Roomba and Neato vacuums on sale for $299 ahead of Prime Day
Robot vacuums on sale as of Oct. 6:
BEST FOR PET HAIR: iRobot Roomba e5 — save $50.99
BEST FOR TRICKY LAYOUTS: Neato Botvac D4 — save $130
Buying a new vacuum at a time when you're staying home more than usual is either a waste or genius — depending on how you look at it. We're on the latter side.
If you're working from home and otherwise avoiding leaving your home as much as possible, you're tracking less dirt and debris in than you were during Normal Times. On the flip side, spending more time at home means more human-created debris in the home.
Fewer work lunches and less eating out means more crumbs, and people with long hair that sheds have undoubtedly noticed the hairballs congregating under their home desk. Dust made from sloughed-off hair and skin cells is probably at a high, too.
Two of our favorite affordable robot vacuums — the iRobot Roomba e5 and the Neato Botvac D4 — are on sale for $299 as of Oct. 6. While Prime Day is typically a good time to snag a vacuum, we have a feeling that more expensive models (like $999 down to $699) will be the focus. If you're in need of a cheap fix for your WFH messes, these more affordable models on sale are your best bet:
BEST FOR PET HAIR: iRobot Roomba e5 — $299 (save $50.99)
The ideal entry-level Roomba, the e5 is armed with a few key upgrades over Roomba's most affordable option, the $249 Roomba 675. Unlike the 675, which lacks an on-board navigation system and requires the strategic placing of multiple boundaries, the e5 learns your cleaning habits and uses Dirt Detect to sniff out the areas with the most debris. Pet owners will appreciate the rubber brush roll that doesn't tangle like classic bristles do. Its 3.6-inch profile is able to scoot under low-clearance furniture like couches and beds.
Amazon says you'll save $80.99 with this sale, but we did the research and this model is regularly priced at $349.99 on iRobot's site (not Amazon's list price of $379.99). But $50.99 off is still a great deal.
BEST FOR TRICKY LAYOUTS: Neato Botvac D4 Connected — save $130
Dust, hair, crumbs, or a yucky combination of the three always seem to find a good hiding spot in corners. Neato's superb suction and iconic D-shape are especially handy for homes with lots of corners and long walls. The D4's precise laser navigation and home mapping are impressive for a vacuum in this price range, plus it includes virtual boundaries (set up by you) that should keep it from bumping around in areas it shouldn't have ventured to in the first place.
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Topics Prime Day Robot Vacuums
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
