Roomba Combo i5 vs. i7 Comparison Review

Nothing has changed in the Roomba Combo i5 as far as design is concerned. It is also a round-shaped robot vacuum with a low-profile design.

It can pass between tight spaces and go under furniture without being restricted or getting stuck. The diameter is 13.4 inches, while the height is 3.6 inches. As for the weight, the i5 Combo averages 7 lbs.

Regarding build quality, we like the sturdy design courtesy of high-grade materials guaranteeing durability.
The Roomba i5 Combo has been finished in black and woven textured grey.

Roomba i5 is such a versatile robot cleaner. It offers 2-in-1 cleaning in that it vacuums and mops simultaneously. You can rely on it if you have hard floors such as tile, marble, hardwood, linoleum, vinyl, etc.

The Roomba i5 can also handle carpets, but remember to swap the Roomba Combo Bin as it tends to wet carpets. For homes with pet hair and other pet messes, the Roomba i5 also suffices.

Roombas work by sucking up debris, from fine debris to large debris. An inbuilt motor generates the suction. The Roomba i5 has a 2nd Gen motor that delivers 10x the power-lifting suction of old series models such as the Roomba 675 and the rest.

This is a single-speed motor, so don’t expect suction adjustment features such as carpet boost. The average yield of the Roomba i5 is 850 – 900 Pa, while operation noise is around 65 dB.

Roomba i5 Combo can vacuum and mop. The mopping mechanism is quite basic. To mop, you need to change to the Interchangeable Roomba Combo™ Bin and fill water and cleaning solution, preferably Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner.

The Interchangeable Roomba Combo™ Bin holds the mopping pad, which is effective in scrubbing and eliminating tough stains and grime. Unfortunately, the Roomba i5 doesn’t detect carpets, so it might wet them.

Your only option to prevent the robot from wetting carpets is swapping the Interchangeable Roomba Combo™ Bin for the standard bin.

Roomba Combo i5 may be among the latest Roombas, but it still relies on an old-generation navigation system. This is iAdapt 1.0 SLAM navigation. For obstacle detection and preventing the robot from falling off the stairs, the i5 uses obstacle and anticliff sensors.

There is no real-time camera. The robot also lacks any form of advanced obstacle-detection technology. We tried it in a high-traffic room, and it performed well despite hitting some obstacles.

Roomba i5 has an outdated navigation system, but we are glad it is a smart mapping robot vacuum. It relies on Imprint Smart Mapping technology to learn, map, and adapt to the floor plan of your home. It knows where the living room and kitchen are, so you can customize cleaning by room.

Unfortunately, there is no Keep Out Zones or No Mop Zones.

But we have iRobot OS cleaning extras, including Clean While I’m Away, Cleaning Time Estimates, Smart Map Coaching and Room Name Suggestions, and Quiet Drive.

Roomba i5 doesn’t just vacuum and mop. It can also keep your ambiance fresh. The robot has a filtration system that consists of an AeroForce high-efficiency filter.

The filter is 99% efficient and captures all kinds of allergens, pollen, dust mites, and other elements that can bring discomfort.

For sweeping and agitation, Roomba i5 comes with an elaborate brush system consisting of a main brush and a secondary brush. The main brush is a Dual Multisurface Brushroll with Tangle-Free Technology.

It consists of two rubber brushes, one for agitating dirt and the other for dirt lift-up. We also like that it has been redesigned to prevent tangling, so you won’t have trouble with a jammed brush.

The main brush is complemented by a spinning side brush that sweeps the deep corners and wall edges.

The Roomba i5 has a large onboard bin. There is a full bin indicator to alert you when it is time to empty the bin. For the record, the Roomba i5 is a self-emptying robot vacuum, But the model in this review, the Combo i5, doesn’t come with the Automatic Clean Base Unit.

If you want a package with this unit, get the Roomba Combo i5+. With the Clean Base unit, you can forget about manual bin emptying for up to 60 days.

Roomba i5 comes with a lithium-ion battery whose 1,800mAh capacity can power the robot for a cool 75 minutes. We like the fact that this is an intelligent robot vacuum with Auto-Recharge+Resume capabilities.

When the battery level goes down, the robot docks, recharges and returns to finish the job from where it left off. The recharge time is 2-3 hours.

Roomba Combo i5 is well-endowed in terms of smart features and convenience. The robot has a schedule function that allows you to set preferred cleaning times throughout the week. We also like the fact that it is compatible with 2.4GHz WiFi for remote operation.

You can use the iRobot Home App or voice assistants, including Alexa and Google Assistant. One feature we like is iRobot OS, which offers personalized cleaning suggestions and tags along with several other features, including Clean While I’m Away and Quiet Drive.

Despite being a robust robot vacuum, the robot further reassures customers of the quality of its products by accompanying the Roomba i5 with a standard Roomba 1-year warranty.

Regarding support, iRobot is easily accessible via the live chat available on the company website. You can also use other resources, including troubleshooting guides and manuals. As for Roomba i5 replacement parts and supplies, you can find them in plenty on Amazon.