Having a robotic vacuum cleaner buzzing around while you get on with something else feels a lot like living in the future. Of all the technology we have – smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi, electric cars – a cleaning robot is the one which will make you think reality has caught up with science fiction.

Anything that promises to take the work out of vacuuming has got to be a good thing, right? Right! Not even having to push the vacuum cleaner around is certainly taking out the work. That is, of course, what the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner famously offers.

The easy way to do housework; remote control with app; finds its own way home to charge up

Somewhat limited bin size; can get confused as to location

Though most automated vacuum cleaners are happy to bounce around your rooms, bumping into furniture like a drunk sleepwalker, iRobot's Roomba 980 is leading the pack in terms of vacuum intelligence.

Self-navigating; Self-charging; Two-hour battery; Environment mapping; App connectivity

Sluggish app control; Struggles over cables

To that end, the iOS app works flawless and makes scheduling the IRobot Roomba 980 ultra easy. It also helps you maintain the vacuum, which in upon itself requires nothing more than a Philips head screwdriver.

We have a 200 lb. dog (that sheds regularly) and a cat and it has changed our life. We used to vacuum 2x week to barley stay on top of the dust, dander and hair. Now roomba vacuums 3x week and the place look even better all weeks long.

very effective (mix hardwood/carpet

Robot vacuums are becoming more and more common, and with that increasing popularity comes an increase in competition. There are quite a few big names in the vacuum industry, but not many are as well known as iRobot or Dyson, the latter of which fairly recently came out with its first robotic...

Nothing quite gets the dirt out like a skilled pair of hands, but technology is coming close to replicating that level of efficiency. And aside from the loss of jobs and small effect on the economy and unorganized labor industry, there are plenty of benefits of letting a robot do the dirty work.

Does everything you need it to do, foes not miss spots usually, really helpful if you have a busy life. However, stops working if placed on a black carpet as it recognizes it as stairs/ fall , and officially no way to disable this sensor, frustrating because about 30 squares of my house is black...

You may think that being hitched to a tech journalist, with all those free gadgets, is a never-ending thrill for a spouse… you get given decent phones, get to use the latest and greatest TVs and sometimes get to drive in the latest and greatest cars.

Impressive performance; Has personality

Expensive

The long run time and the intuitive navigation of the iRobot Roomba 980 makes it a great choice for those with larger homes or multiple rooms -- or both. It syncs to your smartphone so you can start it from anywhere.

Syncs to phone; Very intuitive navigation; Long run time; Automatically returns to charging station

Pricey; Can miss some debris