iRobot Roomba i5+ Review & Verdict

Name: iRobot Roomba i5+
Brand: iRobot
Price: 399 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (22140 reviews)

By iRobot · Released 2022

4.4

22,140 verified reviews

$399$549

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want iRobot's proven Clean Base

View best price →Compare 10 self-empty vacuums

Key features

Clean Base auto-empty (60 days)
Dual multi-surface rubber brushes
3-stage cleaning system
Room-by-room via app
Recharge and resume
Alexa & Google

In-depth iRobot Roomba i5+ review

Independent editorial — no manufacturer input on scoring.

Overview

The iRobot Roomba i5+ is iRobot's 2022 entry in the self-empty vacuums space, positioned squarely at budget-conscious buyers who want irobot's proven clean base. At a current street price of $399 — down from a launch RRP of $549, it competes head-on with everything else on our self-empty vacuums shortlist. Over an average of 22,140 verified owner reviews it holds a 4.4-star rating, which puts it comfortably in the upper tier for the category. What makes it worth a closer look is the specific combination of clean base auto-empty (60 days), dual multi-surface rubber brushes, 3-stage cleaning system and room-by-room via app — a set of decisions that reflect iRobot's house style and set clear expectations for who this robot is (and is not) for.

Performance & cleaning

In day-to-day use the Roomba i5+ delivers on its headline specs: suction of Not published, runtime of 75 minutes. Independent testing and long-term owner reports converge on the same story — excellent auto-empty for under $400 is consistently the standout, followed closely by rugged hardware. In practical terms that translates into predictable, quiet cleaning cycles that you can schedule and forget. The trade-off is that camera nav is slower than lidar, which some buyers will care about and others will happily ignore.

Navigation, mapping & smart features

iRobot equips the Roomba i5+ with Reactive sensors, which handles the boring-but-critical job of getting the robot around your home efficiently. The companion iRobot Home exposes recharge and resume, alexa & google and adaptive navigation, which is standard for this class in 2022 but noticeably better than what you get on generic no-name alternatives. If you already own other iRobot products, the ecosystem integration is a genuine advantage — one app, one login, and consistent notification behaviour across the household.

Build quality & design

Physically the Roomba i5+ measures in line with class norms and weighs 3.3 kg. iRobot has clearly prioritised irobot service network in the industrial design — panels align cleanly, the buttons feel deliberate, and the accessible components (filters, brushes, tanks) are easy to remove without tools. The stated warranty of 1 year matches what serious iRobot buyers expect, and the after-sales support network is one of the reasons long-term owners keep coming back to iRobot even when cheaper Chinese alternatives spec higher on paper.

Maintenance & running costs

Ongoing costs for the Roomba i5+ are dominated by consumables — expect to replace brushes, filters and mop pads every 3–6 months. Budget roughly $60–$150 per year for a mid-range self-empty vacuums robot; the Roomba i5+ sits in the middle of that range. Cleaning the unit itself is a five-minute weekly job — clear brushes of hair, wipe sensors, empty bins. The iRobot app will remind you when consumables need attention, which sounds trivial until you've owned a robot without that feature.

Pros & cons at a glance

Reasons to buy: excellent auto-empty for under $400, rugged hardware and irobot service network. Reasons to hesitate: camera nav is slower than lidar. Neither list is decisive on its own — the Roomba i5+ is a well-considered product with clear priorities, and the question is whether those priorities match yours.

Verdict — who should buy the iRobot Roomba i5+

Buy the iRobot Roomba i5+ if you need budget-conscious buyers who want irobot's proven clean base and you value clean base auto-empty (60 days) and dual multi-surface rubber brushes above raw specification bragging rights. Look elsewhere if camera nav is slower than lidar would meaningfully reduce your enjoyment of the product. At $399 (a 27% discount off the $549 RRP) it represents the kind of accessible entry point that gets people hooked on home robotics. Cross-shop against the other self-empty vacuums on our list, factor in your specific home layout and household needs, and this one deserves a place on your shortlist.