iRobot Roomba e5 Robot Vacuum Features
- Power-Lifting Suction delivers 5X the air power
- Runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging
- Auto-adjusts to carpets, rugs, tile, and hard floors
- Brushes adjust and flex to stay in constant contact with carpets and hard floors
- Unique Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatible
Reason for buying the iRobot Roomba e5 Robot Vacuum
We have two very long-haired cats. And they shred. A lot. To the point that we vacuum daily to keep down the insane amounts of litter, dirt, and cat hair. In the past year, we have gone through four vacuums.
We finally decided that we needed a robot vacuum in order to remain sane. And after having read numerous reviews on robot vacuums, we finally decided on buying the iRobot Roomba e5 robot vacuum.
The reasons we ended up going with the Roomba e5 robot were two-fold. One, the strong suction power needed to deal with pet hair, and two, it comes at a reasonable price point.
iRobot Roomba e5 App control
We like that you can control and schedule cleanings with the iRobot HOME App and that it’s compatible with Alexa-enabled devices and the Google Assistant. That means you can start, stop, or dock your robot with your phone (and even monitor dirt count). That said, you will need to tidy up small objects and clutter that can tangle up in the gears and brushes. We’ve experienced scheduling a cleaning while not home only to come home and find the Roomba stuck somewhere, unable to finish cleaning without a bit of manual assistance.
Charging the iRobot Roomba e5
It automatically returns to the charging station when it’s done or needs recharging, but our Roomba has some difficulties connecting to the charging station. We often have to manually reposition it so it charges correctly. It seems that if it’s off by just an inch, then it doesn’t charge (even though the light indicates it should be charging). We also have two cats and one baby who might be to blame for the Roomba’s imprecise positioning.
Roomba Steering
The vacuum is great at zigzagging its way around furniture. The Roomba measures 13.3 inches wide and 3.6 inches high, which makes it narrow enough to navigate couches, dressers, and baby gear.
It automatically enables its ‘Dirt Detect feature’ when there’s an area with more dirt than usual which causes it to circle around the area until it’s clean. Clever.
But because it doesn’t track where it’s been, the Roomba does sometimes cover some of the same areas while neglecting others. The result is that we sometimes manually have to pick up the vacuum and move it to an area or room we want (or need) to prioritize.
More expensive models like the iRobot Roomba j7 ($775) map the home layout and supposedly avoids this issue, but we don’t know how well it works, only that it’s a costly feature.
How does the iRobot Roomba e5 clean?
Instead of bristles that bend and can miss dirt, the Roomba has flexible rubber brushes, which means it has no trouble picking up dirt, crumbs, or even heavy amounts of cat litter. And whatever it comes across, it takes with it. The strong suction power is definitely the best feature of the vacuum.
Is the iRobot Roomba e5 noisy?
It’s loud. We usually schedule it to clean while we’re out on our balcony or not home at all. However, since it does tend to get stuck, we either have to stay near to rescue it from whatever problems it gets itself into – or prepare our home with barriers and remove anything it might be at odds with. Noise-canceling headphones also work.
Is the iRobot Roomba e5 good for homes with pets?
Yes! As mentioned earlier, we have two little fluff balls that shred fur all over our home. We run the Roomba at least a few times a week, and it definitely makes the entire home noticeably cleaner. It easily picks up dirt, fluffy pet hair, and even heavy amounts of cat litter.
Though be aware that cat hair often does get stuck around the wheels, so you’ll have to open and dislodge it after every other run.
Is the iRobot Roomba e5 worth the price?
Yes! The Roomba e5 performs well and is a solid mid-range vacuum robot-helper. Especially if you have pets and are tired of constantly vacuuming and picking up lumps of pet hair, the Roomba e5 is an excellent supplement to your cleaning.
iRobot Roomba e5 Robot Vacuum Review Verdict
In our iRobot Roomba e5 robot vacuum review, we have found that it has great suction power and is excellent at picking up dirt, cat litter, and cat hair. But it’s also a bit loud and requires some adult supervision. We recommend it for anyone needing to vacuum often but who is too busy to (or can’t deal with) vacuuming themselves. It can be a life-saver.
Alternatives to the iRobot Roomba e5
iRobot manufactures a confusing array of vacuum robots at varying price points sporting various features. We settled on the e5 as it’s middle of the pack while still having impressive suction power. Below are our suggestions if you want to trade up or down.
iRobot Roomba i3+
The current Rolls Royce of robot vacuums. The Power-Lifting Suction delivers 10X the air power and intelligently maps and remembers multiple floorplans to clean your entire home. It even has an automatic dirt container system, so you rarely have to empty the vacuum itself. Pretty smart, but you could save $200 without the automatic dirt container and go for the i7.
iRobot Roomba 675
Current entry model but no less a high-quality robot vacuum that doesn’t skimp on any of the essential features. Our pick would be between this and the e5.
ILIFE V3s Pro
If you don’t want to pay for the name or quality stamp of the iRobot brand and want the best and cheapest robot vacuum, the ILIFE V3s Pro is your best bet. It packs most of the standard features and has decent suction power. Recommended if you don’t have super-shedding pets (then stick with the Roomba). At a current very reasonable $159.99 it’s a bargain too.
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