When it comes to robot vacuums, iRobot‘s Roomba is by far the market leader. The Roomba was first introduced in 2002 and has sold more than 14 million units worldwide.
The latest version introduced in Sept. 2015, the Roomba 980, is iRobot’s first cloud-connected consumer robot, allowing users to connect, manage, and monitor it through iRobot’s new HOME App on Android and iOS devices. Using iAdapt 2.0 software and two new sensors, the Roomba 980 robot vacuum memorizes the floor plan of your home, including where your furniture is. There’s a small camera on the top of the Roomba 980, and this allows it to map and navigate your home. Previous Roombas relied on physical bumpers, infrared, and acoustic sensors to get around.
Must-Read: Dyson 360 Eye Robot Vacuum Doesn’t Faze iRobot
Maybe it’s unfair since iRobot has so much experience in this market, but the Roomba should be the measuring stick for new robot vacuums. And since Sir James Dyson has said the current robot vacuums on the market “are gimmicks,” we want to see how his new Dyson 360 Eye, which took 16 years and more than $46 million to develop, stacks up against the competition.
Check out the side-by-side comparison chart below and let us know which robot vacuum is superior: the iRobot Roomba 980 or Dyson 360 Eye.
| iRobot Roomba 980 | Dyson 360 Eye | |
| Price | $899.99 | $999 |
| U.S. Availability | Yes | Starting Aug. 1, 2016 |
| Schedule Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Features | Cleans All Floor Types 3-Stage Cleaning Cycle AeroForce Cleaning System Carpet Boost Brushless Extractors |
Cleans All Floor Types Tank Treads for Transitioning Between Surfaces Full-width Brush Bar 78,000RPM Suction Carbon-fiber Brushes for Hard Surfaces Nylon Bristles for Carpets |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable Lithium ion | Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery |
| Battery Life | 2 hours | 45 minutes |
| Charging Time | Up to 3 hours | 2.75 hours |
| Self-Docking | Yes | Yes |
| Mapping & Navigation | iAdapt 2.0 with Visual Localization | 360 Degree Vision System |
| Cliff Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| App Control | Home App (iOS/Android) | Dyson Link (iOS/Android) |
| Dust Bin | HEPA-filtered bin | 0.4 liters |
| Mopping Function | No | No |
| Cleaning Path | Parallel Lines | 10-Foot Grid Pattern |
| Side Brush | Yes | No, Replaced by Full-width Brush Bar |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Weight | 8.7 pounds | 5.4 pounds |
| Size | 13.8″ diameter, 3.6″ height | 9″ diameter, 4.72″ height |
| Color | Black, Gray, Brown | Nickel, Blue |
iRobot Mopping Robots Comparison
