Roombas and Roborocks are two of the favored robotic vacuum choices within the nation, each providing superior good expertise for automated flooring cleansing and a variety of units to select from. Actually, when you’re making an attempt to match robotic vacuum fashions, you might have a troublesome time telling the distinction at first look, particularly with so many options which are constructed into the newest Roborock and Roomba fashions.
It’s all proper: We’ve reviewed loads of robotic vacs and know what to search for. Listed here are the fundamentals behind these two manufacturers, what they convey to the desk, and which it is best to take into account first.
Design
Aspect by aspect, the rounded designs of Roombas and Roborocks look similar to each other. They each use rubber brushes and computerized changes for uneven surfaces and replaceable filters for air filtration. Nevertheless, there are a number of variations price noting. Roborock has extra hybrid fashions with extra capabilities for mopping (extra on this beneath), and Roomba has extra fashions with aspect brushes and a flattened entrance (just like the S9 sequence) to assist clear baseboards and corners extra successfully. Total, the Roomba designs are a bit extra sturdy and versatile within the common dwelling.
Winner: Roomba
Accessible fashions
iRobot has three completely different sequence, the S9 line, the j7 line, and the i3 line. There are older variations, however not many are in circulation anymore.
Roborock additionally has various sequence, together with the S7, S5, Q7, and E5 (you may see how it may be simple to confuse these two manufacturers throughout client analysis).
Whereas these strains could appear related, Roborock delivers in relation to choices. Total, Roborock has a broader collection of robotic vacuums, which provides you extra selections and a greater likelihood to discover a mannequin that’s simply best for you.
Winner: Roborock
Battery life
Essentially the most superior Roomba fashions promise a battery lifetime of as much as two hours (relying on the modes used and different components), and most fashions have the power to return again to their base stations and cost up once more, then return to their cleansing duties. That makes battery life much less of an element than it as soon as was, however it may possibly nonetheless matter when coping with explicit massive rooms or slicing down on put on and tear.
Roborock’s vacuums can differ, however many have bigger batteries that may last as long as 200 minutes or, in some circumstances, three hours (once more, this may differ based mostly on cleansing modes). Roborock fashions additionally sometimes embody the power to return to their stations for recharging when crucial, however typically, its fashions can last more out on the ground with a single cost.
Winner: Roborock

Cleansing energy
Let’s discuss suction! The extra suction a robotic vacuum has, the extra simply it may possibly deal with bigger bits of particles, and provides carpets a extra thorough cleansing. Whereas iRobot says that their present vacs are 40x extra highly effective than their unique fashions, that doesn’t say so much about suction ranges, though it seems that Roombas prime out round 2,500Pa (a suction ranking).
A lot of Roborock’s fashions additionally provide a 2,500Pa suction ranking. Nevertheless, Roborock additionally has fashions that may ship past that, together with the two,700Pa Q7 and the highly effective 4,200Pa Q7 Max. If you would like as a lot suction as doable, Roborock presents the most effective bots for the job.
Winner: Roborock
Good options
Each vacuum manufacturers have apps which are full of capabilities and bots full of sensors. Roombas use Imprint Good Mapping to scan, be taught, and label rooms in your house. You may management flooring plans and schedule particular person room cleanings as you see match, or order the Roomba for a spot cleansing if there’s a particular mess to scrub up. You may as well set boundaries round particular furnishings or rugs the Roomba ought to keep away from (Roombas will keep away from stairs and different drop factors on their very own). The extra superior fashions have dust detection to inform when a spot is dirtier so the bot can improve cleansing energy. The app may even provide you with strategies on how and when to scrub over time. And with the fitting base station, Roombas can routinely empty their bins so that you don’t must take out the trash for weeks at a time. Oh, and Roombas work with voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant for audible directions.
Roborocks are additionally critically good: They use lidar expertise to map out rooms and Adaptive Route Algorithms to seek out the most effective cleansing paths. You might have full management by way of the app, from setting schedules and adjusting suction energy to creating invisible partitions so the vacuum will keep away from sure areas. Most Roborock fashions even have the power to return to their stations and empty their bins so that you don’t have to fret about monitoring them as a lot. Additionally they work with Alexa and Google House voice instructions.
Whereas a lot of this good expertise offers customers the identical conveniences, Roomba fashions can have a number of further options, like spot cleansing and dust detection, which put them barely over the sting.
Winner: Roomba

What about mopping capabilities?
Each Roombas and Roborock vacs provide mopping choices, however they do it in very alternative ways. iRobot presents a separate Braava line of robotic mops that use moist pads to scrub flooring, however Roombas themselves don’t have any mopping capabilities.
Roborock, nonetheless, makes a speciality of hybrid fashions that embody each vacuuming and mopping on the identical gadget. As an alternative of utilizing pads, they use sonic mop vibration mixed with small sprays of water to assist clear stains extra simply, plus sensors to inform when the vac has reached the carpet. Essentially the most superior fashions may even refill their water tanks at their charging stations. It’s a number of the most spectacular water-based cleansing within the robotic vacuum market, and positively essentially the most hands-off.
Winner: Roborock
Pricing
On the excessive finish, each Roomba and Roborock fashions are likely to value between $900 to $100. The Roomba S9+, for instance, is $1,000, whereas the Roborock S7+ is $950 (Roborocks go a bit increased, such because the highly effective S7 MaxV Extremely for $1,400). On the decrease finish, you will discover price range fashions for round $300. With this a lot vary in alternative, there isn’t plenty of distinction right here so long as you’re prepared to compromise to discover a value you may stay with.
Winner: Tie
Conclusion: Which robotic vacuum model is finest?
Whereas Roomba nonetheless has superior good expertise, Roborock is critically spectacular with its potential energy ranges and the frequent mixture of suction and sonic mop vibration. There’s a cause we’ve been impressed with Roborock’s newest expertise earlier than. When you’re in search of a robotic vacuum, we advise you begin with Roborock however don’t depart Roombas out of the operating completely.
Editors’ Selection