The Roomba i5+ does a terrific job on carpet. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Roomba i5+ is obtainable now on Amazon for $349.
- Cleans carpet rapidly and to perfection.
- Moist-cleaning characteristic didn’t work and the brushes broke after two weeks.
Till I met the Narwal Freo, I used to be not a fan of permitting a robotic vacuum to take over the floor-cleaning chores. Nevertheless, since that robotic got here into our home, I have been a convert. The Narwal set a quite excessive bar, which the numerous units I’ve examined subsequently have didn’t clear. Sadly, the Roomba i5+ fell significantly wanting the Freo.
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Do not get me incorrect: The Roomba i5+ does job — for what it’s. However the i5+ has sufficient points to make me hesitant to advocate it over the likes of the Narwal. After all, not everybody can afford $1,200 for a robot vacuum.
However for $349, the Roomba i5+ is a tempting package — as long as you mood your expectations.
ZDNET Recommends
The Roomba i5+ can be purchased on Amazon for $349
The i5+ is fast and does an outstanding job on carpet.
Let me clarify. However first…the specs!
The specs
- Works on hardwood, onerous flooring, and carpet.
- Computerized bin emptying (for as much as 60 days earlier than you may want to alter the bag).
- Computerized mapping.
- Designed for each moist and dry cleansing. (Extra on this in a bit.)
- 4-stage cleansing that pulls in dust, particles, and pet hair.
- Robotically returns to its final cleansing location when the battery is recharged.
- Baby and pet lock.
- Cleans in straight traces forwards and backwards.
- Suitable with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.
- Edge and nook cleansing.
- Clear by room.
- Set No Mop Zones.
- Robotically acknowledges obstacles and drops (corresponding to stairs).
- Robotically cleans dirtiest rooms first.
- Dimensions – 13.4″L x 13.5″W x 3.6″H.
- Filter sort – cartridge.
- Battery life – 180 minutes.
- Voltage – 14.4 volts.
- Weight – 7 kilos.
My expertise
First, let me speak in regards to the moist cleansing. The Roomba i5+ comes with two removable bins: one for dry cleansing and one for moist cleansing. The robotic is meant to routinely detect which bin has been hooked up and clear accordingly.
Regardless of what number of occasions I’ve tried this, the robotic doesn’t routinely detect which bin has been hooked up. Due to that, I wound up with a soaked docking station and dust assortment bag (an odor that wound up permeating the complete second flooring of the home). What occurred was the robotic determined to empty the bin earlier than heading out to scrub. When that occurred, it emptied the contents of the moist cleansing attachment into the gathering bag.
After that, I tried to attach the moist attachment with none water — with the identical end result. (It sucked in what remained of the water.) Regardless of what number of occasions I attempted this, the i5+ didn’t auto-detect the moist bin. Due to that, I’ve not been in a position to make use of the i5+ for mopping. I’ve checked the app for an choice to manually inform the robotic to enter moist mode however there may be none.
The second concern I had was that the three-pronged sweeping brush lasted about two weeks earlier than each arm had damaged off. I noticed this once I found the hardwood flooring was simply as soiled after cleansing because it was earlier than. I then turned the robotic over to search out all three brushes had perished. Thankfully, I may buy a six-pack of off-brand brushes on Amazon (which work for Robotic Roomba i7/i7+ j7/j7+ i6/i6+ i8/i8+ i3/i3+ i4/i4+ i1/i1+ i2/i2+ i5/i5+ e5 e6 I J E Sequence and appear to last more than the OEM product).
These after-market brushes last more than what Roomba initially equipped. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
With these two large complaints out of the best way, let’s discuss what I do like in regards to the Roomba i5+.
It is quick. Very quick. The Roomba i5+ cleans virtually twice as quick because the Narwal Freo. Because it roams across the flooring, you may assume it will knock you down should you stepped in its path.
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The Roomba i5+ additionally does a terrific job on carpet. In case your flooring consist principally of carpet, you may be very proud of this vacuum. It additionally leaves a transparent sample on the carpet, which I like as a result of it makes the carpets appear like they’re freshly vacuumed. After I vacuum manually, I can by no means obtain such constant patterns.
The Robotic can also be very simple to pair with the app, which could be very user-friendly. Anybody ought to have the ability to get the i5+ unboxed and related with out the slightest downside. Kudos to Roomba for making that course of so easy.
ZDNET shopping for recommendation
Would I like to recommend the Roomba i5+? If your entire flooring are carpet, I would say go for it. However be ready to have to switch the comb fairly recurrently. In case your flooring are principally hardwood, I would advocate going with a different robot, as a result of the i5+ fails with the moist cleansing facet. And given you are paying further for that characteristic, there is no cause to hassle.