iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum Features, Price , pros and cons
The iRobot Roomba 981 robot vacuum is a high-efficiency cleaning tool that promises to trap up to 99% of airborne particles that could trigger breathing problems like asthma and allergy, or irritate skin or cause itchiness. Even better, it can collect particles from smoke and vapors, which often make up an air quality issue. Instead, you’ll find your home’s carpets are clean to perfection with the Roomba 981. You’ll be able to see the updates on your smartphone whenever it’s cleaning and it will also automatically get programmed.

What’s in the Box:
- 1 Roomba® 981 Robot Vacuum
- 1 Home Base® Charging Station
Specifications of iRobot Roomba 981 robot vacuum
Type | Robot |
Manufacturer | iRobot |
Model | Roomba 981 |
Length | 13.8 inches |
Width | 13.8 inches |
Height | 3.6 inches |
Weight | 8.69 pounds |
Battery Type | Lithium Ion |
Cordless | Yes |
Bagless | Yes |
Pros & Cons of iRobot Roomba 981 Robot Vacuum
Pros
- The cleaners did a good job of cleaning, with a score of 95%.
- Users can control their smart devices wirelessly with the help of WiFi.
- Maps spaces and cleans while you’re away.
Cons
- struggle with fine debris on carpeted floors is a common problem
Design
This robot vacuum cleaner measures up to the size of other family-friendly robots, with a height of 13.9 inches and a depth of 3.58 inches. This model can fit into a larger range of business environments and its battery life is impressive. It’s made for people that need more depth through their pickups. The Roomba 981 is a rolling vacuum cleaner that can be used in any standard size room, regardless of its size. Its total dimensions are: width- 13.9 inches, height– 3.6 inches, and weight– 8.7 pounds.
Build

The Roomba 981 has a bronze top cover, matte black sides and a 2-tone look. The color combo is simple and sleek with black charging dock. It has a great build quality with ultra-durable plastic body and rubber wheels. The dual brushes are also made of rubber and rotate in opposite directions. The dirt compartment feels fairly sturdy and is partly made of see-through red plastic.
Brush

The powerful vacuum on the 981 features a spinning brush that captures debris on the edges & corners of your space and pulls them into the cleaning path. The rubberized brush roll is designed to be safe enough for use under hardwood floors and area rugs. The Roomba has two brushes that work to loosen dirt and pull it into the machine. It can then scrub the floor so you don’t have to. The “special edge sweeping brush” that we install in your mop system can help to take into account areas of the floor that are hard to clean due to its shape and size.
Charging & run time
This robotic cleaner has a lithium-ion battery and can last from 6-120 minutes. It will depend on how much longer it is running, what kind of surface it is cleaning, and how old the battery is (how much charge does it have?).
The runtime for this particular vacuum can be reduced significantly by thick carpet. There is a hyper-compressed mode that allows you to extend battery life and get back to full charge in 180 minutes, or less!
Connect with Braava Jet
With Imprint® Link Technology, the Roomba® 981 robot vacuum and Braava jet® m6 robot mop can team up to vacuum then mop automatically in perfect sequence, giving your floors a comprehensive clean. With just a voice command or by using the iRobot HOME app on your smartphone, you can finally say goodbye to cleaning your floors.
Voice Control
The Roomba 981 has a whole suite of features and is useful for busy people who have limited time to clean. The robot can provide you with your favorite cleaning schedules based on your habits and busy times. It also gives you recommendations for things that might not even be on your radar. The updates happen automatically so that’s another way to save time. You’ll have easy access to these updates, and you won’t have to worry about them!
Many of the top brands are now adding smart technology so that they’re not just click-of-the-button compatible. This means you can say “Alexa, tell Roomba to clean” and it will know what you’re asking for.
Battery
The battery for the iRobot 981 has good performance. In its most powerful suction mode it can give you one hour of continuous cleaning time, while in its more conservative Eco-Mode it lasts for around 2 hours. However, in its default ‘Automatic’ mode, it automatically adjusts its suction power depending on what surface it’s cleaning and how dirty it is, so the actual battery life may vary. It takes about two hours to recharge meaning that you better get your chores done quickly.
Apps
The iRobot Roomba 981 is one of the best automated vacuums. You can always rely on it to provide the clean house you desire with its camera & remote partner app. It will help keep your home comfortable and pain-free! This suction feature is also a major perk. You can tell your pet that you’re on the way, and it will go back to its dock, or you can auto-clean while you’re doing other things. After your cleaning session, you can view the cleaned area in the app. This is a step up from some of our (iRobot) top-of-the-line models which offer more advanced navigation systems.
performance and pick-up
Get a complete clean with Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and 5X the Power-Lifting Suction, along with an Edge Sweeping Brush to make sure all the nooks, crannies, and furniture are clean too. This is an all-in-one machine.
Advanced Navigation
Its patented iAdapt® technology with vSLAM® navigation creates a comprehensive map of the terrain at each location and captures thousands of precise measurements each millisecond to optimize coverage.
Frequently Asked Question
Will this work on shag area rug?
It’s often not easy to find the time necessary for a deep clean of your house, and it can sometimes seem like you’re never going to be able to keep up with living spaces day after day. If this sounds familiar, then Roomba is the solution for you. This device was made explicitly for machines & hardwood surfaces as well as carpets, rugs
How smart is Roomba 981 ?
Roomba’s 981 Learning Automated Robotic Vacuum will save you the trouble of scheduling your cleaning. Have it automatically learn your normal routine so that it starts tidy up until you tell it to do otherwise. In addition, Google Assistant and Alexa allow anyone to start cleaning without having to touch a thing!
How does the cleaning performance of the Roomba981 Robot Vacuum compare to other iRobot models?
Roomba 981 robot-vacuum has a motor that is 5x more powerful than the old one.