iRobot Roomba 780 Review PROS & CONS

The iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner is the top of iRobot’s current range of robot vacuum cleaners. It has a wide number of features to keep rooms clean.

Roomba 780 allows busy people to spend less time with cleaning chores and more time with their work or family. It’s able to do this thanks to the Roomba scheduling feature.

It will clean on its own and return to the charging base once it needs a recharge. Unfortunately, it will not continue cleaning once it returns to home base.

iRobot Roomba 780 For Pets and Allergies
iRobot Roomba 780 For Pets and Allergies
There’s no doubt that iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner works fantastically well. It is perfect for keeping your floors clean with no fuss.

The Roomba 780 is a minor upgrade of the iRobot Roomba 770 and claims to remove 98% of dirt on all types of surfaces.

Like its predecessor, this cleaning robot offers a corner-grabbing side brush, seven-day scheduling features, dual HEPA filters, AeroVac Series 2 bin (a larger bin with a powerful vacuum) and second-generation Dirt Detect system (which uses optical and acoustic sensors to find and focus on dirty areas).

iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum

The vacuum is sized at 13.9 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches in height.

The marketing says it’s short enough to get almost everywhere, smart enough to go around furniture or other obstructions and agile enough to step up to throw rug without dragging it behind or mangling it.

Like all Roombas, iRobot Roomba 780 vacuum cleaning robot is designed to vacuum a room automatically. The robot moves in a random pattern. When the rubber bumper touches an object, the cleaner changes direction and drives off again.

To make sure it doesn’t strike anything with too much force, the robot senses when it’s approaching an obstacle and slows down. So it should only tap gently on obstructions with the bumper.

 

iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

The iRobot 780 vacuum cleaner removes up to 98% of dirt, dust and pet hair. That is possible thanks too advanced cleaning head brushes which provide superior performance for picking up pet hair, dirt, dust and more. They act like an arm that pulls debris and dust toward Roomba 780.

It picks up lots of dog hair as well as the dust, etc. that you would expect – and will do this even if no one is home. It greatly reduces the need for vacuuming with the big, heavy vacuum. – Buyer

Using iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology, the robot thoroughly vacuums the entire floor, including hard-to-reach spots under furniture.

iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner comes with dual HEPA filters. They trap dust, allergens and tiny particulates leaving behind fresh, clean air.

The HEPA filter dirt needs to be replaced once every 2 to 3 months because it traps really fine dirt. Replacement filters can be bought for a little over $20 for a pack of 3.

HEPA filters are washable just make sure that it’s fully dry when putting it back in.

 

What’s In The Box?

The iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner comes with:

  • 1 iRobot Roomba 780
  • 2 Lighthouses
  • 1 Self-charging Home Base
  • 1 Power Supply
  • 1 Rechargeable Battery with extended-life
  • Remote Control
  • 2 Brush Cleaning Tools
  • 1 Extra Set of Brushes
  • 1 Extra Side Brush
  • 1 Extra Filter

Each lighthouse requires 2 C rechargeable batteries which are not included in the package.

 

It comes with remote controller. Which is perfect for guiding it to a specific spot on the floor or beckoning it to come back. And you don’t even have to leave your comfy spot on the couch. The robot can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week.

Even when you are not home. iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner will clean once a day up to seven days a week, at a different time each day if you so wish.

Setting the schedule with the Roomba’s touchscreen is as easy as setting an alarm clock, although there is a slight delay between each key press and the robot responding.

 

iRobot-Roomba-780-Robotic-Vacuum-Cleaner-parts

 

It uses sophisticated power management software that results in 50% longer battery life than previous Roomba generations.

The robot’s Dirt Detect Series 2 technology finds the dirtiest areas and performs concentrated cleaning in them to ensure the whole floor is thoroughly clean.

Wow, this thing is awesome. Covers all of the floors well, has no problem navigating tricky things like mounting up rugs and going under tables and chairs, and working around corners and edges. Buyer

Room-to-room navigation is possible with the included Virtual Walls. That is one of the main features of the Roomba 780. These have two primary functions.

To act as a beacon that guides the unit back to the homebase if it strays too far or as an invisible wall that prevents the vacuum from moving on to another room before it’s finished in the previous one.

iRobot Roomba 780 Vacuum Cleaning Robot

The robot’s Dirt Detect™ Series 2 technology finds the dirtiest areas and performs concentrated cleaning in them to ensure the whole floor is thoroughly clean.

iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner comes with two small battery-powered pods, which can be set to either ‘Virtual Wall’ or ‘Virtual Wall Lighthouse’.

In Virtual Wall mode the pods emit an infra-red beam which the cleaner will not cross.

The cleaner detects stairs, but you may want to use Virtual Walls to keep it in one area or away from anything too valuable.

Virtual Wall Lighthouse mode is used to help the Roomba vacuum multiple rooms.

You put the Lighthouse so that its beam is projecting across a doorway, and this lets the Roomba 780 know that it needs to move into that room when it’s done with the current one. This is useful when you’re using the Roomba in a multi-room setup.

Roomba lets you know when the dust bin is full and needs to be emptied thanks too Full Bin Indicator. But as dust bin is small, you will need to empty it very often.

The Roomba charges from a docking station. To make it vacuum just press the large “Clean” button on the top. It will then do its rounds and return to the docking station automatically. Cliff detecting technology prevents your Roomba from falling down stairs.

It uses a 3-step system to clean. First is a 3-pronged side brush that reaches all the way to the corners that grabs dirt and flings them to 2 counter rotating brushes.

Counter rotating brushes act as a broom and dustpan picking up debris that the side brush throws or anything within its reach.

Lastly, suction is utilized to pick everything up and deposit them in a dust bin.

iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner tends to bump into objects. It also moves in a random pattern that can be head-scratching if you watch it. But it does a good job in reaching most areas.

While there will be a few missed spots here and there, it has improved over earlier models.

While it won’t clean like a true vacuum cleaner it will pick up a lot. It won’t pick up everything the first day but will probably get it the 2nd day. The benefit is you can program it to run while you are away so when you come back it is done. – Buyer

It doesn’t bump into obstacles at full speed. Instead it slows down thus avoiding damage to furniture. Remember to do your part in prepping the area to be cleaned.

Remove all stuff that can get in the way. Like wires and toys. As this robotic all floor vacuum isn’t smart enough to navigate around them without problems.

Remember to have at least 3-feet of space around a 180-degree radius around the charging base to avoid issues when docking.

 

Performance On Different Types Of Floor

The presence of 3 brushes, make this an ideal vacuum to clean bare floors. The side brush and the 2-counter rotating brushes will pick up most, if not all dust and pet hair off this type of surface.

It may struggle with larger debris. But for smaller bits it’ll suck them all in. Currently there is no robot vacuum in the market that can throughly clean carpets.

But for maintenance clean-ups Roomba 780 robotic vacuum will do a good job with dirt and pet hair thanks to its 3 brushes.

iRobot-Roomba-780-Robotic-Vacuum-Cleaner-under

Take note that you’ll have to check the brushes at least once a week to see if there’s any hair (pet or human) rolled up.

Like the Roomba 770, the sensors may have issues cleaning really dark carpet because its sensors may think that it’s open air. Many buyers pointed this out.

If rugs are too thick it can get stuck climbing it. If rugs are too light, it may push them aside.

Before letting it clean without supervision, do a visual check first to see how it reacts with different types of carpet in your home.

Also if rugs have long tassels, you might want to clean it with a separate vacuum as those tassels can get stuck between the 2 brushes.

The iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner has a feature that automatically stops the brushes once it detects something stuck in between them.

Then it lets you know that through a message in the LCD screen.

I have a dog golden retriever and I was tired to vacuuming every day after him so I bought irobot and this product is great for this purpose.Buyer

There are a lot of happy pet owners using this robotic vacuum. That’s because of the 2 counter rotating brushes designed to grab all the pet hair of bare floors and carpet.

Remember to clean the brushes regularly to maintain performance especially if your home has a lot of pets.

 

iRobot Roomba 780 Vacuum Cleaning Robot Features

  • 3-Stage Cleaning with AeroVac Series 2 – Spinning side brush clean along wall edges. Counter-rotating brushes act like a dustpan and broom. powerful AeroVac Series 2 vacuum pulls dirt, hair and debris off the brushes to the back of the bin.
  • Dual HEPA Air Filters – Roomba 780’s uses dual HEPA filters to trap dust, allergens and tiny particulates.


iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum features

 

  • iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology– It ensures Roomba vacuums every section of your room multiple times, cleaning areas you can’t easily reach. Including under furniture, around everyday obstacles and along walls.
  • Dirt Detect Series 2 – Sensors automatically find dirt and other debris. Roomba then can perform concentrated cleaning on the dirtiest areas with a Persistent Pass cleaning pattern.
  • Persistent Pass – Uses a back-and-forth cleaning motion that mimics the way you normally vacuum.
  • Self Adjusting – iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner avoids stairs and drop-offs, navigates past soft barriers, recognizes cords and carpet fringe and self-adjusts to clean carpet, linoleum and hardwood floors.
  • Room-to-Room Navigation – Roomba 780 methodically cleans multiple rooms. One room at a time.
  • Virtual Wall Lighthouses – They limit the robot cleaning process to one room. When it is thoroughly cleaned they automatically guide it to the next.
  • Full bin indicator – Roomba 780’s full bin indicator light lets you know when the dust bin is full and needs to be emptied.
  • On-board scheduling – The robot can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week. Even when you’re not at home.
  • Long-lasting battery –  iRobot Roomba 780 robotic vacuum cleaner uses sophisticated power management software. It results in 50% longer battery life than previous Roomba generations.
  • Touchpad control – Touchpad eliminates buttons, giving you control at the touch of your fingertips.
  • Remote Control – The included infrared remote allows you to control Roomba without getting up.

 

iRobot 780 Pros & Cons

PROS:

  • Picks up pet hair
  • Uses a lighthouse instead of a virtual wall
  • Reasonably quite compared to other robots
  • Improved navigation system
  • HEPA filtration
  • Good edge cleaning
  • Can clean areas under furniture
  • Easy to setup out and use of the box

CONS:

  • Expensive
  • Small dirt bin
  • It can bump into things
  • No firmware update
  • It will not continue cleaning after recharging

Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum FAQ

Can you run the Roomba multiple times during the day?

Of course. Just let it fully recharge between uses.

How loud is this Roomba?

It’s not loud enough to drown out casual conversation but it’s more pleasant without it

What's the difference between the virtual wall and the lighthouse?

The lighthouse is a divider between the room you want done first and the room you want done next. The virtual wall keeps the roomba out of places you don’t want it to go.

Does the Roomba 780 scratch hardwood floors?

No, Roomba 780 will not scratch your floor.

How many hours will it run?

It will run for about 2 hours.

How does it do with corners?

It does fine with corners.

What does it mean when Roomba displays blue magnifying glass?

It has found dirt and is cleaning a small area .

Is the Roomba 780 charger compatible with 220V source?

The charger sold in the U.S. is 110V, but you can purchase a 220V charger from other distributors.

Approximately what square footage will this vacuum cover before having to recharge?

About 500 – 600 sq.ft.

 

Roomba 780 vs Roomba 790 vs Roomba 770 vs Roomba 760


  • Overview
  • Description
  • Brand/Store
  • Availability
  • User Rating
  • Review
  • Specification
  • Operating Time (hours)
  • Charge Time (hours)
  • Operating Pattern
  • Scheduled Cleaning
  • Infrared Sensor
  • Dirt Sensor
  • Hardwood, Tile & Linoleum
  • Carpet
  • Spot Mode
  • Height Adjustment
  • HEPA Filter
  • Multi-Room Navigation
  • Full Bin Indicator
  • Cliff Sensor
  • Charging Base
  • Return to Charging Base
  • Bumper
  • Boundary Markers
  • Virtual Walls
  • Remote Control
  • Dimensions
  • Battery Indicator
  • Weight
  • Price

 

iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Conclusion

There’s no doubt that iRobot Roomba 780 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner works fantastically well. It is perfect for keeping your floors clean with no fuss.

It will benefit to people to who have large rooms or want to keep everything spotless by letting it clean every day.

Like any other sort of vacuum, you need to clean the hair from the rotating brush periodically. This is key.

If you’ve got animal or human strands stuck in there, preventing the moving parts from working, it just won’t perform the way it’s supposed to.

As I was not being able to keep up with having dogs and kids I decided to buy this robotic vacuum cleaner. I put it on when I am going out, and the floors definitely look better when I return.

It fills up with dirt quick, but tells you and returns to its station.

If I see this on sale again, I might get another one for my basement.Go ahead, splurge and get it, cheaper than a maid.

You still need to do the old fashion vacuuming for guests and completeness, but definitely not as often, maybe once every two weeks. – Buyer

But anyone who thinks this is a set it and forget it, say “good-bye to manual vacuuming” kind of deal, might be disappointed. The bins, though generous, aren’t quite large enough.

The only serious downside is the price. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Given the robotic technology and sensors packed into this.

If you hate vacuuming you might find the investment worthwhile. Don’t tell your friends how much you paid, because the 780 will become your most guilty pleasure.

8 Total Score
Excellent

Overall, a very good automated vacuum that’ll do a great job on hard floors and a very decent job on carpet. Just make sure to do your part when you buy this. Regularly clean the brushes and sensors and remove the clutter that gets in the way before letting this robot do its job.

Battery
8
Cleaning Performance
8.5
Features
9.2
Price
7.5
Overall Quality
8.9
PROS
  • Picks up pet hair
  • Uses a lighthouse instead of a virtual wall
  • Reasonably quite compared to other robots
  • Improved navigation system
  • HEPA filtration
  • Good edge cleaning
  • Can clean areas under furniture
  • Easy to setup out and use of the box
CONS
  • Expensive
  • Small dirt bin
  • It can bump into things
  • No firmware update
  • It will not continue cleaning after recharging
User Rating: 3.75 (4 votes)
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