Roomba E5 Vs. I4: Which One Is Better?

I’ve always been a bit skeptical about robot vacuums. Could a little disc zipping around my house really keep up with pet hair, crumbs, and the occasional mystery mess my kids leave behind?

 But after testing the iRobot Roomba E5 and i4, I’m a believer. These two models promise to make cleaning a breeze, but they’re not created equal.

 In this article, I’ll share my hands-on experience, breaking down their features, performance, and quirks to help you decide which one fits your home. Let’s compare these Roombas and see which one earns its spot on your floor.

Comparison Table: Roomba E5 Vs. Roomba I4

My Journey With Robot Vacuums

I’ll admit, I wasn’t always sold on robot vacuums. My old upright vacuum was a beast, but wrestling it out of the closet every week felt like a chore. When I got my hands on the Roomba E5 and i4, I was curious but cautious.

 Would they handle my hardwood floors, shaggy rugs, and the chaos of a house with two dogs and a toddler? I decided to put them through their paces, running them in my living room, kitchen, and even the pet-hair disaster zone that is my hallway. Here’s what I learned about their design, performance, and quirks.

Design And Build: How They Look And Feel

Both the Roomba E5 and i4 share that classic Roomba disc shape, but they’ve got subtle differences. The E5 measures 13.45 x 13.39 x 3.65 inches and weighs about 8.6 pounds, making it a tad heavier than the i4, which is 13.34 x 13.26 x 3.63 inches and 12 pounds (especially with the i4+ Clean Base). The E5 sports a sleek black finish, while the i4 has a grey faceplate that gives it a modern edge. Both feel sturdy, with a large contact-sensing bumper to absorb inevitable collisions with furniture.

I found the E5’s recessed handle handy for carrying it upstairs, while the i4’s slightly taller profile made it feel a bit more premium. Both have three buttons on top—Clean, Home, and Spot Clean—but the i4’s buttons felt a touch more responsive. Neither vacuum is winning design awards, but they’re practical and blend into most homes without looking like a spaceship landed on your floor.

Cleaning Performance: Which One Picks Up The Mess?

Let’s get to the heart of it: how well do these Roombas clean? I tested them on hardwood, low-pile carpet, and a high-pile rug, throwing everything from dog hair to cereal at them.

Roomba E5 Cleaning Performance

The E5 boasts 5x the suction power of Roomba’s 600 series, which sounds impressive, and it mostly delivers. On hardwood, it sucked up pet hair and small debris like rice with ease, though it needed an extra pass for larger bits like cereal as the dustbin filled up. Its dual rubber brushrolls are a game-changer for pet owners like me—no more cutting tangled hair out of bristles. The washable 500 ml dustbin was a nice touch, letting me rinse out the mess without buying replacement filters every few months.

On carpets, the E5 was decent but not stellar. It handled pet hair well on low-pile carpets, but finer debris like baking soda was a struggle, especially on high-pile rugs. The dirt detection sensors worked as advertised, making the E5 linger over high-traffic areas like my kitchen, but its random cleaning pattern meant it missed spots occasionally. I’d find it bumping around aimlessly, leaving a few crumbs behind in corners.

Roomba i4 Cleaning Performance

The i4 steps it up with 10x the suction power of the 600 series, and I noticed the difference. On hardwood, it cleared pet hair and bulky debris like cereal more consistently than the E5, even when the 400 ml dustbin started filling up. The i4’s logical cleaning rows, powered by iAdapt 2.0 navigation, made it feel smarter—it didn’t waste time zigzagging randomly. On carpets, it outperformed the E5, tackling pet hair and larger debris like sand with fewer passes. However, like the E5, it struggled with super-fine debris like baking soda on high-pile rugs.

The i4+ model’s self-emptying Clean Base was a revelation. After a cleaning session, it docks and empties its dustbin into a bag that holds up to 60 days of debris. I didn’t have to touch a dustbin for weeks, which felt like a small miracle. The E5, sadly, lacks this option, so I was emptying its bin manually after every few runs.

Navigation and Mapping: How They Find Their Way

Navigation is where these two Roombas diverge significantly. The E5 uses iAdapt 1.0, a basic system that relies on sensors to bounce around randomly. It’s like watching a determined but slightly confused puppy—it gets the job done, but not efficiently. In my tests, the E5 occasionally got stuck under furniture or tangled in cords, though it was less likely to drag rug tassels than the i4. It doesn’t map your home, so don’t expect it to remember where it’s been or target specific rooms.

The i4, on the other hand, uses iAdapt 2.0, which is a step up. It moves in neat rows, creating a basic map of where it’s cleaned, though it can’t store or edit maps like higher-end models (e.g., i7 or s9). This made the i4 faster and more thorough in my living room, covering the space systematically without missing as many spots as the E5. However, it lacks advanced features like zoned cleaning or digital no-go zones. I appreciated that the i4 could resume cleaning after recharging if it didn’t finish a large area, a feature the E5 doesn’t have.

Battery Life and Charging: Who Lasts Longer?

Battery life is a practical concern when you’re dealing with a robot vacuum. The E5 runs for about 90 minutes on a single charge, which was enough to tackle my medium-sized living room and kitchen in one go. It takes about 2–3 hours to recharge, which is quick for a robot vacuum. However, if it runs out of juice mid-clean, it docks and stays there—you’ll need to manually restart it.

The i4, surprisingly, has a shorter runtime at around 75 minutes, but it recharges faster (about 2 hours). The big win for the i4 is its recharge-and-resume feature, which lets it pick up where it left off if it doesn’t finish a job. This makes it better for larger homes, where the E5 might leave you with half-cleaned floors. In my tests, the i4’s shorter battery life wasn’t a dealbreaker, but I wished it matched the E5’s endurance.

Smart Features: App and Voice Control

Both Roombas connect to the iRobot Home app, which I found intuitive for scheduling cleanings, checking battery status, or starting a spot clean. You can also pair them with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice commands like, “Hey, tell Roomba to clean the kitchen.” The app experience was similar for both, but the i4’s mapping report gave me a visual of where it cleaned, which was oddly satisfying.

The E5’s app lacks the mapping feature, so you’re flying blind on its progress. Both models let you set daily or weekly schedules, which was a lifesaver for keeping my floors tidy without lifting a finger. One gripe: neither vacuum supports digital no-go zones in the app, but you can buy a Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier for the E5 (sometimes included) or i4 (sold separately) to block off areas.

Read More: My Thoughts On Roomba 3550 Vs. 3556

Maintenance and Costs: What’s the Upkeep Like?

Maintaining a robot vacuum isn’t as simple as it sounds. The E5’s washable dustbin saved me from buying replacement filters, but I still needed to clean its rubber brushrolls and side brush regularly to keep it running smoothly. The HEPA filter, which captures 99% of allergens, needs replacing every three months, adding to recurring costs. I also found myself untangling the occasional dog hair from the wheels, though it was less hassle than with traditional vacuums.

The i4 has similar maintenance needs, but its non-washable HEPA filter means you’ll spend more on replacements. The i4+’s Clean Base bags are another expense—expect to buy new bags every couple of months, depending on how often you run it. On the flip side, the self-emptying feature reduces how often you touch the dustbin, which was a big plus for my allergy-prone household.

Pros And Cons: Breaking It Down

Roomba E5 Pros

• Affordable Price: Typically $250–$300, making it budget-friendly for a Roomba.
• Longer Battery Life: 90 minutes of runtime suits small to medium homes.
• Washable Dustbin: Easy to clean and reduces filter replacement costs.
• Great for Pet Hair: Dual rubber brushrolls handle hair without tangling.
• Allergy-Friendly: HEPA filter captures 99% of dust and allergens.

Roomba E5 Cons

• Random Navigation: Misses spots and takes longer to clean.
• No Mapping: Lacks any floor plan or mapping capabilities.
• No Self-Emptying: Manual dustbin emptying gets old fast.
• Struggles on Carpets: Weak with fine debris like baking soda.
• Limited Smart Features: No map reports or advanced zoning.

Roomba i4 Pros

• Stronger Suction: 10x power handles debris better on all surfaces.
• Logical Navigation: Cleans in neat rows for better coverage.
• Basic Mapping: Shows where it’s cleaned, though not editable.
• Self-Emptying Option: i4+ model’s Clean Base is a time-saver.
• Recharge and Resume: Finishes the job even in larger homes.

Roomba i4 Cons

• Higher Price: $350–$400 (or more for i4+).
• Shorter Battery Life: 75 minutes vs. E5’s 90 minutes.
• Non-Washable Filter: Increases long-term maintenance costs.
• No Advanced Mapping: Can’t store maps or set no-go zones.
• Slightly Noisier: 68 dB vs. E5’s 65 dB.

Real-World Testing: My Home, My Messes

To really put these Roombas to the test, I let them loose in my 1,200-square-foot home, which includes hardwood floors, low-pile carpets, and a shaggy rug that’s a magnet for dog hair. The E5 did well in my kitchen, sucking up crumbs and pet hair, but its random path meant it missed a corner where my toddler spilled Goldfish crackers. It also got stuck under my coffee table once, requiring a rescue mission.

The i4, by contrast, impressed me with its orderly rows. It tackled the same kitchen mess faster and didn’t miss the cracker corner. The i4+’s self-emptying feature was a game-changer—I could hear it whooshing debris into the Clean Base, and I didn’t have to deal with a dusty bin. However, the i4 got caught on a rug tassel once, which the E5 navigated better. Both handled pet hair like champs, but the i4’s stronger suction made it the clear winner for carpets.

Which Roomba Fits Your Home?

Choosing between the E5 and i4 depends on your needs and budget. If you’ve got a smaller home (under 1,000 square feet) and don’t mind a basic vacuum, the E5 is a solid pick. Its longer battery life and lower price make it appealing, especially for pet owners or allergy sufferers on a budget. But its random navigation and lack of mapping mean it’s not ideal for larger or complex spaces.

The i4 shines in medium to large homes, where its logical navigation and recharge-and-resume feature ensure thorough cleaning. The i4+’s self-emptying base is a luxury worth considering if you hate dealing with dustbins. However, the higher price and shorter battery life might give you pause if you’re watching your wallet.

My Verdict: The i4 Edges Out, But the E5 Holds Its Own

After weeks of testing, I lean toward the i4 for its smarter navigation and stronger suction. The self-emptying option on the i4+ felt like a glimpse into the future of cleaning—no more sneezing over a dusty bin. But the E5 surprised me with its reliability and pet-hair prowess, especially for the price. If you’re torn, ask yourself: do you want a budget-friendly workhorse or a tech-savvy cleaner that takes less effort? Either way, both Roombas made my floors noticeably cleaner, and that’s a win in my book.

Read More: My Thoughts On Eufy RoboVac G30 Vs. G32

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion: Your Floors, Your Choice

You’ve got a choice to make, and I hope my experience with the Roomba E5 and i4 helps you pick the right one. The E5 is a budget-friendly, no-frills option that tackles pet hair and small spaces well, but its random navigation can frustrate. The i4, especially the i4+, offers smarter cleaning and less maintenance, making it ideal for busier households or larger homes. Weigh your priorities—price, features, or ease of use—and you’ll find the Roomba that keeps your floors spotless and your stress levels low. Happy cleaning!