Roomba is a cleaning robot that works hard every day without humans doing anything. There is a feeling that it has become firmly established in Japan, but when it comes time to buy it, there are many models on sale, "What is the difference between each model?" "Why is there such a price difference even though they look the same?" "What should I choose based on?"

Therefore, in this article, we will start with the basic knowledge of "What is Roomba in the first place?", Explain the points that should be emphasized when choosing Roomba, and the five main models currently on the market (Roomba 643, Roomba e5, Roomba 960, Rumba i7, Rumba i7 +) spec comparison etc. are posted in detail! We asked Sonoko Toida, a professional in choosing home appliances, who is widely used in magazines and television, to explain in detail.

[This is the one who will teach you! ]

Home Appliance Coordinator

Sonoko Toida

Widely used in magazines and television. She has earned the enthusiastic support of readers for her keen consumer-oriented product criticism. She actually uses many robot vacuums, including Roomba, and is familiar with robot vacuums.

table of contents

First of all, what is rumba?

What are the features and functions common to Roomba?

5 points when purchasing Roomba

Introducing the current model of Roomba at once!

Roomba current model comparison table

First of all, what is rumba?

Roomba is a vacuum cleaner robot from iRobot, founded in 1990 by robot scholars at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is said to be the world's first practical domestic robot that uses the technology cultivated in the military multipurpose work robot "Packbot" manufactured by iRobot. As I will mention later, the point is that Roomba is not a "home appliance" but a "robot".

After such roots, the first rumba appeared in the United States in 2002. Combined with the floor-wiping robot "Brava," which wipes and cleans the floor with a cloth at the push of a button, we boast a cumulative total of more than 25 million units shipped worldwide. It landed in Japan in 2002, the same as its debut. In Japan, where the area per room is smaller than in Europe and the United States, it was questioned that it would spread, but due to the convenience of completing cleaning with the touch of a button, we gradually expanded our market share. IRobot has shipped more than 3 million domestic robots in Japan.

● Commentary by Mr. Toida, a professional home appliance

"Unlike fully automatic washing machines, where humans have to put in and take out laundry, Roomba is a product that can take care of all the housework of cleaning. It's a different category from conventional home appliances, and people don't have to do anything. It cleans and comes back. It's the same as outsourcing and outsourcing of housework, so it's a robot rather than a home appliance.

Japanese home appliance makers have also released robot vacuum cleaners, but the reason for choosing Roomba is its reliable technology and long-established security, that is, its brand power. The reason why Rumba's position is not shaken is that it is smart to explain briefly. All robot vacuums simply don't differ much in their ability to suck dust, but if a bed cover or curtain hangs down, for example, another manufacturer's product will recognize it as a wall and return to the base. But Roomba goes underneath and cleans it. The amount of dust left behind is overwhelmingly small.

That kind of judgment comes from the difference in experience points. For robots that have only 100 cases and robots that have 10,000 cases, the latter can move more efficiently. Even if the simple cleaning power such as suction power is the same, Roomba has an advantage in the world of robot vacuum cleaners due to the difference in experience and brain. "(Mr. Toida)

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What are the features and functions common to Roomba?

Roomba has pioneered a new genre of robot vacuum cleaners that automatically clean rooms. Various parts have evolved compared to the first generation, but the underlying technologies of Roomba are "running" and "suction."

With the current model, dozens of sensors grasp the surrounding space and detect the position of walls and obstacles, dust, and dust. The high-speed response process "iAdapt", which integrates such information and makes judgments by artificial intelligence more than 60 times per second and selects the optimum movement from more than 40 behavior patterns, realizes ideal driving. The following video is a promotion movie of the top model i7. "Smartness" is emphasized.

Outstanding driving technology that can overcome small steps

There are three wheels on the bottom, the front wheel and the left and right drive wheels, and if there is a step of about 2 cm such as a rug or a threshold laid on the floor, you can easily overcome it. Also, if the battery is low during cleaning, it will automatically return to the home base and charge. If it is a high-end model, there is also a function to go to the place where it was cleaned again and restart cleaning.

Don't miss the dust near the walls and in the corners of the room

The patented technology "AeroForce Cleaning System" is adopted in the latest model for "suction" which is another key point of Roomba. The rubber roller "dual action brush" lifts dust, and the airflow generated by a small high-power motor creates a vacuum inside the roomba to suck dust. It does not miss dust and dirt that has entered the gaps in the flooring and carpet.

In addition, the edge cleaning brush that pops out from the side scoops out dust that is difficult to remove from the walls and corners of the room. The first roll brush in the center of the main body floats the dust, and the second brush rotates in the reverse direction to remove the dust more reliably, and finally sucks it powerfully. This "three-stage cleaning system" is also Roomba's original technology.

● Commentary by Mr. Toida, a professional home appliance

"What each model of Roomba has in common is that you think about it yourself, drive and clean it. The purpose is to suck dust, but it is a big feature that Roomba himself judges and moves it, not humans. Has a very good balance between judgment and dust collection, and the final cleaning power is high. It is true that even though it is a long-established robot vacuum cleaner, it is the trend leader. "(Mr. Toida) )

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Five points to keep in mind when purchasing Roomba, as talked about by home appliance professionals

You can see the performance and functions by looking at the model number.

Now, let's check the points to note when actually purchasing Roomba. First of all, pay attention to the model number. Even if you say "Rumba" in a bite, the performance and functions differ depending on the model number. Roomba has continued to evolve into the "600" series, "700" series, "800" series, "900" series, and so on. Basically, the larger the model number, the higher the model.

However, this rule has changed from the Rumba e5 released in 2018, and the Rumba i7 series released in 2019 is now the top model. Currently, there are five models in the official online store: Roomba i7 +, Roomba i7, Roomba e5, Roomba 960, and Roomba 643. If you want to buy other out-of-mold items or sale items, check the model number and check the specifications.

● Commentary by Mr. Toida, a professional home appliance

"Currently, 5 major models of Roomba are on sale. The part that automatically cleans is the same, but useful functions will increase when it comes to higher-end models. For example, the top-of-the-line model, Roomba i7 +, The dust sucked by Roomba automatically collects in the clean base, so you can spend a month without thinking about cleaning. One of the criteria for choosing Roomba is how much cleaning you want to leave to Roomba. The deciding factors are how troublesome it is, how smart artificial intelligence should be, and how much budget you can afford. "(Mr. Toida)

According to Mr. Toida, the points for choosing rumba are the following five items.

1. Room layout
2. Cleaning efficiency
3. Schedule function
4. Maintainability
5. Automation of garbage disposal

Let's look at them in order.

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Points on how to choose rumba, proposed by home appliance professionals

1. Room layout

Roomba's artificial intelligence "iAdapt" uses sensors to detect the size and shape of the room and the presence of dust for cleaning. There are differences in the version of "iAdapt" depending on the model, and Roomba 643 and Roomba e5 are basic "fast response process iAdapt". This is suitable for homes with a small number of rooms, such as 1LDK.

The Roomba 960 is an "iAdapt 2.0 visual localization" that recognizes the entire floor with a camera in addition to a sensor. Although not at the top, it has the ability to clean multiple rooms at the same time.

And the top series Roomba i7 and Roomba i7 + are equipped with "iAdapt 3.0 Visual Localization" that learns the room layout and memorizes up to 10 rooms. "IAdapt 3.0" is better than "iAdapt 2.0", which forgets the room layout when returning to the home base, but if the room layout is small, it will be over-engineered.

↑ The state of the Rumba 960 running.It also cleans multiple rooms comfortably, so it is recommended for floor plans of 2LDK or more.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"When choosing a rumba, the first thing to think about is whether you want to cover the whole house or just the room you are in. The i7 series is effective when you want to entrust multiple rooms at once in a large condominium. However, the price will increase accordingly, so you do not need to select the top model for one room. The floor plan of the house you live in. And, depending on how much you want to clean with that one, the matching model will change. "(Mr. Toida)

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2. Cleaning efficiency

Roomba's cleaning efficiency varies greatly depending on the version of the artificial intelligence "iAdapt". The "fast response process iAdapt" of Roomba 643 and Roomba e5 judges the situation of the room only by the sensor and performs random running, so the cleaning movement is wasted. On the other hand, when it becomes "iAdapt 2.0" or higher, a camera is installed and it cleans while checking the floor plan of the floor. The efficiency of the movement is improved because it accurately determines where Roomba himself is now and what part of the room has not been cleaned yet. If you are looking for cleaning efficiency, we recommend the top 3 models of Roomba i7 +, Roomba i7, and Roomba 960.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"The top three models move to draw a clean line, but the bottom two models, Roomba 643 and Roomba e5, run randomly. There is some useless movement, but Roomba e5 has a maximum operating time of about 90. Since it is long, it covers its weaknesses. The Roomba i7 and Roomba i7 + equipped with "iAdapt 3.0" move quickly with fast judgment speed, and there are few oversights and misunderstandings.

However, I think that it doesn't matter if the robot vacuum cleaner takes some time to clean, so I think there are plenty of options for the Roomba 960, which is about 30,000 yen cheaper than the Roomba i7. However, when it comes to Roomba 643, it's rather dull ... For example, Rumba 643 and Rumba e5 are junior high school students. I move around my body to clean it. On the other hand, Rumba 960 is a high school student, so he has some judgment. And the Roomba i7 series is a college student who can make a map of the room and learn the floor plan. It may be easier to understand if you get this image. "(Mr. Toida)

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3. Schedule function

The four models other than Roomba 643 support Wi-Fi, and you can make various settings from your smartphone using the dedicated app "iRobot HOME App". A schedule function that allows you to set the cleaning start time according to your daily rhythm, remote control from wherever you are, and customization of the cleaning mode setting are also possible. In particular, the schedule function automatically starts cleaning once a day for each day of the week at the set time, so it is convenient without the hassle of pressing a button. It also supports Google Home and Amazon Echo smart speakers, making it easy to start and stop cleaning by voice.

In addition, the Roomba 960 and Roomba i7 series have a feature called "Clean Map Report". This is a function that allows you to visually check the cleaning area and areas that have been intensively cleaned on your smartphone screen. In addition, the Roomba i7 series can store up to 10 rooms with "Imprint Smart Mapping", and you can control the schedule more finely, which room is to be cleaned on what day and when. One of the points in choosing a model is whether you want to use your smartphone to operate Roomba efficiently.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"The top four models support schedule settings. Since the Roomba e5 is a latecomer to the Roomba 643, it is equipped with the basic" iAdapt "that runs randomly, but the Wi-Fi compatible part has evolved. However, the Rumba e5 is inferior to the high-end models in detailed functions such as the function to map the floor plan and the garbage full sign, so if you want to completely manage the Rumba using the app, i7 series, schedule for the time being If you want to use the function, you can use Roomba 960 or Roomba e5, and if you don't need to link with a smartphone, you can use Roomba 643. "(Mr. Toida)

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4. Maintenance

Since it is used on a daily basis, how much time and effort it takes to care for and maintain the Roomba itself is also a criterion for selecting a model. The standard model Roomba 643 uses two rotating brushes with short hairs, which makes it difficult to remove tangled hair and lint. The four more models are rubber dual action brushes, which require no maintenance. In addition, the Rumba 643 and Rumba 960 of the conventional design contained a motor in the dust container, and even if it got dirty, it could only be wiped, but from the Rumba e5 and Rumba i7 series, the dust container can be washed with water as it is. It is more clean.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"If you turn the body over, you can see that the brush specifications are different. Only the 600 series is a hair brush, and the other top 4 models are rubber dual action brushes. The hair brush is still hair. Is involved, so it takes time and effort to maintain the main body.

Colin Angle, the founder of iRobot, said, "A vacuum cleaner is a tool for outsourcing cleaning, but it's nonsense that it takes time to clean the vacuum cleaner." Roomba is active in evolution that saves maintenance, and all but the 600 series are rubber roll brushes. The advantage of the roll brush is that it does not get entangled with dust or hair. This makes cleaning the Roomba body very easy. The Roomba 643 has inherited the design from a few years ago, so the bottleneck is that it takes a little time and effort to maintain. "(Mr. Toida)

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5. Automation of garbage disposal

Rumba's garbage disposal other than the flagship model Rumba i7 + is a format in which the dust container is removed from the main body and the garbage is discarded directly. Roomba i7 + changed that. The home base for charging is a clean base (automatic dust collector), and as soon as cleaning is completed and charging is completed, dust in the dust container of Roomba is automatically discharged to the sealed paper pack inside the clean base. The clean base can store as much as 30 cups of trash, so you don't have to throw it away. If you collect trash in a clean-based paper carton, you can just throw it in the trash can, and Roomba is expanding the range of things that can be done automatically.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"I mentioned earlier that the key to choosing a Roomba model is how much you want to save the trouble of cleaning. If you don't want to throw away the trash every time, we recommend the top model Roomba i7 +.

I used to think that I would throw away the trash myself, but when I actually used the Roomba i7 +, it was more convenient than I had imagined and I was surprised! You can forget about cleaning for a while until the garbage has accumulated for 30 cups of the garbage container of the main body. The dust that collects on the clean base fits in a sealed paper pack, and when pulled out, the mouth of the paper pack is closed. It's clean without dust when throwing away trash. "(Mr. Toida)

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Unexpected points that are not important for choosing rumba "Operating time" and "Suction power"

Actually, unlike ordinary vacuum cleaners, Mr. Toida advised that there are items that do not need to be so important in Roomba.

"For a regular cordless cleaner, charging time & maximum uptime is a very important number, but you don't have to worry too much about Roomba. Roomba will go back to your home base and charge it for you. You won't forget to recharge it. Also, because it is built based on a large American house, you don't have to worry about excessive uptime to clean a typical room in Japan. The artificial intelligence is also excellent, so you can use your home. The return rate to the base is also considerable. Until now, there have been few cases where I was actually using it and exhausted it.

Another thing is that the suction power, which is often emphasized in ordinary vacuum cleaners, does not have to be nervous when choosing a Roomba model. Certainly, the suction power of the top-level Roomba i7 series is announced to be 10 times that of Roomba 643. However, the Rumba 643, which I used, sucked up enough dust and dirt.

Even canisters and cordless vacuum cleaners are often selected with an emphasis on suction power at first, but when hearing after use, there are many complaints about usability, such as "It was troublesome to dispose of garbage" or "It was heavy and difficult to use". You will be asked. Suction power is also important, but it can be said that you will not regret choosing it for ease of use. Strictly speaking, there are differences depending on the model, but I don't think there will be any dissatisfaction. "(Mr. Toida)

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Introducing the models of Roomba you can buy now!

Part 1

Recommended for those who purchase Roomba for the first time at a reasonable price

Roomba 643

A standard model with a basic cleaning function released in August 2018. It is a 600 series model that has been developed since 2014 and is positioned as an introductory machine. Equipped with "High-speed response process iAdapt", the same point is carefully cleaned multiple times from various angles while traveling randomly throughout the room. An edge cleaning brush that rotates to scoop out dust near walls and corners of the room forward, two bristle brushes that line up in the center of the main body to collect dust, and a "three-step cleaning system" with a suction part that sucks even fine house dust to remove dust. increase. Wi-Fi is not supported.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"Roomba 643 is for people who live alone or as a couple. It is recommended for those who live in a house with a small number of rooms such as 1LDK of an apartment. The price is also very cheap at 29,800 yen excluding tax. It is a model that is easily accessible to those who buy Roomba for the first time. It is suitable for those who want to test whether a robot vacuum is useful or not, and those who have already used it and want another roomba. It's also reasonable for wedding gifts and moving gifts. However, the 600 series is inferior in function to high-end models in most parts, so please take that into consideration. "(Mr. Toida)

● Performance check of Roomba 643

1. Room layout: 1LDK ~
2. Cleaning efficiency: Normal
3. Schedule function: Not supported
4. Maintenance: Normal (not equipped with dual action brush, not compatible with dust box washing)
5. Automation of garbage disposal: Not supported

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Part 2

If you get lost, Rumba e5!Cospa is outstanding anyway

Roomba e5

Roomba e5 iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaner Washing Dust Box Powerful suction power WiFi compatible Remote control Automatic ...

Amazon Rakuten Ichiba

A model released in October 2018 as a new series to replace the conventional high-end model 800 series. The "vacuum airflow structure", in which the rubber dual action brush fits perfectly on various floors such as flooring and carpets, and the compact yet powerful high-power motor unit reliably remove fine dust. The suction power is about 5 times that of Roomba 643. The control program is a random running "high-speed response process iAdapt", but the maximum operating time is as long as about 90 minutes, and there is less concern about running out of battery. It is compatible with Wi-Fi and can be linked with the smartphone app "iRobot HOME App" and smart speakers. It is also convenient to be able to wash the entire dust container with water.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"The Rumba e5 is a model with excellent cost performance that makes you strongly recommend" If you get lost! " If so, it is recommended to spend a little more money than Rumba 643 to make Rumba e5 because it is not inferior to the high-end model. However, since it is not possible to clean multiple rooms at once, I live in a mansion or a large house. If so, the higher-end model is better. The person who wants to clean the living room, bedroom and one more room is decided by Roomba e5! "(Mr. Toida)

● Performance check of Roomba e5

1. Room layout: 1LDK ~
2. Cleaning efficiency: Normal
3. Schedule function: Correspondence
4. Easy to maintain: High (equipped with dual action brush, dust box washable)
5. Automation of garbage disposal: Not supported

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Part 3

Recommended for those who want to clean a room of 2LDK or more while keeping the price down

Rumba 960

Roomba 960 iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaner Camera Sensor Carpet Tatami Steps Overcoming wifi Compatible Automatic Charging ...

Amazon Rakuten Ichiba

A low-priced version of the then flagship model Roomba 980 released in August 2016. Equipped with "iAdapt 2.0 Visual Localization" that makes full use of the camera and floor tracking sensor, it can accurately determine where Roomba is now and which part of the room is not cleaned. The maximum area that can be cleaned is 112 tatami mats. The suction power is about 5 times that of Roomba 643. There is no limit to the number of rooms that can be cleaned within a maximum of 75 minutes of uptime. It also has an automatic restart function that allows you to move to the original location and continue cleaning after the battery is about to run out and you return to the home base to charge it.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"The Roomba 960 is for people who live in large single-family homes or large condominiums and want to clean multiple rooms at once. Models above the Roomba 960 are for full-fledged families. The price is not the latest Roomba i7 series. Is a little restrained and has a good deal. What is good about Roomba 960 is that it is equipped with "iAdapt 2.0 Visual Localization" and the quality of cleaning is improved. It works better than the basic "iAdapt". It covers the entire room, so you can feel that every corner is cleaned. Unfortunately, I don't remember the layout of each room, but it's perfect for people who want to clean every room every day. "(Toida) Mr. Miss)

● Performance check of Roomba 960

1. Room layout: 2LDK ~ detached house
2. Cleaning efficiency: Slightly high
3. Schedule function: Correspondence
4. Maintainability: Slightly high (equipped with dual action brush, not compatible with dust box washing)
5. Automation of garbage disposal: Not supported

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Part 4

Roomba remembers the floor plan of each room!Efficient cleaning of single-family homes

Roomba i7

The basic model of the top model "i7 series" that replaces the 900 series released in February 2019. The new technology "iAdapt 3.0 Visual Localization" is used for the control program. With "Imprint Smart Mapping", which learns, memorizes and recognizes room layouts and furniture layouts, up to 10 different floor plans (floor plans) can be created and memorized. Each memorized room can be named "kitchen", "living room", etc., and the cleaning location and cleaning schedule can be set in detail. The suction power is about 10 times that of Roomba 643. The dust container can be removed and washed with water.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"Roomba i7 is for single-family homes with two or more floors. Roomba i7 remembers the floor plan, so you can issue detailed cleaning orders such as bedroom only, washroom only. Customize the schedule of which room to clean and when. For those who want to, the Roomba i7 is recommended. The Roomba 960 maps the entire room, but I forget it every time I return to the home base. On the other hand, even if I bring the Roomba i7 from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, for example, When you move a little, you will recognize that "Today is the 1st floor". This high level of brain also leads to the efficiency of cleaning. The function of "remembering the floor plan" seems easy at first glance, but for Roomba A breakthrough. The merit of being able to manage cleaning in each room is enormous, and it makes me feel that the time has finally come for "robots that learn and act on their own" to play an active role at home. "(Mr. Toida) )

● Performance check of Roomba i7

1. Room layout: 2LDK ~ detached house
2. Cleaning efficiency: High
3. Schedule function: Correspondence
4. Easy to maintain: High (equipped with dual action brush, dust box washable)
5. Automation of garbage disposal: Not supported

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Part 5

For people who hate cleaning and want to forget about cleaning for a while

Roomba i7 +

Roomba i7 + iRobot Robot Vacuum Cleaner Automatic garbage collection Dust box that can be washed with water wifi compatible smart mat ...

Amazon Rakuten Ichiba

The top model of the "i7 series" released in March 2019. The basic performance of the main unit is the same as that of Roomba i7, but it comes with a clean base (automatic garbage collector) that doubles as a charging station. When the cleaning is completed and Roomba returns to the base, it sucks dust from the dust container of Roomba and automatically accumulates dust in the paper pack inside the clean base. The paper carton holds 30 cups of trash, so you don't have to throw it away for more than a few weeks. The size of the clean base is depth 39 x width 31 x height 49 cm.

● Mr. Toida's advice

"Roomba i7 + is for people who don't like cleaning anyway (laughs). It's great that you don't have to think about cleaning for a month. When you return to the clean base, you're worried about sucking dust with a loud noise. However, even if it is subtracted, the merit is enormous. I was worried that "this is too big and disturbing?" Due to the size of the clean base, but in reality it is integrated with the main body and the supportように立っているスタイルなので、壁際に設置すればそれほど気になりません。テーブルの下にもギリギリ入る大きさです。とはいえ、今まで家具の下スペースにルンバを置いていた人にとっては、ボリュームを感じるかも。まずは置き場所の検討を！」（戸井田さん）

●ルンバi7の性能チェック

1. 部屋の間取り：2LDK〜一戸建て
2. 掃除効率：高い
3. スケジュール機能：対応
4. メンテナンス性：快適（デュアルアクションブラシ搭載・ダストボックス水洗い対応）
5. ゴミ捨ての自動化：対応

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あなたへのおすすめ機種が一目瞭然！ ルンバ現行モデル比較表

（※）表記の例

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