I’ve never understood this. I have an old Roomba 630 that “blindly bounces around” and it’s fine. Bought almost a decade ago and I still use it every day. Easy to get spare parts on eBay. I dread the day that it dies and I need to buy a cloud-connected model.
How much better are these newer mapping / cloud-connected ones? Do they really add that much value?
Someone will buy it. The product line won't go away. Regardless the vacuum will work fine for a long time even if app access is lost. I have a 2014 version I still use on the regular.
I have two of the irobot 600 series, the older versions. Life changing if you ask me. I send them around daily, empty, clean the hair out of the brush every other day because we have multiple long haired people and a cat. Sweep out corners every week or so with a broom. Break out the Dyson monthly for deeper vacuum on the rugs. They kept all the crumbs and debris off the floor when my granddaughter lived with me while crawling. Filters and replacement brushes are readily available.
If I could afford it I would get the new version that self empties and mops(!).
Honestly, if this is your first foray into the Roomba-sphere, then I agree with getting one of the older models like the 600 series with one brush and one rubber grabber. They don't have smart mapping and you have to manually empty them, but they work and are easy to rehab. If you DO want some smart mapping and self emptying, I have had luck with the refurbished i4 series roombas. I still have them going strong. (two cats, two teens, lots of floor space)
I have a J5 that I have had to exorcise a few times, but we have grown to have an understanding. I only kept it because it has the smarter smart mapping, with the 'no go' zones. But I have had far far more ease of use with the refurbished i4s.
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Roborock
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Reliable, great mopping (lifts pads), but poor cable avoidance.
NicerHippo
