Roomba 980: Vacuuming Robot With Alexa-Compatibility
Being equipped with many automatic features, the Roomba 980 is a real time-saver. The brush automatically adapts to the floor type while the cleaner moves from room to room by itself, goes to the charging dock when it’s low on charge, and then resumes cleaning automatically.
Dimensions
Having 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches in size, the cleaner has a taller profile than most other robotic cleaners so it can’t fit under low-profile furniture with ease. With over 13 pounds of weight, it’s obviously not among the most portable models. The dustbin inside has quite an extensive capacity of 600 ml.
Features
The cleaner uses a 3-stage cleaning system and is capable of vacuuming up dirt, dust, hair, etc. The high-efficiency dual multi-surface rubber brushes provide intensive cleaning while remaining in close contact with the surface. They also aren't prone to tangle which is great for pet owners and people who wear long hair. The edge brush that sweeps dirt from the edges is present as well.
The filter captures up to 99% of dust, cat/dog allergens, and the smallest particles. The extra filter is included in the box which is a pleasant bonus.
The cleaner automatically enhances its suction power when working on the carpet and also starts cleaning more intensively. With 1670 Pa of max suction power, it’s a fairly powerful robotic cleaner, so it isn’t surprising that it does emit a lot of noise (80 dB).
The included virtual wall barriers will limit the cleaner’s access to certain areas of your home if you need to.
The battery lasts up to 2 hours on one charge which is quite a lot, to be fair. However, the Roomba 980 manual says that the battery may last less depending on how contaminated the house is. It’s also claimed that the device takes up to 3 hours to charge in full, but in my test, it took 10 minutes more.
The unit intelligently navigates around obstacles thanks to anti-collision sensors. As the manufacturer says that the cleaner makes up to 60 navigational decisions while cleaning.
The Roomba 980 works with Alexa, so you can control it by voice if you have a smart speaker at home.
If you don’t have a smart speaker, you can control the iRobot Roomba 980 using your phone/tablet (via an iRobot HOME app). Besides, the app is the only way to use a super-convenient mapping navigation feature. The app also informs you when the cleaner requires your attention. However, it can’t offer manual directional control.
Design
The iRobot Roomba 980 vacuuming robot has black sides while its top panel is brown. The faceplate contains a bin release button, light touch sensor, localization camera, RCON sensor, and carrying handle. The control panel is located below the handle. There you will find some basic control buttons, like Clean, Spot, and Dock, and 5 LED indicators: Wi-Fi, Troubleshooting, Full bin, Dirt detector, and Battery. Flip the unit over, and you will see 3 powerful wheels that help the Roomba climb over carpets and thresholds.
Conclusion
The Roomba 980 is a truly smart cleaner that increases its power when it’s needed and adapts to any surface. It’s a great option for pet owners as well thanks to the high-quality air filter and tangle-free brush.
At the end of this Roomba 980 review, I can recommend this model to those who require a truly powerful cleaner with an autonomous work and aren't afraid of noisy devices.
