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.

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

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

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.

iRobot's Roomba vacuums have been around long enough now that they should really be running the world - or at the very least cleaning it. when they aren't spinning sick tunes anyway

Excellent app; Surprising suction; Not afraid of cliffs – or more likely, stairs;

Can’t cut into corners; Shaken up by shag pile rugs;

As far as robot vacuums go, the Roomba 980 is excellent. It cleans fairly thoroughly, looks great, doesn't make too much noise, and is super-simple to use. Suction or sense of direction might not quite match Dyson's all-seeing 360 Eye, but it comes very close.

Excellent app; Surprising suction; Not afraid of cliffs - or more likely; stairs

Can't cut into corners; Shaken up by shag pile rugs

You can control this Roomba even if you're not home.

iRobot's Roomba vacuums have always been easy to use, but the new Roomba 980 introduces an even easier way to clean your home without getting off the couch: app control. The Roomba 980 connects to your home Wi-Fi network, so you can control it remotely from an app on your smartphone.

Powerful; Good on rugs; Wi-Fi-enabled

Very expensive; Noisy

Firing up your robot vacuum away from home makes a novel party trick, but the Roomba 980 isn't worth its $200 premium without more robust control.

Easy to use; Good for pet hair; App controlled; Good mapping capabilities

App doesn't have a ton of features; Imperfect cleaning; Loud; Expensive