iRobot has announced a sale, with up to £600 off its popular range

15 February 2024 , 13:00

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The Roomba range comes with some really clever technology that you don't see in other robot vacuums

The Roomba range is almost iconic, in the robot vacuum cleaner world. Remarkably, there have been Roombas buzzing around people's houses for over 20 years, so parent company iRobot knows a thing or two about this technology.

I've tested plenty of their latest devices, and it's amazing to see how far they've come - with pioneering features such as retractable mops, self-emptying and mop-cleaning bases, and trick mapping software all appearing across the range.

Roombas are, however, a bit pricey. This is the absolute top end of robot vacuum ownership, so you can usually expect to pay top-end prices.

iRobot has one of the best apps in the business

But I've been perusing the deals on the iRobot website this month and they're some of the biggest discounts I've seen.

The robots start at just £299 - and that's for a combined vacuum and mop. So the season of love might just be the perfect time to invest in one of the best robot vacuums on the market.

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Here's my pick of the biggest savings and best robot vacuums.

1. Roomba Combo i5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop - was £649, now £399

Less than £400 for this up-to-date, cutting-edge combo with a smart base station and a unique swappable bin system is a great bargain.

The i5+'s standout feature is its ability to go from being a vacuum to a mop just by switching over the bin installed in the device itself, so it wet mops dirt and dust as it picks up debris.

The base station adds £100 to the price, because there's a Combo i5 cheaper version available without it for £299, but it's very handy for self-emptying the dry waste, and the i5+ version has a bigger saving at the moment.

2. Roomba Combo i8 Robot Vacuum and Mop - was £599, now £349

Another big saving on the Roomba Combo i8, a robot vacuum I lived with for a few years, and it never missed a beat.

Adding a base station gives you a self-emptying option, which is nice, but the price leaps up by £100 for the i8+ version.

This is another of the Roombas that has a switchable bin, so you can swap over from it being a vacuum to a mop very quickly.

The iRobot OS software bundled in with this robot makes mapping a doddle, and it's really easy to set up rooms and zones in your house. This one's a great all-rounder.

3. Braava jet m6 Robot Mop - was £699, now £349

Another great price for a very clever iRobot device, this one's a Braava, rather than a Roomba, but these Braava jet robot mops are really effective at cleaning hard floors because they're dedicated devices.

The square shape helps them to get into corners, while the powerful jet spray dispenses a floor-cleaning solution which is then polished in to the floor by a washable mop pad.

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I've been using one of these compact little robots for a while, because I have two dogs, so when they come in muddy I can just shout an order at Alexa, and the robot heads out and deals with all the paw prints.

It's also handy for mopping up spills, or just keeping your laminates looking spotless.

4. Roomba Combo j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop - was £999, now £699

This is getting close to being as good as Roombas get. Some incredibly smart technology has gone into the Roomba Combo J7+, and its £1,000 price tag reflects that. But you can get one for just £699 in the sale, which is a great deal.

Not only does it have a smart self-emptying base for the dry waste, it has the latest iRobot software for smart and easy mapping, and one of the best suction systems in the range too.

This one also has a guaranteed system for avoiding pet waste, but its real party piece is the trick retractable mop head, which deploys from the top of the robot and tucks under, so it can give your floors a wipe once the vacuuming has finished.

5. Roomba Combo j9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop - was £1,249, now £1,049

And now for the Rolls Royce of Roombas, the Combo J9+. I've got one of these in my living room at the moment, and it really has its work cut out keeping up with the detritus my two dogs leave.

But it does such a great job, and it has really got to grips with the layout of my house, neatly avoiding all the clutter we leave lying around.

This one has all the latest iRobot features, including the retractable mop and a new "dirt detective" feature that picks out the dirtiest rooms first, but the thing I love most about it is the gorgeous base that doubles as an occasional table with a faux-wooden surface.

The base station not only looks nice and empties the dust container, but it fills the mop tank up with warm liquid before it heads out. Such a clever idea to bundle two functions into one base.

6. Roomba j7+ & Braava jet m6 Bundle - was £1,590, now £999

If a combo system doesn't suit you, then consider a bundle. A top-spec robot vacuum and a robot mop as an all-in-one package.

This little tag team could be just what you need for keeping your house clean and tidy, because the iRobot app will let you start the robot vacuum off to get all the rubbish cleared away, before sending out the robot mop to give the floor a polish.

This way, then, you get the best of both worlds - because there's a dedicated robot going out first, then a dedicated mop doing its work.

Bundles certainly save a lot of money over buying the two items separately, and it could be the perfect solution for picky perfectionists.

Also consider these bargain robot vacuums we found on Amazon

If the Roomba range is still out of reach, then there are some great alternatives at the lower end of the price spectrum.

Here are some deals we found on Amazon for cheap robot vacuums that start at just £100.

1. Lefant M210P Robot Vacuum Cleaner - £99.98

This one has powerful suction, a great accompanying app, Alexa voice control, and it comes in two colours. What a great deal for less than £100.

I've tested a Lefant robot vacuum before, and it surprised me. For the price, they do a really good job.

This one's recommended retail price is £239.99, so it's not a cheap and nasty appliance, but it sure is cheap.

2. Eufy RoboVac 11S (Slim) Robot Vacuum Cleaner - £189.99

Eufy is one of my favourite smart home brands, and their robot vacuum cleaners are superb.

This is their entry-level device, priced at less than £200 on Amazon, and it's really tempting as a unit that will do a fine job of cleaning your home for not a lot of money.

Another plus point is its slim design, which is great for getting under sofas and beds. For quality and simplicity from a well-known brand, this one is definitely worth a look.

3. HONITURE Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop - £149.99

No, I haven't heard of Honiture either, but for such a low price for a vacuum and mop combination, this just looks like it's worth a punt.

The usual price is £189.99, but if you're quick you'll catch a £40 voucher offer.

On the face of it, this looks like a really complete device, with a smart app, powerful suction and a wet mopping system built in.

My advice is to snap one up, give it a whirl, you might be pleasantly surprised. And, if you're not impressed, Amazon has a brilliant returns policy, so you've really not got a lot to lose.

Gareth Butterfield