It has been a while since we have seen iRobot release a new model of the Roomba vacuum cleaning robot. This year brings not one, but three different 700 series Roomba's (760, 770, and 780). We decided to review the iRobot Roomba 780 as it has the most bells and whistles. Read on for the Roomba 780 Review.
The iRobot Roomba 780 has the most features such as; Scheduling, Debris Sensing, Room to Room Navigation, HEPA Filter, Full Bin Indicator, Touchpad Control, and a AeroVac Series 2 Bin. Add in the iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology and the Persistent Pass Cleaning Pattern feature and you have one of the most tech'd out Roomba's to date.
The first thing we noticed was the crazy tron-like glow on the control panel and the significant weight of the 780, a full 8.4 lbs. The buttons are the capacitive sensor touchpad type meaning no more mechanical buttons. The side bumpers on the unit are softer, the dust bin is bigger, and there is now a HEPA filter to keep the dust out of the room.
There is also a remote control which we thought was a bit goofy, but fun. You can control the Roomba 780's directions and point it to a dirty area if you want. We played with the remote control for a few minutes and then decided that it may never get used again. Let the Roomba 780 do it's own thing and quit being a control freak.
After running the iRobot Roomba 780 for a week a few more things stood out. The fact that the battery lasts over an hour per charge, better than the 30-40 minute run times of previous versions. The Roomba 780 is also quieter than our past Roomba's and, the floor seemed cleaner, but this might have been our imagination.
All-in-all we liked the Roomba 780. The improvement in filtration, larger dust bin, longer run time, quieter operation, etc, really made quite a difference in this beast. The bad news, the $599.99 price tag, ouch.
In The Box:
"¢ 1 iRobot Roomba 780
"¢ 1 Rechargeable Battery with Extended-Life Power Management
"¢ 1 Battery Charger
"¢ 1 Compact Self-Charging Home Base
"¢ 1 Extra Filter
"¢ 1 Extra Bristle Brush, Flexible Brush and Side Brush
"¢ 2 Brush Cleaning Tools
"¢ 1 Remote Control
"¢ 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses