IRobot Roomba 981 - Our independent review

A robot vacuum cleaner that cleans with a power never seen, and that can finally map the rooms for total and efficient coverage, with all the most advanced functions. Today it exists, and is called iRobot Roomba 981. This model, released in 2018, represents today the top of the Roomba range in Europe. So let's see what are the characteristics of this technological jewel, if it can really avoid the effort of cleaning, and above all how much it costs.

Roomba 981 weighs 4 kg, and is slightly larger than the lower models, with its diameter of 35.1 cm, and a height that however remains at 9.2 cm to pass easily in the lowest points of the house: under beds , armchairs, sofas. It has the charging base, to which it returns by itself when it is necessary to recharge the battery.

Navigation system and functions

The new iAdapt 2.0 navigation system allows Roomba 981 to map the rooms thanks to a small video camera placed on the lid of the robot. In this way, Roomba knows exactly how your home is laid out, and knows where it is at all times. Thanks to its enhanced battery with an autonomy of 120 minutes, it will efficiently clean all rooms. And, if the time is not enough, it will recharge (in about 3 hours) and start cleaning again from where it left off. In addition to this new navigation system, iRobot Roomba 981 has the usual sensors that allow it not to fall from any steps, and also the anti-obstacle sensors to slow down the movement in the presence of objects, which will be just touched by the cushioned bumper. Roomba 981 is also supplied with two Dual Mode Virtual Wall accessories. These accessories operate on batteries and have a double function: to create virtual walls to close some areas of the house, where the robot will not go to clean; and to create circular areas with a diameter of about 1.2 meters, also excluded from the robot's path. Roomba 981 can be controlled from your phone thanks to Wi-fi connectivity and the dedicated application, which will show you the plan of your apartment and the work done by the robot. It is possible to program the appliance to perform cleaning at a specific time, in full autonomy.

Cleaning system

The cleaning system is the best available on the market. At the moment, no other robot on the market does a better job than the Roomba 900 series, apart from the Dyson model, whose navigation system, however, is inferior in quality and tends to leave uncovered areas. In particular, the enhanced engine of Roomba 981 has up to 10 times more power than the 600 series models, which already offered good performance in this respect. The Roomba system features a side brush, which removes dust from the corners and contours of furniture and walls, and then conveys it under the silicone rollers. These are adaptable to the floor and there are two, which rotate against each other. In this way, the first roller lifts the dirt, while the second collects it and comminutes it, facilitating the task for the powerful suction motor. No problem even on rugs and carpets, where hair and animal hair are easily vacuumed. The ability to climb rugs is also the best on the market, and there are no problems even with rugs that have fringes on the sides. Thanks to the Aerovac function, an air flow is generated which makes the basket fill evenly, allowing you to take full advantage of its capacity. Like all Roomba models, the 981 also has the Dirt Detect feature, which allows it to detect the dirtiest areas. In this case, it will linger by passing several times on the area in question, until it is perfectly clean.

Maintenance

Maintenance is linear and simple, in fact the silicone rollers, unlike those with bristles of the previous models, cause less tangles of hair and hair and are much easier to clean. The filter must be cleaned every time the container is emptied, and also pay attention to any residues that may deposit on the wheels, preventing normal rotation.

The price of iRobot Roomba 981 is high, and therefore not for all budgets. It is certainly an excellent purchase, for those who can afford it, because it has everything and even more, and cleans in a truly accurate way. Thanks to Amazon and other online shops, we are confident in offers to save. Reviews on the Web gives you the opportunity to compare prices and decide for the best, even if Amazon is always our favorite, for its efficiency and excellent warranty conditions.

There are many opinions on the iRobot Roomba 981, considering that the model is recent and very expensive. Many, however, refer to the 960 model, the previous one, as Amazon sells both of them from the same page. Reading those relating only to 981, one realizes that the satisfaction is almost total, even with such a high price. The adjectives that define it as "impressive," a technological jewel "are wasted. In short, we are faced with a product that keeps its promises, that's for sure. At the time of writing, there is no review lower than 4 stars. If we want to find a fault with it, this is the lack of a remote control. No Roomba is equipped with it, usually it must be purchased separately. Given the price, iRobot could have included it.

In conclusion, the iRobot Roomba 981 is suitable for those who want a model of robot vacuum cleaner without compromise. With all its functions it will give you more than concrete help in keeping your home clean effortlessly. Suitable for all situations, Roomba 981 will not disappoint you, if you can afford it, and probably you can no longer do without it.