iRobot
Roomba i8+
- Bottom Line
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This model offers smart mapping, zone cleaning and a virtual wall barrier to effectively clean multiple rooms with ease.
- Pros
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Its smart mapping process mapped an area of 250 square feet in just 12 minutes, making it an ideal option for people with a lot of space to cover. The included virtual wall barrier effectively keeps the robot out of areas where it shouldn’t go, which is ideal for people who want to exert as much control as possible. Testing found that it performs especially well on hard flooring.
- Cons
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Its suction on carpeting is somewhat lacking for medium to large particles.
About the product
Is the Roomba i8+ worth it?
iRobot Roombas have dominated the robot vacuum market since their introduction in 2002. Today’s newer models feature more advanced navigation, powerful suction and other convenient functions to make vacuuming even easier than ever. The i8+ is similar to other Roombas but comes with an additional accessory called a virtual wall barrier that helps target its cleaning.
Like many premium Roombas, the i8+ features smart mapping that helps it learn a floor plan, remember specific rooms and clean exactly where you want. It also offers 10 times the suction power as the 600 series and has a self-emptying base that prevents you from getting your hands dirty. It supports Keep-Out Zones, too, so you can ensure the robot doesn’t go anywhere it shouldn’t.
The BestReviews Testing Lab tested the i8+ in real-world situations to see just how thoroughly it cleans. The robot went to work on carpeting and hard floors, transitioning between the different flooring types to see how well it handled multiple surfaces. Testing also included different types of debris to determine how the i8+ matches up against other Roomba models and what types of homes it would clean best.
What is the Roomba i8+?
Product specifications
Battery life: 89 minutes | Dimensions: 13.3” L x 13.3” W x 3.4” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.4 L | Weight: 7.44 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri | Scheduling: Yes
The iRobot Roomba i8+, which was released in 2020, is a Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuum with automatic dirt-disposal capabilities. It’s similar to the i7+ in both appearance and performance, but the i8+ comes with additional accessories the i7+ doesn’t, including a virtual wall barrier to keep it out of areas you don’t want cleaned and extra high-efficiency filters. It also has a higher-capacity battery designed to offer a longer run time.
Like other premium Roombas, the i8+ creates smart maps of your home to learn the layout. With this information, it can vacuum more efficiently and offer targeted cleaning in specific rooms and areas. It also allowed us to create Keep-Out Zones for spots that didn’t need cleaning or where the robot might get stuck. The self-emptying Clean Base where it docks is similar to the base for the s9+, i3+, i1+ and i7+ and holds up to 60 days’ worth of debris, so you rarely need to think about it.
To see how the i8+ compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best Roombas.
Pros
- Good value
- Excellent navigation
- Efficient cleaning
- Self-emptying base
Cons
- Shorter battery life than some other Roombas
- Suction on carpeting could be better
- Complications with the virtual wall barrier
Testing the Roomba i8+
When we tested the i8+, we wanted to get a better understanding of its battery life, so we timed how long it could clean before it needed to recharge and how long it took to recharge when fully drained. We also noted the time it took to clean an entire room and the square footage of the space to evaluate its efficiency.
Suction power is crucial for any robot vacuum, so we tested the i8+ on both hard flooring and carpeting. We placed specific types of debris in its path on each surface, including kosher salt, kitty litter, cereal and pet hair, and evaluated how well it picked up each. We also set some debris in the corner of a room with carpeting and a room with hard flooring to see how effectively the i8+ could capture debris in a corner. Finally, we placed debris near the end of a couch and beneath a dining chair to see how well it picked up in hard-to-reach areas.
Additionally, we tested how well the i8+ worked with the iRobot app by sending it out for mapping runs, scheduling cleaning times and creating Keep-Out Zones. We also tested the included virtual wall barrier to see how effective it was at preventing the robot from going into specific areas, and we gave it voice commands via Alexa to determine how responsive the i8+ was to our prompts.
Roomba i8+ price and where to buy
The i8+ regularly costs $899.99. You can find it at Best Buy and Walmart.
Roomba i8+ setup
Once we had the i8+ and base out of the box, we only had to attach the power cord, plug the base in and set the robot on it to start charging. The iRobot Home app, available on both Android and iOS, is necessary to finish the vacuum’s setup, so we downloaded it, connected the i8+ to our Wi-Fi network and followed the steps to add the robot to the app. The entire process was extremely easy and took less than 10 minutes.
Carpet performance
Our testing area consisted mainly of medium-pile carpeting and several low-pile rugs and runners. We started by testing the i8+’s ability to pick up small to medium particles, so we placed a handful of coarse kosher salt in its path. The robot did a solid job, removing all but four or five particles. It captured the remaining pieces on the following pass, so its performance was similar to other Roombas we tested, including the i1+, i3+, j7+ and even the very powerful s9+.
The i8+ also held its own when confronted with pet hair. We placed a clump of hair on medium-pile carpeting, and the robot picked it up in a single pass. Its performance was similar to the j7+, j7+ Combo and s9+, the most high-end Roombas we tested, so we were pleasantly surprised.
Unfortunately, the i8+ did struggle a bit with cereal. We placed a handful of Cap’n Crunch on a medium-pile carpet, and after the robot passed over it, all of the cereal was gone. However, it crushed a piece or two before picking them up and left behind small crumbs embedded in the fibers. It didn’t remove these crumbs on a follow-up pass, either. Other Roombas we tested performed similarly, including the i1+ and i3+. The j7+ also crushed a cereal piece but picked up all the resulting crumbs on a second pass.
When we placed kosher salt in the corner of a carpeted room, the i8+ removed approximately three-quarters of the particles. However, there was a visible line of salt left behind. This is a common issue with most Roombas, though. Except for the s9+, which has a D-shape that allows it to get into corners more easily, all the models we tested left some particles behind in a carpeted corner.
Hardwood performance
Like most robot vacuums, the i8+ offered a better performance on hard flooring. When we placed a handful of coarse kosher salt on hardwood, it removed nearly all of it in a single pass. One or two particles were blown out of its path, which is common with robotic vacuums on slick, smooth surfaces, but it captured them on another pass. Its performance was better than the i1+ and i3+ and similar to the j7+, j7+ Combo and s9+.
The i8+ had great success with pet hair on hardwood. It removed 100% of the hair in a single pass. All the Roombas we tested had no trouble with hair on hard flooring, though, so this wasn’t unique.
However, the i8+ ran into trouble when we placed cereal in its path on hardwood, struggling a bit with the larger debris. It picked up a little more than half of the cereal on its first pass but blew the other particles out of its path. It also crushed a piece, leaving crumbs behind. However, on the second pass, it removed all of the crumbs. Most of the Roombas we tested blew some cereal out of their path, but the i8+ was the only model that crushed a piece on hard flooring.
In the corner of a room with hardwood, the i8+ picked up more than half the kosher salt we sprinkled around. However, it blew some particles out of its path that it didn’t pick up on additional passes. Again, most Roombas struggled with corner cleaning, even on hardwood. Only the D-shaped s9+ picked up nearly all the salt, blowing just a few stray particles away from the corner.
Battery life and suction
The Roomba i8+ has a lithium-ion 2210 mAH battery, which is 20% larger than the i7+ battery. As a result, it has an advertised battery life of 90 minutes compared to the i7+’s 75 minutes. During our testing, the i8+ cleaned for 89 minutes before it needed to recharge. Very efficient, it took just 27 minutes to vacuum 250 square feet, so it can cover a lot of ground in those 89 minutes.
Compared to other premium Roombas, though, it had one of the shorter battery lives. The j7+ and s9+ both ran for more than 90 minutes, while the j7+ Combo lasted for just over two hours.
However, like the s9+, i7+ and Braava Jet m6, the i8+ has a Smart Recharge and Resume feature that helps with the shorter battery life. When its battery gets low, it returns to the base to recharge just enough to finish the job and then picks up its cleaning right where it left off (it does a full recharge once the job is completed).
The i8+ took an hour and 48 minutes to fully charge when the battery was completely drained. Nearly all the Roombas we tested took around two hours to recharge, so it was right in line with other models.
Like many robot vacuums, the i8+’s suction power seemed stronger on hard flooring than carpeting. We found it had trouble picking up small particles from medium-pile carpeting, which typically required two passes to remove fully. It sometimes needed a second pass on hard flooring because it would blow debris out of its path. This seemed to be a particular problem with larger debris particles like cereal.
Its noise level on both types of flooring was pretty consistent, but the i8+ was a bit louder on hard floors. It registers around 60 to 62 decibels on carpeting and approximately 65 to 66 decibels on hard flooring, which is about as loud as a normal conversation and quieter than a traditional vacuum.
Navigation and mapping
The i8+ offered excellent navigation during our testing. We began by sending the robot out on a mapping run before cleaning, so it could learn the space. It took just 12 minutes to map 210 square feet, accurately dividing the space and labeling the rooms. As a result, it never got stuck around furniture or other obstacles during cleaning, so we never had to rescue it.
The smart map feature allowed us to clean specific rooms, so we used voice commands through Alexa to send it out to clean a single room. We also set up a Keep-Out Zone in an area where we didn’t want the robot to clean and found that it successfully avoided the spot during cleaning. It can remember up to 10 maps, too, so it can learn multiple floors in a home.
The i8+ also came with a dual-mode virtual wall barrier, a small plastic device that emits an invisible barrier designed to keep the vacuum out of certain areas or away from specific objects. Unlike a Keep-Out Zone, which works well to keep the robot out of an area on a regular basis, the virtual barrier is ideal for temporarily blocking it from a location. We tested it in the virtual wall mode and had great success keeping the i8+ out of a cluttered laundry area where we suspected it could get stuck.
However, we didn’t have as much luck with the Halo mode, which is designed to create a circular barrier to keep the robot away from objects. We placed it near pet bowls to prevent the i8+ from bumping into them. During testing, it still hit the bowls and even knocked the barrier out of place. We had more success when we created a Keep-Out Zone around the bowls to prevent the i8+ from running into them.
We weren’t surprised the i8+ occasionally bumped into objects because it doesn’t have the obstacle-avoidance feature that the j7+ and j7+ Combo do. However, in general, other Roomba models we tested like the s9+, j7+ and j7+ Combo offered many of the same navigation features. They don’t include the virtual wall barrier but are compatible with the device, so you can purchase one separately.
We didn’t notice the i8+ having much trouble moving between different types of flooring. It handled the transition from carpet to rug, carpet to hardwood and hardwood to carpet without any issues. It sometimes ran into a problem when moving from hardwood to rugs and runners with a thicker edge. In one case, the edge of the runner flipped up, and the robot moved under it before backing up and successfully making its way onto the runner.
Roomba i8+ application
All Wi-Fi-connected Roombas require the iRobot Home app for operation. We found it extremely easy to set up and navigate during testing. The process of downloading and connecting the i8+ to the app took just about five minutes. The app’s layout was intuitive and user-friendly, so we could send the robot out to clean as soon as it was charged.
Some features, such as mapping and product health, are available exclusively in the app, while others also work with voice commands or the robot’s onboard controls.
Mapping
The app makes it very easy to send the i8+ out to map an area. We only had to press the “Map” button, which is located just above the product image, and the robot did the rest. During this mapping phase, the robot focused solely on learning the space rather than cleaning, so it worked quickly and didn’t use much battery. Mapping is only available through the iRobot app.
Scheduling
The iRobot Home app allows you to schedule the i8+ to clean at specific times and create a daily or weekly schedule. We set up the robot to clean at a certain time each day, and like clockwork, the i8+ went out to vacuum without us needing to do anything. Scheduling is also available through voice commands with a home assistant.
Rebooting
If a Roomba runs into an error message or other problem, rebooting it can often help resolve the issue. Rebooting essentially turns the robot off and back on again, clearing any errors. We used the iRobot app to reboot the i8+ through the Product Settings tab in the app, and the whole process took just a couple of minutes. You can also reboot the i8+ directly from the robot by holding the “Clean” button for 20 seconds, which takes slightly longer than the app because you only have to click a button once in the app.
Product health
Like all Roombas, the i8+ has components that periodically require replacement. While iRobot provides guidelines for how often you should replace the brushes and filter (every six to 12 months for brushes and every two months for the filter), the Product Health tab in the app gives you an estimate for how many cleaning hours each component has left, so you never run your robot when its filter or brushes are in poor condition. You can only access this feature in the app.
i8+ Clean Base
The i8+ is a self-emptying Roomba, so it comes with a Clean Base. When the robot’s dustbin is full, it returns to the Clean Base, which engages its suction to pull all the dirt and debris out of the dustbin and into a bag at the top of the base. The bag can hold up to 60 days’ worth of dirt, so you only have to empty it every couple of months.
The i8+ has a standard Clean Base, so it measures 12.2 inches wide, 15.1 inches deep and 19 inches high. Only the j7+ and j7+ Combo have a shorter Clean Base, measuring just 13.3 inches tall. The height may be an issue in some homes because you likely can’t hide the Roomba beneath, say, a low end table to keep it out of the way. However, we had no trouble finding a spot where the i8+’s base fit in our testing area.
We found the self-emptying feature and Clean Base worked extremely well during testing. In an hour and 50 minutes of cleaning, the i8+ emptied itself six times, so we never had to worry about vacuuming being interrupted because we didn’t know the bin was full. The one downside to the Clean Base is that it was very loud when it emptied the robot. All the self-emptying Roombas were loud when using the base, but the i8+ was a bit louder, registering at 77 decibels, which is as noisy as a standard vacuum cleaner.
i8+ benefits
The i8+ is one of the more expensive Roombas, but it has added value worth considering for bargain hunters. In addition to the robot and Clean Base, the i8+ came with the virtual wall barrier, two extra filters and four dirt disposal bags. None of the other models we tested included the virtual wall barrier and only included one additional filter and two dirt disposal bags. The virtual wall barrier costs $59.99 when purchased separately, while the two extra filters would retail for just over $11 each, and the bags would cost approximately $6.66 each. That means you’re getting just under $100 worth of added accessories with the i8+.
We also were impressed with how well the i8+ navigated our testing area. It mapped the space accurately in just over 10 minutes and responded well to commands to clean specific rooms or in certain spots. The virtual wall barrier and Keep-Out Zone feature made it easy to prevent the robot from going where it shouldn’t. It also remembers up to 10 maps, so you can have a different map for each floor of your home.
Additionally, the i8+ stood out for how efficiently it cleaned. Mapping the area before cleaning may have helped because it didn’t have to learn as it vacuumed, but it covered our entire testing area in less than 30 minutes. We also found the self-emptying Clean Base made using the i8+ even easier. As with other self-emptying Roombas, like the i1+, i3+, j7+ and s9+, it prevents the robot from stopping in the middle of cleaning because of a full bin and means your hands never have to get dirty emptying it.
i8+ drawbacks
While the i8+ offers nearly 90 minutes of battery life, that was the shortest cleaning time of any of the premium Roombas we tested. The j7+, j7+ Combo and s9+ all ran for more than 90 minutes. It may not be a deal breaker because of its Recharge and Resume feature, but it can be frustrating in a larger home.
We also found that the i8+’s suction on carpeting wasn’t as strong as the j7+ and s9+. If a robot vacuum has a premium price tag, we expect it to deliver top-notch performance on all flooring types, so you can reduce your traditional vacuum use or stop altogether. The i8+ had issues pulling debris like cereal crumbs out of medium-pile carpeting — though we were pleased with how thoroughly it handled pet hair.
Finally, while we were fans of the Wall mode for the virtual wall barrier, we were frustrated by how the i8+ performed with the barrier in Halo mode. It could be an issue with the barrier device itself, not the robot, but it’s worth noting before purchasing the i8+.
Should you get the i8+?
The i8+ is a solid robot vacuum that performs well on hard flooring, offers advanced navigation features and empties itself when full. It also includes extra accessories. While it doesn’t perform as well as we might expect on carpeting, it didn’t have any issues with pet hair on carpet or hardwood, so pet owners may be interested. Its ability to store 10 different maps means it’s a good option for multistory homes, too.
However, there aren’t any features to distinguish it from premium robots like the j7+ and s9. Overall, if you’re looking for a robot vacuum with excellent navigation but don’t necessarily need it to fully replace your traditional vacuum, the Roomba i8+ may be a good fit. The included virtual wall barrier, extra filters and dirt disposal bags also make it appealing for those looking for a good deal.