Choosing the Roomba that is right for you can be a difficult task. There are so many different Roombas on the market, and each one has its own set of pros and cons.
This article will break down two of those popular Roomba models, as well as compare them to help you decide which Roomba is best for your needs.
Let’s start off by taking a closer look at the appearance of the Roomba e5 and the i3.
Appearance and Design
It is very easy to look at a couple of iRobots sitting side by side and have no clue which is which. When it comes to the Roomba e5 and the Roomba i3 there are some clear differences that make them stand apart, but overall, the two machines borrow a lot of inspiration from one another.
The e5 comes in a shiny black finish, while the i3 (and the i3+) come in a heather gray, which I find super appealing.
Roomba i3
Roomba e5
If you flip the two Roombas over, you will see identical undercarriages. All of the brushes, wheels, and other moving parts are exactly the same for each model.
In fact, these robots are so similar that they even share the exact same specs when it comes to height, width, and weight.
- 13.3″ diameter
- 3.6″ height
- 7.2 lbs in weight
The only other difference in appearance is the slightly different location of the bottoms on the top of the robot vacuums. Other than that, they are pretty similar looking in appearance.
Cleaning Performance
The Roomba i3 is a top-performing robot vacuum cleaner that is designed to clean carpets and hard floors. The i3 has a cleaning performance that is up to five times better than the Roomba 600, and it also has twice the battery life.
The Roomba e5 also has aeroforce technology which includes an increased motor power that tackles all pet hair, fine carpet fibers, and dirt with just one pass. This Roomba also has intelligent sensors that help to map your home so it can find its way around your house.
The two models perform almost identically on all flooring surfaces. It is hard to pick a winner solely based on how well suck up debris. Both are very good at cleaning hard floors and carpets.
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Both models are great for people who have pets because the increased capacity bin accommodates the amount of hair that a pet can leave behind.
The battery life on both of these Roombas is excellent. However, the i3 is able to dock, recharge, and continue cleaning. The e5 does not have that ability. It will find its docking station and recharge, but it will not resume cleaning on its own.
Now that we have taken a closer look at the appearance and cleaning power of the Roomba e5 and i3, let’s take a moment to compare some of their tech features.
Technology & Controls
The Roomba e5 and Roomba i3 both come in two different options: an automatic cleaning mode or pure clean manual control. The difference between these modes is very small so it really comes down to personal preference.
In the automatic Roomba mode, you can set a schedule for your Roomba and it will clean automatically on that day at that time. If you want more control over when the Roomba cleans then you should go with manual control which allows you to start or stop your Roomba whenever needed.
Only the i3 and i3+ come with room mapping technology that allows them to clean efficiently and cover your entire floor space. They do this by using a visual localization process that uses sensors on the top of the Roomba to detect walls, furniture, and other obstacles in order to make sure it doesn’t miss any spots while it is cleaning.
If you go with the e5, you will not get the digital mapping technology, as that model still uses the good old bump and feel method to navigate around your home.
Both models do have Wi-Fi capabilities so you can connect to your robot vacuum from anywhere and see what it is doing or start/stop a cleaning cycle.
The app is the same for both the e5 and the i3 models and the controls are pretty much identical. The iRobot app is very good overall and makes it very easy to control your robot vacuum from wherever you are.
Pricing
You can usually pick up the Roomba e5 for around $250. That is a very good value for this capable robot vacuum from iRobot.
If you decide to go with the i3, you can purchase that robot vacuum for $300. Once again, this is a very good value for this model and the performance you get. For me, it is a no-brainer to pay $50 more to get the digital mapping feature of the i3. You also get the ability for the robot to recharge and resume.
If you want to bump up to the i3+, which comes with the self-empty bin, that will set you back $500.
Conclusion On Roomba e5 Vs i3
The Roomba e5 and the i3 are two different models with some similarities. The room mapping technology in the i3 is one of its best features, but it also has a higher price tag for this feature alone. If you don’t need room mapping or have an aversion to Wi-Fi control, then the Roomba e5 might be your better choice because it can save you money on top of having identical performance when cleaning carpets or hard floors.
For me, I am going with the i3. In all honestly, I am going with the i3+ because I want that self-emptying bin capability.
