out okay, so if you're willing to bet on that outcome, you can still buy Roomba robot vacuums. We're just keen to point you in other directions, to avoid the prospect that your new powerful robot vacuum doesn't become an expensive paperweight in a few months time.
How to choose
Choosing the best Roomba for your home and lifestyle is as easy as considering what features matter most to you.
If you want to tell your bot exactly which rooms to clean, the Roomba j7+, s9+, the Roomba i7+, or the Braava jet m6 are good options. These use advanced camera navigation, allowing them to create and save accurate maps of your home.
From there, you can customize a map by naming specific rooms and creating no-go zones to keep the robot from pushing Fido’s food bowl across the floor.
If the last thing you want to deal with is a dustbin full of everything that was just cleaned up, the automatic, self-emptying Clean Base that’s available with the Roomba j7+, s9+ and the Roomba i7+ will be right up your alley. The base uses bags that seal shut when removed, keeping the dust and allergens at bay.
Struggle with pet poop collisions? Then the answer is easily the new iRobot Roomba j7+. With obstacle avoidance technology, this problem is a thing of the past. In fact, iRobot is so confident in the Roomba j7+’s intelligence that it’s introduced the Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P), whereby iRobot will replace any j7+ that fails to avoid solid pet waste.
And if want to control your Roomba or Braava from your phone, the Roomba 675 up to the Roomba s9+ can be controlled via the iRobot app.
Every model (except the Braava jet 240) is WiFi connected, meaning you’ll be able to start or schedule a cleaning when you’re not home. Afterall, there’s nothing better than coming home to a clean house.
The one exception is the Braava jet 240. This mopping bot connects to the iRobot app via Bluetooth instead of WiFi. The removable battery and nature of this mop make it an unlikely candidate for a completely unsupervised cleaning session.
Features to look out for
- Self-emptying
This is available on some of the more premium models, such as the iRobot Roomba s9+ mentioned above. When the dustbin is full, the Roomba will return to its charging base to empty itself into a larger bin. This means you don’t have to empty it so often, and it’s ideal if you suffer from allergies as dust isn’t released into the air as frequently. - WiFi connectivity
Most Roomba vacuums come with WiFi connectivity. With this, you can connect your vacuum to your smartphone, which allows you to better monitor and control it. - Hybrid models
Hybrid models are available which can mop as well as vacuum. In our experience, these generally aren’t as good as dedicated models though. - Mapping
As the name suggests, with mapping your Roomba can map-out your home. It does this using sensors prior to calculating the best cleaning route. It can record obstacles, such as the stairs, and this opens up the no-go zones and targeted room features for some models. - No-go zones
With no-go zones, you can mark rooms or areas where you don’t want your Roomba to go. It’s great if you want to avoid pet bowls or an expensive rug, for instance. - Targeted rooms
Using this, you can set where you want the Roomba to focus on cleaning — ideal if there’s an unexpected mess. - Multiple floors
If you have lots of floors, look for a Roomba which can support multiple maps. That way, you’re not restricted to just one floor. - Scheduling
You will find this feature on pretty much every robot vacuum with WiFi connectivity. Once it’s connected to your phone, you can set up cleaning schedules to best suit your routine. - Dust capacity
Smaller dustbins naturally need emptying more often — unless you’re lucky enough to own a self-emptying model. 400ml is a good size of capacity for guidance.
