iRobot’s Roomba is probably the most iconic robot vacuum brand, but in recent years it’s faced increasingly tough competition from high-end Chinese rivals Roborock and Dreame, which have overtaken iRobot when it comes to suction power, automation and self-cleaning.
Without a connection to the mains or a sink, you still need to fill up the fresh water and throw out the dirty every couple of cleans. A quick tidy of your space between cleans is also recommended, because the 10 Max is pretty good at dodging obstacles but not immune to familiar robot kryptonite like cloths, trading cards, cords and bras. Plus, the self-cleaning isn’t so flawless that I would trust it on its own for 60 days.
I also found that the Roomba’s navigation has improved much over the years. Something like the Dreame L20 will map rooms in seconds thanks to its LiDAR system, never seems bothered if you move it mid-clean, and can take photos of obstacles or stream video to your phone. The Roomba, using its camera and floor sensors, was slower and less accurate to map, and was found wandering sad and confused on more than one occasion after being moved.