Roomba Robot Vacuum Review: Is This the Moment You Finally Stop Vacuuming Forever?
06.02.2026 - 10:10:31
You know that moment when you finally sit down, coffee in hand, and then see it: a tumbleweed of pet hair drifting across the floor like your living room is a Wild West set? You tell yourself you'll vacuum later. Later becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes "maybe this weekend."
Dust wins. Again.
That creeping sense that your home is never quite as clean as you want is exactly the pain point modern robot vacuums are built to solve. But not all bots are created equal—and not all are smart enough to navigate real homes with pets, kids, clutter, and area rugs that like to eat lesser robots alive.
Enter the Roomba Saugroboter—literally "Roomba robot vacuum" in German—which, in practice, usually means iRobot's higher-end Roomba models like the Roomba j7+, Roomba Combo j7+, and the flagship Roomba s9+. These are the machines aiming to be the last vacuum you actually push by hand.
The Solution: How Roomba Tries to Delete Vacuuming From Your Life
Roomba Saugroboter from iRobot and its German site iRobot.de are designed around a pretty bold promise: your floors should just stay clean, without you thinking about it.
Across the current Roomba lineup, the core experience looks something like this, based on iRobot's official specs and recent reviews from tech sites and Reddit communities like r/roomba:
- They map your home and learn room layouts over time.
- They automatically return to recharge, then resume cleaning if needed.
- Higher-end models like the j7+ and s9+ can empty their own dustbins into a Clean Base docking station.
- Newer models (j7 series) use on-board AI and cameras to identify and avoid common household hazards—especially pet messes and charging cables.
- The Roomba Combo j7+ adds a built-in mopping function that lifts the mop pad off carpets.
In real life, that translates into something powerful: you schedule your Roomba from an app, maybe set it to run when you leave for work, and come home to floors that look like someone has quietly been cleaning in the background all day.
Why this specific model?
Because "Roomba Saugroboter" is used broadly, let's anchor on iRobot's current sweet-spot hero for many households: the Roomba j7+. It combines smart navigation, obstacle avoidance, self-emptying, and deep integration with the iRobot OS app. It's also one of the most discussed Roombas on Reddit and in user reviews.
Here's what sets the Roomba j7+ apart in the real world:
- Pet mess avoidance that actually matters: iRobot advertises that the j7+ uses a camera and AI to recognize and avoid pet waste and cords. On Reddit, many users praise this feature, especially dog owners who previously had horror stories with older robots smearing accidents. Some note that very dark rooms can challenge the camera, but overall sentiment is strongly positive.
- Self-emptying dock (Clean Base): According to iRobot's specs, the Clean Base can hold weeks of debris, so you might go many runs—often up to 60 days depending on your home—without touching the robot's dustbin. This doesn't just save time; it also means less contact with dust, which allergy sufferers love.
- Smart maps and room targeting: The j7+ builds a detailed map of your home, viewable and editable in the iRobot Home app. Users can label rooms ("Kitchen," "Bedroom"), create no-go zones, and schedule room-specific cleaning. This is one of the big quality-of-life upgrades over cheap random-bounce robots.
- Dual multi-surface rubber brushes: iRobot's spec sheets highlight dual rubber brushes that adjust and flex to different floor types and are less prone to hair tangles than bristle-only brushes. Pet owners in forums frequently mention this as a huge plus, though long hair can still wrap around occasionally and need manual removal.
- iRobot OS intelligence: The app doesn't just give you a remote control—it learns your routines, recommends extra cleaning during shedding seasons, and suggests no-go zones if it keeps getting stuck somewhere. Over-the-air updates have added features over time, so the robot gets smarter after you buy it.
All of this comes in a design that's clearly aimed at people who want less to think about, not more. You don't need to program it like a VCR from 1996; you just decide when you want clean floors and let it handle the rest.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| Smart mapping with iRobot OS | Create maps, label rooms, set no-go zones, and send Roomba to specific spaces on demand. |
| Obstacle & pet mess avoidance (Roomba j7 series) | Reduces risk of "poopageddon" with pets and avoids cables, shoes, and other clutter on the floor. |
| Self-emptying Clean Base dock ("+" models) | Automatically empties the dustbin into a bag, so you can go weeks without touching debris. |
| Dual multi-surface rubber brushes | Improved pickup on carpets and hard floors with fewer hair tangles compared to bristle-only brushes. |
| Automatic recharge & resume | For larger homes, the robot recharges itself and continues where it left off, covering more area reliably. |
| Voice assistant integration (where available) | Start or stop cleaning with simple voice commands through compatible smart speakers. |
| Roomba Combo j7+ mopping function (specific model) | Vacuum and mop in a single pass, with the mop lifting on carpets to keep them dry. |
What Users Are Saying
Looking at Reddit threads and user reviews on major retailers, the overall sentiment toward the Roomba Saugroboter lineup—particularly the j7+ and s9+—is strongly positive, but with some consistent caveats.
Common praises:
- Huge time savings: Many owners say they vacuum manually "maybe once a month" now, mostly for corners or stairs. People with pets often describe the difference in daily hair buildup as "night and day."
- Reliable navigation: Compared to older Roombas, users report fewer random crashes and less getting lost. The j7's ability to identify hazards gets called out often by name.
- Self-emptying as a game changer: Clean Base models are repeatedly described as the feature that finally makes robot vacuums feel truly autonomous.
Common complaints:
- Price: This is the big one. Higher-end Roombas are premium products, and users often mention that value really depends on how much you hate vacuuming.
- Noise: While the cleaning noise is considered acceptable by most, the self-emptying process can be loud for a few seconds. Some users schedule runs when they're out of the house.
- Edge and corner performance: The round Roomba models can miss tight corners; users sometimes supplement with occasional manual cleanup. (The s9+ has a D-shaped design specifically aimed at improving this.)
- Maintenance still required: You do need to clear the brushes, wipe sensors, and replace filters and bags over time. Owners who skip this maintenance tend to report more issues.
Overall, the consensus sounds like this: if you go in expecting a zero-maintenance magic carpet, you'll be disappointed. If you want something that removes 80–90% of your floor-cleaning workload and you're willing to do light upkeep, Roomba delivers.
It's worth noting that behind the Roomba brand is iRobot Corp., a company listed under ISIN: US4627261005, which has been in the consumer robotics game for decades. That longevity matters when you're betting on long-term software support and spare parts.
Alternatives vs. Roomba Saugroboter
The robot vacuum market has gone from niche to crowded in just a few years. Brands like Roborock, Ecovacs, and Eufy offer aggressive competition, often with powerful suction and 2-in-1 vacuum-mop combos at lower prices.
Here's how Roomba stacks up in broad strokes:
- Navigation & mapping: Roomba's iRobot OS and hazard avoidance on the j7 series are among the best at dealing with real-life clutter. Some competitors boast more detailed maps or LIDAR-based navigation, but can be less adept with unexpected obstacles.
- Mopping: If mopping is a top priority, some rival brands offer more advanced water control and scrubbing patterns at similar price points. The Roomba Combo j7+ is iRobot's answer here, aimed at people who want a trusted brand plus convenience, rather than the most aggressive mopping performance.
- Price vs. ecosystem: Many cheaper robots clean well but lack the polish of the app, support, and long-term updates. Roomba commands a premium but offers a mature ecosystem, strong customer support, and a well-established accessory pipeline.
- Pet households: If you have pets, especially those prone to accidents, the j7's pet waste avoidance and dual rubber brushes give Roomba a real edge that owners consistently praise.
So should you look beyond Roomba? If budget is tight and you're OK with less sophisticated mapping or support, you absolutely have options. But if you want a product that's been iterated on for years, with an app and AI system that keeps improving, Roomba still feels like the "safe" bet.
Final Verdict
A Roomba Saugroboter isn't just another gadget. It's a quiet, persistent background character in your life—one that decides, day after day, that you don't have to choose between clean floors and free time.
If you:
- Have pets that shed like it's their full-time job,
- Find yourself constantly annoyed at dusty floors but never quite catch up, or
- Want to come home to a cleaner space without thinking about it,
then a higher-end Roomba like the j7+, Combo j7+, or s9+ is easy to recommend. They're not cheap, and they're not totally maintenance-free—but they tackle the most tedious part of floor care with a level of autonomy that genuinely changes how your home feels.
In a world full of smart devices hunting for a purpose, a Roomba Saugroboter earns its spot by solving a stubborn, everyday problem. You may still vacuum once in a while—but for many people, it's the first time in years they've felt like they're doing it by choice, not out of guilt.
And that's the quiet revolution happening under your coffee table.
