By: Kurtis | Last updated August 8, 2019 
Cleaning appliances have improved tremendously over years. Our vacuum cleaners have become real gadgets, controllable through our phones, with WiFi connectivity, apps and a plethora of smart features on board. That is why they are called ‘robot vacuums’. Traditional vacuum cleaners still exist of course, as they are the ones that take care of the really ‘dirty jobs’. But for daily maintenance and less grime, robot vacuums are a real joy to use.
Benefits of robot vacuums
Robot vacuums have one big advantage over regular vacuums: they are smarter. These little round shaped robots are packed with smart functions and capabilities, are programmable, work via WiFi and can be controlled straight from our smartphones, even if we are not in the same location as the robot.
You can schedule cleanings with a robot vacuum, you can browse through different cleaning modes and more. Almost all bots are smart enough to know when they’re running out of battery and they go back to the charging station by themselves.
Robot vacuums are not as noisy as regular vacuums, don’t need an extension cord and a plug and they are considerably smaller (and cuter), so you can store them almost anywhere.
And another cool thing about them is that they practically run by themselves. You don’t need to hold them and lead the way, because their smart sensors tell them exactly where they’ve been, where they have to go and what to avoid (such as stairs).
iRobot Roomba 980 - How good is this robot vacuum?
iRobot is quite a reputable name when it comes to robots and the company, which is based in Massachusetts, has been around for almost 30 years now.
Their Roomba 980 robot vacuum is one of their best selling products and a very smart and complex little gadget.
The robot weighs 8.7 pounds, it has a diameter of 13.8 inches and it is 3.6 inches tall. It is not exactly lightweight, compared to other robots we’ve tested. The device has that common circular shape and very little buttons on top (3 to be more precise: Home, Clean, Spot Clean).
What are the features of the Roomba 980?
The Roomba 980 has WiFi connectivity and can be controlled through its mobile app that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The gadget works with Google Assistant and with Amazon Alexa.
The robot is equipped with a top camera and a floor sensor that allow the device to avoid obstacles and to know where to go and what areas it’s already cleaned. It uses the vSLAM (visual simultaneous localization and mapping) technology to be able to do that.
The Roomba 980 has HEPA filters and can be controlled via WiFi or straight from its buttons. The app lets you schedule cleanings, select your cleaning preferences, check out the status of the cleaning session and sends you notifications when the Roomba 980 finishes a cleaning.
This robot vacuum can cope with both carpets and hard floors, thanks to its multi-surface brushes. Its small height also helps it easily slip under beds and in other hard to reach areas.
Regarding its battery life, this little beast has a run time of approximately 120 minutes. When it runs out of battery, it returns to the charging station and once it’s full again, it resumes the cleaning session.
How much does the Roomba 980 cost?
The iRobot Roomba 980 can be ordered on Amazon, for $800, with free shipping included. While this is not the most budget-friendly robot vacuum on the market, we consider it to be a good value for the money. The Roomba 980 is a smart gadget, it has WiFi, a lot of useful features and a great battery life.
