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Today we are going to review top-level models, the Roborock S5 (which is an improved version of the Xiaomi Mi Robot) and the Roomba 980. Both robots are the best-released models by each manufacturer. They both have excellent cleaning performance and come with an intelligent mapping feature that provides more efficient cleaning. What makes the Roborock S5 and Roomba 980 similar, and what are the differences between them? Are these robots smart enough? Let's dive deeper and see what features each machine has and which one is better for your home conditions.

Roborock S5 vs. iRobot Roomba 980 comparison chart

Specifications

Roomba 980

Roborock S5 Dimensions 13.8 x 3.6 in 13.7 x 3.79 in Weight 8.7 lbs 7.7 lbs Suction power 1,670 Pa 2,000 Pa Wet Mopping no yes Working Time 120 min 150 min App yes yes Cleaning radius 185 m2 250 m2 Dust bin capacity 600 ml 500 ml Noise Level 70 dB 60 dB Scheduling yes yes Manual drive control no yes Intelligent mapping yes yes Full Dustbin Indicator yes no Carpet boost yes yes Dirt Detect yes no Filter type HEPA Washable HEPA Virtual Wall yes (physical) yes (digital) Zoned Cleaning no yes Holds a created map in memory no yes Washable dustbin no yes Can work in the dark no yes Amazon Alexa / Google Home support yes yes Auto recharge & resume yes yes Spot cleaning yes yes Edge cleaning yes yes Price $377.15 $479.99 Amazon

Roborock S5

The Most Efficient Roborock S5 Efficient navigation Equipped with the longest-lasting battery that provides about 2.5 hours of continuous cleaning. Has strong suction, supports zoned cleaning and digital restricted areas. Has one of the most efficient navigation in the market (the newest Roborock S6 finishes cleaning 20% faster). Can do mopping and sweeping at the same time. Equipped with the LDS laser that builds a high-precious map of a cleaning area. $479.99 from Amazon

The Roborock S5 is the next version of the first Xiaomi Mi Robot that has an outstanding reputation on the market. The Roborock S5 has become more efficient and fast, has a stronger suction power and a new soft bumper that decreases noise level the robot produces. It has a new mopping feature, so now it can sweep and mop at the same time. The new model is equipped with a reusable anti-allergen HEPA filter. It can be washed with water. Thanks to an X-Ray sensor, the robot can detect smaller objects better, avoiding collisions.

Roborock S5 the main features

LIDAR mapping technology : The robot is equipped with the LDS laser that scans the surroundings to create a map of an interior. It does not need a light to be on when the robot is cleaning. Thanks to the three processors inside, you can track the device movements in real-time

: The robot is equipped with the LDS laser that scans the surroundings to create a map of an interior. It does not need a light to be on when the robot is cleaning. Thanks to the three processors inside, you can track the device movements in real-time Customize where to clean : in the Mi Home app, you can create restricted areas and set zoned cleaning to make the vacuum clean within a certain zone or not go to a particular area

: in the Mi Home app, you can create restricted areas and set zoned cleaning to make the vacuum clean within a certain zone or not go to a particular area Control it manually : in the Mi Home, you can control the Roborock's movements like a radio car

: in the Mi Home, you can control the Roborock's movements like a radio car Mopping : the Roborock S5 has a 150 ml water tank and mop cloth to mop bare flooring

: the Roborock S5 has a 150 ml water tank and mop cloth to mop bare flooring Washable HEPA : the filter can be washed with water

: the filter can be washed with water Strong suction : the Roborock S5 delivers 2,000 Pa of suction power

: the Roborock S5 delivers 2,000 Pa of suction power The longest-lasting battery : a 5,200 mAh battery provides 150 minutes of cleaning before it needs to recharge. It is equal to cleaning 250 sq. meters of your house

: a 5,200 mAh battery provides 150 minutes of cleaning before it needs to recharge. It is equal to cleaning 250 sq. meters of your house Carpet identification : the S5 has a bunch of sensors that provide deeper cleaning on carpets once the robot recognizes carpeted surface

: the S5 has a bunch of sensors that provide deeper cleaning on carpets once the robot recognizes carpeted surface Noise level: even though the Roborock S5 has strong suction, it makes less noise than the Roomba 980.

Click here to see customers reviews about the Roborock S5 on Amazon

Glance

The device has a beautiful minimalistic design made of high-quality plastiс. The LDS (Laser Distance Sensor) is located on the top of the robot. It rotates and scans a room interior in 360 degrees, creating a map of the room. The Roborock S5 is equipped with 13 sensors: cliff sensors, a collision sensor, drop sensor, dustbin sensor, electronic compass, wall sensor, fan speed sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, laser distance sensor, speedometer, and an ultrasonic radar sensor. Three powerful processors inside the machine track the robot vacuum's position in real-time and build the most efficient cleaning path. You can see the map in the app, as well as where the robot has been and watch it working in real-time.

The cleaner has a powerful motor that delivers 2,000 Pa of suction, which is one of the strongest in the industry. Even though the S5 has strong suction, it is also equipped with a cotton sieve that decreases the noise level that is produced by the Roborock.

The robot has a water container and mop cloth for mopping. In this mode, it works for about 40-50 minutes before the tank gets dry.

Set a cleaning zone inside the Mi Home app to make the Roborock S5 clean within it

To make the cleaner working in a specific zone, draw a rectangle on a created map. If you don't want the Roborock to cross some rooms, set a block off area using the Mi Home app.

The Roborock S5 is equipped with the longest-lasting 5,200 mAh li-ion battery in the industry. Recharge & resume and long battery life make the robot ideal for big homes.

The Roborock S5 can do mopping and sweeping at the same time

The dustbin is on the smallest side; it is highly recommended to clean it after every cleaning. When the box gets full, the Roborock stops moving.

The Roborock S5 is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

The great climbing ability of 20 mm, strong suction, and carpet identification work together to provide excellent cleaning performance on carpet flooring.

Robot vacuums mentioned in the article:

Why is the Roborock S5 better than the Roomba 980? You can track the Roborock in real-time, watch it creating a map, know it's location. In the Mi Home app, you can set restricted areas, block off lines, create zoned cleaning. The Roborock S5 also can mop, not only sweep. The Roborock lasts 30 minutes longer. The S5 can work in the dark. It has stronger suction power than the Roomba. The Roborock S5 can be controlled by the app like a radio car. It has a washable HEPA filter. The S5 saves one map after finishing the job. The Roomba maps disappear once the robot ends cleaning. Price. The Roborock is half of the Roomba 980 price.

The Roborock S5 has better navigation and is more powerful. The robot is suitable for bigger homes with carpets or hard floor areas.

Video review of the Roborock S5

Where to buy the Roborock S5?

Roborock S5 on Amazon: $479.99

*Please take note that the prices may change and the coupon codes are limited in time.

For Pet Hair Roomba 980 Perfect for pet hair Equipped with a camera sensor which builds a map of the cleaning area. Has double-rotating brushless rollers that are tangle-free and are the best for pet hair. Dirt detect recognizes high-traffic areas and provides deeper cleaning on those spots. Full bin indicator shows when the container needs to be emptied. $377.15 from Amazon

Roomba is the most famous brand of robot vacuums on the US market. The iRobot 980 is the newest and most featured device in their model line.

Click here to see customers reviews about the Roomba 980 on Amazon

[Update January 2019] iRobot released the newest Roomba i7 and Roomba s9+ models with a self-cleaning charging base.

This model has stronger suction power compared to its older brothers - iRobot 960, 890, and 860. It cleans pet hair from your carpet with ease using its 3-Stage Cleaning System, 10X more powerful motor, and the newest rubber rollers that are tangle-free. Because of these rubber rollers, the Roomba 980 is perfect for pet hair. The brushes require minimum maintenance.

iRobot Roomba 980 features Dirt Detect . The Roomba 980 has a bunch of sensors that recognize the most high-traffic areas to provide deeper cleaning on these spots

. The Roomba 980 has a bunch of sensors that recognize the most high-traffic areas to provide deeper cleaning on these spots Camera-based mapping . A camera sensor that is located on top scans your house to see all the obstacles and create a map of the cleaning area

. A camera sensor that is located on top scans your house to see all the obstacles and create a map of the cleaning area Dual virtual wall barrier . The robot has a virtual wall barrier in the box that creates an area that the vacuum will not cross

. The robot has a virtual wall barrier in the box that creates an area that the vacuum will not cross Brushless design . Double-rotating silicone rollers are tangle-free and are perfect for pet hair

. Double-rotating silicone rollers are tangle-free and are perfect for pet hair HEPA filter . The Roomba 980 comes with a HEPA filter inside

. The Roomba 980 comes with a HEPA filter inside Full dustbin indicator . This indicator shows when the dirtbox gets full, so you always know when it needs to be emptied

. This indicator shows when the dirtbox gets full, so you always know when it needs to be emptied Carpet identification. The sensors detect the type of floor and automatically adjust suction power once the robot is on carpet.

A camera located on the top detects obstacles in its way, while the intelligent system (visual simultaneous localization and mapping technology) builds the best cleaning route so the robot can easily avoid bumping into furniture. Once it's on the carpet, the suction power automatically increases to gather up more dust.

The iRobot Roomba 980 is based on a camera sensor that takes snaps of your cleaning area to create a map. The vSLAM navigation requires light to provide better performance

The dirt detect recognizes the most high-traffic areas making the Roomba 980 clean those spots more carefully.

The full bin indicator alerts when you need to clean the container. You will be aware of it through your smartphone.

The Roomba 980 is suitable for homes with carpets mostly. It has a 20 mm barrier cross height, strong suction that delivers 1,700 Pa of airpower and carpet identification which work together to provide deeper cleaning on carpets.

The silicone brushless rollers are perfect for pet hair

Check It Out on Amazon

Why is the Roomba 980 better than the Roborock S5? The Roomba 980 has dirt detect. This feature helps the robot to recognize where high-traffic areas are to provide deeper cleaning on those spots. The Roomba 980 has a full dustbin indicator. You are always aware when the container gets full and has to be emptied. The Roomba 980 has dual-rotating brushless-free rollers. These things are maintenance-free and are perfect for pet hair. Because of its tower with the LDS laser inside, the Roborock is a bit taller than the Roomba. The Roomba body allows it to get under most of furniture.

Even though the Roomba 980 has some advantages it is too expensive for the features it offers so we do not recommend buying it. If you want, have a look at the newer Roomba i7+ which is less expensive and has more features including a self-emptying bin.

Roomba iRobot 980 YouTube review

Where To Buy the Roomba 980

Roomba 980 on Amazon: $377.15

Check It Out on Amazon

What are the differences: the Roborock S5 vs. Roomba 980? Suction. The Roborock has a stronger suction power delivering 2,000 Pa comparing with Roomba's 1,670 Pa. Battery life. The Roomba 980 runs about 120 minutes while the Roborock S5 lasts the whole 150 minutes. Laser vs. camera. The Roborock uses a laser to map out an interior. The laser is more accurate than a camera sensor the Roomba is equipped with. Navigation. The S5 bumps into things less than the Roomba (based on consumer reviews). Its navigation system is better. The Roborock S5 gets stuck less often than the Roomba 980 (based on consumer reviews) does. 2-in-1. The S5 comes with a water tank for mopping, the Roomba 980 only sweeps. Virtual boundaries. The Roomba 980 is equipped with a physical dual virtual wall barrier. With the Roborock, you can set digital walls using its app. You can create as many digital walls and blocked zones as you want using your smartphone. Dirt detect. The Roomba 980 has a dirt detect sensor that provides deep cleaning in high-traffic areas. Full dust container indicator. The Roomba 980 comes with a full dustbin detection. It informs you when the container needs to be emptied through a notification in the app. Map interaction. You cannot interact with the Roomba 980's map. It works as a cleaning report. On the plan created by the Roborock, you can set a blocked area, cleaning zone, and send the robot to a specific point using the Targeted Point option. LDS laser. Because of the laser, the Roborock S5 can work in the dark. Tangle-free rollers. The Roomba 980 is equipped with rubber tangle-free rollers that are easy to maintain. These brushes are perfect for pet hair because they don't cause hair wrapping. The Roborock has a tangle-free design but its not as efficient as Roomba's silicone brushes when it comes to hair tangling. Color options. The S5 is available in three colors: white, black, and rose gold. The Roomba 980 has only one color option. Price. The Roborock S5 is much cheaper. Target point. You can tap on the map, and the Roborock will go to that spot, and you can drive it as a radio car. Roomba's app doesn't allow to manage the robot movements. Noise level. The Roborock is less noisy than the Roomba 980. The Roborock S5 carries a cleaning tool under the lid. You always know where it is. Dustbin. The Roborock S5 dustbin is washable; the Roomba 980 is equipped with a container that only can be emptied. Real-time tracking. The Roborock movements can be tracked in the app. Map saving. The Roborock S5 saves a created map; the Roomba 980 does not.

Which one is better: the Roborock S5 or Roomba 980?

Both robot vacuums have useful features and similar functions. In our opinion, the newest Roborock S5 is a better choice at a lower price. It has new technologies, costs less, has stronger suction and a longer-lasting battery, works quietly, has a washable HEPA filter, covers more in one charge, and can sweep and mop at the same time.

For now, we do not recommend getting the Roomba 980 as it is too expensive. If you want a Roomba, have a look at the i7+.

UPDATE: If you want a robot vacuum that is as powerful as the Roborock or the Roomba 980, take a look at the 360 S6 review. This fantastic robot costs less than the Roborock S5 (and twice less expensive than the Roomba 980) but still has very similar features as the S5 does, such as intelligent mapping technology, strong suction power, wet mopping, etc.