iRobot - Roomba Vac Essential robot vacuum (Q0120) - Black
Model: Q012020
SKU: 6577016
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Customers are enthusiastic about the Roomba Vac Essential's cleaning performance, suction power, and long battery life, frequently praising its quiet operation and ease of use. However, some users express concerns regarding its navigation capabilities and the lack of advanced mapping features. The convenient scheduling feature and simple controls are also highlighted as positive aspects. Despite some navigational challenges, many appreciate its ability to thoroughly clean various floor types.
It’s not the best but it does the job. Sometimes it just stay in one room of the house and doesn’t reach other areas and I have to be moving it manually which it sucks honestly.
Posted by EstefanieJ
TL;DR Entry-level robot vacuum from iRobot that vastly improves on suction and cleaning paths. Tested runtimes are 60 minutes between charges. Does not save the floor plan to do selective cleaning of areas and cannot tell it where to stay out of. Controllable using the iRobot App. The iRobot Essential robot vacuum is iRobot’s way of making its way back into the homes of many, considering the robot vac market has grown considerably since the introduction of the 600 series. At its price point, the Essential brings the basics up front and center: strong suction stamina and methodical cleaning. I’ve owned two 600 series vacuums and I loved them very much; press the clean button and let the vacuum do its thing. I remember how the 600 would ping pong along my carpet and hard floors and, eventually, decide to make its way back to the docking station for a charge. Running the Essential, I can already tell this vacuum means business when it comes to suction. Cleaning about 500 sq ft of floor, the Essential was able to pick up pet dander, dust and dirt from wherever it can reach. It was very strong sounding and the resulting bin full of dirt was quite impressive. If using the iRobot app, you’ll be able to change the suction power (low,medium,high). Depending on how large your cleaning area is, the Essential will return back to its base, recharge and continue cleaning. This will be more frequent if using the high power setting. What really impressed me more is that the navigational software of the Essential is much smarter this go-around; it will methodically create itself a cleaning path much similar to the higher end iRobot models. What it means is a more efficient cleaning and better cleaning times. Transitions from hard floor to carpet depends on how high your hard floor/rug transition is. As far as design, this iteration of the Roomba is a more slimmer, lower profile body that is able to make its way under areas that prior models (and even other manufacturers) dare to try. The bin is ample for a day or two of running before emptying, and the side brush is now a magnet connection as opposed to the older screw-in design. Nice. It has a single soft bristle brush roller underneath as opposed to the standard two-roller design. I wonder if this design actually aids in suction due to the smaller area where air suction is focused. It definitely works great. From the feel-of-the-feet against my hard floors, I can already tell that there are no little crumbs sticking to the bottom of my feet. One huge observation while running the Essential is its ability to get to tighter areas where I wouldn’t normally expect a robot vac to go. And this is based on experiences with prior Roombas (600s, J series, I series). And I found this to be a blessing and a curse. More curse than blessing, actually. The Essential manages to get stuck constantly in areas that it can barely clear. I’m talking about things like getting under the couch, underneath the coffee table and even between the dishwasher and the floor! And since I can’t tell where it cannot go, I have to make accommodations in areas to prevent it from happening. And as a long time Roomba owner, this really sucks that I can’t tell it where to NOT go. The J and I series have this feature, and it’s definitely a must, especially if you have problematic areas where the Roomba will fail. After a few runs, it has managed to gouge itself across the top, probably trying to escape from getting stuck. So what do I think about the Essential? I think this Roomba is definitely well suited for simple living areas. What does that mean? Basically any area, small or large, where the Roomba can’t get into too much trouble. And that’s a tricky proposition. I can honestly say that with all the good that this provides, I wish it allowed for block-out zones in the iRobot app. And it might be enough to shy away from. But if you feel like your living area is not complicated with nice high clearance furniture, then the Essential will shine bright in your home, keeping your floors clean.
Posted by softwareEngineer
I love love love this robot vacuum. This is my 4th one in the house.
Posted by STARR
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