Roomba Saugroboter Review: Is iRobot’s Smart Vacuum Finally Good Enough to Replace Your Old One?
10.01.2026 - 16:27:18
You know that moment when you finally sit down after a long day, glance across the room, and see a halo of dust around the couch, crumbs under the dining table, and pet hair drifting across the floor like tiny tumbleweeds? You tell yourself you’ll drag out the vacuum tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes next week. And the floors never quite feel clean.
That gap between how you want your home to look and how much time you actually have is exactly where robot vacuums have exploded in popularity. But not all bots are created equal. Some get stuck on chair legs, others smear dirt instead of picking it up, and many still need so much hand-holding that you wonder why you didn’t just vacuum yourself.
Enter the Roomba Saugroboter — literally Roomba robot vacuum in English. iRobot’s latest Roomba line (especially the j7, j7+, s9+, and the newer Combo j7+ with mopping) is designed to answer one question: can a robot vacuum finally clean like you, but better, with less drama?
The Solution: How Roomba Turns Vacuuming into a Background Task
Roomba Saugroboter devices aim to remove vacuuming from your mental to-do list entirely. You schedule once in the app, and the robot quietly maps your home, learns where the mess happens, and cleans on its own. Many recent Roombas return to a self-emptying base, so weeks can pass before you even think about vacuuming.
Unlike some cheaper robot vacuums that pinball randomly around the room, current Roomba models use intelligent mapping (iRobot OS with vSLAM or similar navigation) to move in neat rows, avoid most obstacles, and adapt cleaning to your habits. On the high-end models, the software literally recognizes zones like the kitchen or dining area, so you can say, "Clean under the table" and it just… goes.
Why this specific model?
"Roomba Saugroboter" is often used generically in German for the whole Roomba robot vacuum family, but the real action today is around the smarter, mid-to-premium iRobot Roombas like the Roomba j7/j7+, Roomba s9+, and Roomba Combo j7+. These are the models that Reddit threads and tech reviewers keep coming back to when people ask: Which robot vacuum simply works?
Here’s what sets the current Roomba generation apart in the real world:
- Object avoidance that actually matters – The j7 line is built around iRobot’s "P.O.O.P." promise (Pet Owner Official Promise): if it fails to avoid solid pet waste, they’ll replace it. For pet households, that’s huge. Cameras and AI help it dodge cables, shoes, and surprise messes that cheaper bots plow straight through.
- Self-emptying that changes the habit loop – With "+" models (j7+, s9+, Combo j7+), the Clean Base sucks debris from the robot into a larger bag. Instead of daily dustbin dumps, you’re looking at maybe once every 1–2 months depending on usage. That’s the difference between a fun gadget and a true appliance.
- iRobot OS and smart mapping – The app doesn’t just show a blurry map. You can label rooms, set keep-out zones, and schedule targeted cleans ("kitchen after dinner" or "around the sofa every evening"). The OS also learns patterns over time and suggests schedules or extra passes in high-traffic areas.
- Cleaning performance and edge work – The s9+ in particular is often praised in reviews for its strong suction and D-shaped design that hugs walls and corners better than round robots. The j7 and Combo j7+ are a bit more rounded but still handle everyday debris and pet hair well on hard floors and low/medium-pile carpets.
- Optionally, vacuum + mop – The Roomba Combo j7+ combines suction with mopping, automatically lifting the mop pad when it detects carpet. If you mostly have hard floors and want that just-mopped feel, this is a big upgrade over pure vacuums.
For most users who say, "I just want something that works without babysitting," the Roomba j7+ is often the sweet spot: strong navigation, reliable cleaning, self-emptying base, and excellent obstacle avoidance at a price that’s high but not stratospheric.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| Smart mapping with iRobot OS (room labels, zones) | Create custom cleaning routines ("clean kitchen" or "around dining table") without reprogramming every time. |
| Obstacle and pet waste avoidance (on j7 series) | Far fewer stuck runs and dramatically lower risk of disasters around cables, shoes, or pet messes. |
| Self-emptying Clean Base ("+" models) | Hands-off dust management for several weeks; ideal for allergies and busy households. |
| Strong suction and multi-surface rubber brushes | Better pickup of pet hair and fine dust on hard floors and carpets, with fewer tangles. |
| Voice assistant integration (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts) | Start targeted cleans with a voice command: "Ask Roomba to clean the living room." |
| Combo j7+ vacuum & mop design | One robot handles everyday dust plus light mopping, automatically lifting mop on carpets. |
| Automatic recharge and resume | For larger homes, Roomba returns to dock, recharges, and continues where it left off. |
What Users Are Saying
Dive into Reddit threads and user reviews and a pattern emerges. There’s a lot of love for Roomba Saugroboter models, mixed with a few honest caveats.
Common pros users mention:
- Reliable navigation vs. cheaper brands – Many users who tried budget bots say Roomba is the first one that doesn’t constantly get lost or stuck.
- Huge time savings for families and pet owners – People with dogs or cats often describe the robot as running daily while they’re at work, keeping fur from ever piling up.
- App experience – The iRobot app is frequently praised as intuitive and stable, with clear maps and schedules.
- Customer support – iRobot’s support team and warranty handling get positive callouts, especially when something goes wrong early on.
Honest cons to keep in mind:
- Price – The j7+, s9+, and Combo j7+ are premium devices. On Reddit, you’ll often see people recommend waiting for sales or refurb deals.
- Noise – Cleaning runs are reasonable, but the Clean Base self-emptying cycle is loud for a few seconds. Most users schedule it when they’re out or during the day.
- Setup and map tuning – The first few runs can feel like training a new pet. You may need to tidy cables, set no-go zones, or tweak room labels before it’s truly hands-off.
- Not a deep cleaner – As with any robot vacuum, it doesn’t replace a once-in-a-while deep clean with a full-size vacuum, especially for high-pile carpets or stairs.
Overall sentiment: if you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed. If you expect your floors to stay consistently cleaner with almost no effort from you, Roomba Saugroboter models deliver exactly that for most households.
It’s also worth noting that Roomba is made by iRobot Corp., a long-established robotics company traded under ISIN: US4627261005, which tends to give risk-averse buyers more confidence than some white-label brands popping up on marketplaces.
Alternatives vs. Roomba Saugroboter
The robot vacuum market is crowded, with strong competition from Roborock, Ecovacs, Eufy, and others. So why pick a Roomba over the alternatives?
- Versus Roborock / Ecovacs – Many of these rivals offer aggressive specs (laser mapping, big suction numbers, built-in mop stations) at compelling prices. However, Roomba tends to win on obstacle avoidance, mature software, and long-term reliability and support. If you prioritize feature density at lower cost, competitors look tempting. If you want the least drama, Roomba remains a favorite.
- Versus budget bots (Eufy, random-navigation models) – If your home is small and simple, a cheap random-navigation robot could be fine. But you’ll lose smart mapping, targeted cleaning, and better avoidance. In complex apartments or busy family homes, users often upgrade from these to Roomba after too many stuck runs.
- Versus old-school upright vacuums – A traditional vacuum is still better for deep, intentional cleaning. But the biggest difference is frequency. A robot like Roomba j7+ quietly cleans while you live your life, keeping floors from ever getting truly filthy. Many users say their upright now comes out once a month instead of several times a week.
If you’re tech-savvy and love tweaking every setting, Roborock or Ecovacs flagships may appeal. If you simply want a reliable robot that learns your home, respects your stuff, and works day after day, Roomba Saugroboter models sit at the top of the recommendation lists for a reason.
Final Verdict
Picture this: you come home after a long day, drop your bag, and notice something different. The grit by the front door is gone. The dog hair on the rug is gone. Under the dining table, yesterday’s crumbs have vanished. You didn’t vacuum. You didn’t nag anyone else to vacuum. It just… happened.
That’s the quiet magic of a well-set-up Roomba Saugroboter. It doesn’t turn your home into a showroom, but it lifts the baseline: your floors stay consistently clean enough that you stop thinking about them. And that mental space—especially in a world where everything competes for your attention—is worth a surprising amount.
If you want the best blend of intelligence, reliability, and real-world cleaning today, look closely at the Roomba j7+ (or Combo j7+ if you want light mopping too). They aren’t the cheapest robot vacuums, but for many users, they’re the first ones that actually live up to the promise of set it and forget it.
So if you’re tired of stepping over crumbs and muttering "I really should vacuum" every time you walk through the living room, a Roomba robot vacuum might be the upgrade that quietly changes your everyday life more than you’d expect.
