Available to buy here:
iRobot’s latest Roomba i4 EVO greets you like an old friend who finally got smart—and got a bigger battery. Welcome to Reviews inside tv, where today we’re tagging along on what it’s like to cohabit with this Wi-Fi–connected robot vacuum that promises clean-by-room smarts, smart mapping courtesy of iRobot OS, and a battery that’s 20 percent larger than previous i-series models. Let’s see if it lives up to being a genuine helper or just another gadget with fancy promises.
The Roomba i4 EVO is a round, low-profile robot vacuum weighing about 7.4 pounds and standing roughly 3.6 inches tall—compact enough to slide under most sofas, bed frames, and kitchen counters. It comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery offering notably longer runtime, iRobot calls it 20 percent larger than earlier versions. It’s powered by a 3-Stage Cleaning System—suction combined with dual multi-surface rubber brushes—and brings Imprint Smart Mapping to the table, meaning you can tell it to clean a particular room when you want. It learns your layout, communicates with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, and smartly shifts power and suction depending on floor type—all geared toward conquering dust, debris, and pet hair on both carpet and hard surfaces.
I set it loose in a mixed-floor apartment, starting with a morning mission in the living room laden with pet hair and crumb trails. Setup was a breeze—out of the box it found its spot, synced via Wi-Fi, created a quick map, and got rolling. Watching it vacuum in tidy rows—as opposed to random bumps—it tackled a scattering of cheerios and winter fur with confidence. When its battery flagged low mid-clean, it dutifully retreated to recharge before picking up exactly where it left off—reliable behavior during larger jobs. In bathroom tests, it managed to edge into tight corners admirably; though fine grains of sand along the edges needed a second pass. Overall performance felt thoughtful and precise, occasionally hesitating past a dark rug underestimation, but mostly disciplined.
Now, is the i4 EVO a champ? It certainly has elegance in its build. The plastic feels sturdy, and the compact design is smart for low-clearance spaces. Dual rubber brushes flex across surface types, and the smart-mapping navigation delivers more purposeful paths than random wanders. Its battery life—about 90–100 minutes in real-world testing—means fewer interruptions during cleaning cycles. But it’s not flawless. The dustbin is small and must be emptied often; there’s no automatic dirt-dump base unless you step up to the i4+ variant. And if you own pets, frequent maintenance like filter and brush cleaning is part of the package.
You might wonder if it’s worth the money. Competitors like the Roborock Q5 Pro+ offer mopping plus more advanced mapping for a similar cost, but the i4 EVO shines with its tangle-resistant rubber brushes and strong suction tailored to homes with pets. As for the iRobot family, the i4 EVO roughly matches, or slightly underperforms, the i3+ EVO in run time, while lacking the self-emptying convenience—but it keeps recurring costs lower.
Compared to the Roborock, the i4 EVO is simpler, lighter, and better suited to high-pile carpets with pet fur. The Roborock scores on overall mopping versatility and mapping finesse, though it comes with more moving parts—and possibly additional cleaning routines. If you’re already in the iRobot ecosystem, sticking with the i4 EVO feels cohesive; if you want mop capability and more advanced navigation, you might look elsewhere.
Build quality is confidently solid based on brand heritage and the durable hard-plastic shell; rubber brushes add longevity, and while long-term data is limited, iRobot’s track record gives peace of mind. Reliability trends suggest this will last—though you’ll want to budget for consumables like filters and brushes.
I haven’t had cause to contact customer support yet, and as far as brand reputation goes, iRobot generally wins points for prompt, helpful service—so no red flags so far.
Thanks for hanging with me. If you’ve enjoyed this honest walkthrough, feel free to like and subscribe—and yep, that bell icon could do with a gentle poke. If you’re in the comments, let me know which room you’d have it clean first or if you’d pick the i4 EVO over something with a mop. The purchase link’s waiting down there, and if you’ve already made Roomba part of your home, I’d love to hear your story. Goodbye till next time—and remember, Reviews inside tv always keeps your home smarter, not just squeaky.
Available to buy here:
