This is my second IRobot Vac that I have purchase. This item missing a lot of places and the autoEmpty dock does not work. Also, gets confused and at times unable to returned to the base. I would not recommend this product.

The physical unit seems sturdy, and it's good at picking up crumbs. But the pathfinding is absolutely horrible. I previously had an off brand unit beforehand that died after 5 years of great service. It was less than half the price of this, but it was much better at actually navigating any spaces we put it in, and it didn't jump off stairs regularly. This one stumbles around the same area repeatedly, knocking into everything constantly, then eventually jumps off. Sure, the more expensive models may do spatial mapping, but I don't understand how a company that basically invented the robot vacuum has fallen to making products this useless. After months of trying to still use it on occasion (key word trying, since my Google Home routine stopped working, and the button only sometimes works), I'm going to recycle this and find a quiet portable vacuum.

The iRobot Roomba Essential Robot Vacuum is an entry level robot vacuum that has just enough features to get the job done while keeping the price low. I’ll go over the key features, breakdown how well it works, and then give you some pros and cons about the vacuum. Key Features: 3-Stage Cleaning System: With 3 stages of cleaning, a multi-surface brush roll and a corner brush, the Roomba does a pretty good job at picking up almost anything. 4 Power Modes: The Roomba has 4 levels of suction power. Automatic Docking, Recharging and Emptying: This little Roomba will automatically return to the dock to recharge and empty itself. It’ll even resume cleaning if it needed to recharge in order to get the job done. Spot Cleaning: The ability to spot clean is also a nice touch. Auto-Empty Dock: The Roomba will empty itself into it’s dock for up to 60 days before the bag is full and in need of being replaced. Ease of Use: Setup: Getting this little Roomba going is a breeze, just download the app, register for an account and start cleaning. As long as you have the robot charged up and on the dock, the rest is cake. Maintenance: I prefer bagless solutions to Roomba’s bags, but it sure does make emptying the dock simple. You’ll need to do that every couple of months, with replacement bags being reasonably priced as well. You’ll also want to make sure you wipe down the Roomba to keep the sensors clean, and use the hair cutting tool to cut off any hair that’s eventually going to wrap itself around the brush roll. App Control: The Roomba app is simple to operate, especially since the control options are limited for this vacuum. There is no mapping involved, so you really only get to choose between starting the vacuum, returning it to it’s dock and what suction level you want to use. You also have the ability to set up a basic schedule for cleaning, which is very convenient. Performance: Cleaning Effectiveness: You have to remember that this is a base model in the Roomba line up of vacuums, and it shows. On hard flooring, the robot does well at almost any suction level, but once it starts trudging through carpets, you’ll want to set the suction to its maximum level in order to get a decent clean. This probably won’t be a dealbreaker for most people, but you’ll get much less battery life and a louder experience with the vacuum set on max. If you’re wanting a deeper clean on carpeted surfaces, I would look elsewhere. Navigation: There’s no mapping with this Roomba. There’s no selecting an area to clean or any sort of intelligence other than some sensors that will try to avoid larger objects, furniture, and walls. This little guy will bump and rub up against a lot of things in your home, so be prepared for that. To give you a comparison, other more expensive Roomba vacuums will give you the ability to have the vacuum scan your home and map it out for you. This allows you to spot clean, set up rooms and areas to avoid, etc. There is none of that in this model, so please make sure there’s nothing on the floor that might be damaged or impeded the Roomba’s job. Runtime: I have an 1800sq ft home with several rooms and the Roomba on max suction had to recharge once in order to complete the entire house. On lower power modes, which might be useable if you have all hard flooring, the Roomba advertises 120 minutes of run time, but I was unable to replicate that. Pros: Effective cleaning for everyday dirt and debris. Especially on max setting and hard flooring Easy to set up and use Automatic docking and recharging Automatic emptying into dock for 60 days Affordable Replacement bags are reasonably priced Cons: A good clean requires using the maximum suction setting Lacks mapping, scanning and advanced spot cleaning Replacement dust and filters are an added cost Overall Impression: The iRobot Roomba Essential Robot Vacuum is a decent entry level robot vacuum. Roomba is a solid company with a good reputation that will be around for a long time, so that’s a plus as well. The vacuum itself doesn’t do great on carpeted floors unless you set it to its loudest maximum power setting. The lack of advanced navigation and mapping really does hurt the unit's appeal. Having a robot vacuum just free roaming your house may not work for a lot of people with pets, children, or just areas they don’t want vacuumed all the time. I think spending a bit more and stepping up to a robot vacuum with mapping would be the smarter decision. However, if you really just want something that’s easy, affordable, and picks up dirt, then the Roomba Essential might fit the bill.

I love this item. It works perfectly for what I need and the most important thing is that it cleans itself.. 100% recommended!

I really wanted to love this vacuum. I had an older, different-brand robot vacuum that handled my hardwoods, rugs, and stair edges like a champ for years. It occasionally got stuck on a sock or curtain, but it worked. When it finally died, I figured I’d upgrade to this for the auto-empty feature. Within 30 minutes, I knew I’d made a mistake. It has a single set of bristle brushes, which is fine, except they pop off constantly. The smallest transition (like from hardwood to a rug) pops them off, and the vacuum keeps going… without the brushes. So I’m left with a machine quietly rolling around the house doing absolutely nothing except missing dirt. By the time it’s done wandering around aimlessly, it’s dead somewhere in the middle of the room, not on its base, no brushes, and my floor still dirty. I have to: 1. Go find it. 2. Carry it back to the dock. 3. Go hunting for the brushes like it’s some weird robotic Easter egg hunt. And the 15-day return policy? Yeah, that window slammed shut before I realized I’d basically bought a $270 floor decoration. I don’t know if I got a lemon or if this is just how it is, but either way, it’s a miss for me.