Roomba i3 and Roomba i4 are two affordable entry level robotic vacuum cleaners. Roomba i3 and i4 have a lot of similarities. However, there are some features that distinguish i3 from i4. In this article, we will look at some of these features that will help you pick the best according to your preferences.
Roomba i3 vs Roomba i4
Find more about the robots’ prices and specs on Amazon.
iRobot Roomba i3
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
iRobot Roomba i4
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Similarities
Mapping Technology
These robot vacuum cleaners can map your floors when cleaning them. They follow the map that they generate to efficiently clean the floors.
Roomba i3 and i4 follow the straight lines drawn in the maps that they generate, in this way, they will not repeat cleaning the same spot of the floor.
Charge And Resume Feature
Most robot vacuums will clean until the battery dies and then you will have to connect it to the charging source before manually putting it to clean wherever you want. Roomba i3 and i4 have the capability of recharging and resuming.
Whenever these robots detect that the battery is about to die, they will stop cleaning and track the charging dock. The robot will recharge to full capacity and resume from the stop. The feature will ensure that you are not involved anywhere whenever the battery dies before cleaning is complete.
You can, therefore, clean a large room using this feature.
Cleaning Brush
These robots are built to vacuum. Vacuum cleaners suck and sweep. Therefore, these models have cleaning brushes on the underside that aid in efficient sweeping.
Additionally, these brushes are removable. You can remove and clean them. Dirt and substance will often clog the brush and must be removed so that the brush performs its task efficiently.
Moreover, each of these robots has a side brush. The side brush performs the task of cleaning.
Sensors
These robots are built with sensors that ensure efficient cleaning. One of the vital sensors for the robots’ function is the dirt detection sensor. These sensors can detect dirt on your floor, there are some spots on the floor with more dirt. These sensors will detect these spots and clean them effectively.
The sensors will ensure that the robot cleans the spots severally until all the dirt is removed.
Moreover, these robots are built with sensors that will ensure that your robot keeps a safer distance from obstacles like walls, furniture, and stairs. With these sensors, the robot is less exposed to damages caused by falling or hitting obstacles like walls and furniture within your room/house.
Voice Control
Unlike most vacuum cleaners, these robots can be voice-controlled. With Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control the robot to perform tasks using your voice.
HEPA Filters
HEPA filters can filter the finest particles mostly allergens. These robots have HEPA filters on the underside of the dustbins and are hence suitable for asthmatic people and those people with allergies.
Differences
Battery
Both Roomba i3 and i4 use Lithium-Ion batteries. However, the Roomba i3 battery capacity is 1800mAh. With the 1800mAh, Roomba i3 can clean for 75 minutes when fully charged. When the battery dies, the robot will recharge. It will take 90 minutes to fully charge before it resumes cleaning.
On the other hand, the Roomba i4 has a battery capacity of 2210mAh. Based on battery capacity and duration before the battery dies off, Roomba i4 is superior to i3. Roomba i4 will clean for 100 minutes before the battery dies off. However, the battery will charge for 120 minutes.
Area Of Cleaning
Based on the above battery description, Roomba i4 cleans a bigger area than Roomba i3. Roomba i4 will take about 100 minutes before the battery dies off. On the other hand, Roomba i3 will take 75 minutes before the battery dies off. Therefore, before the battery dies off, Roomba i4 will clean a wider area than Roomba i3.
Carpet Recognition Technology
Carpet recognition is a feature where there is a sensor that recognizes the carpet. Once the carpet is recognized, the robot’s suction power will increase so that the carpet is cleaned in depth. The suction power will increase automatically.
Roomba i3 does not have this feature and therefore cannot clean the carpet effectively.
What We Don’t Like About Roomba i4 And i3
These vacuum cleaners have a common disadvantage. They cannot store the map in their memories. The maps are kept temporarily, therefore, you can only schedule the robots to clean at a specific time and on a specific day. After that set time and day of cleaning, you cannot rely on the same map and schedule when cleaning on another day.
Moreover, you cannot track the robots when they are cleaning. You will have to relay the cleaning history. If you want to know the location of the robots when they are cleaning, then you will have to manually trace them.
Unlike Roomba i8+, the robots cannot remove dirt from their dustbin automatically. Once the 400ml dustbin is full, the robot will notify you to empty the dustbin. Therefore, cleaning will automatically stop once the dustbin is full.
I recently tested a Roomba i8+ and wrote this article which you may be interested in before making any purchasing decisions: Robot Roomba i3 vs i8 Plus
Frequently Asked Questions
Can These Robots Mop?
No, these are vacuum cleaners designed to sweep and not mop. They cannot mop since they have cleaning brushes designed for sweeping and not mopping. However, you can have Braava M6 mop after these robots have vacuum cleaned your floors.
Learn about robots that can mop your floors in this post I wrote not too long ago: iRobot Braava Jet M6 vs Braava Jet 240
Can These Robots Be Controlled By The iRobot Home App?
Yes. You can use the iRobot Home app. It has a remote control which you can use and control the robots to move wherever you want using your smartphone.
What is The Suction Power Of These Robots?
Both robots have a suction power of 1800pa. Suction power enables a vacuum cleaner to perform its function, it is the mechanical power that sucks dirt whenever a vacuum cleaner is in action.
What is The Noise Level Of These Robots?
Most vacuum cleaners are very noisy. Well, these robots’ noise level is 68 dba. This could be noisy for some users. However, most users are comfortable with this noise level.
