Roomba i3 vs Roborock S6 Pure (2021): Which Robot Vacuum Cleaner Should You Get?

When it comes to robot vacuum cleaners, iRobot and Roborock are two of the most reliable brands. iRobot’s latest machine — the Roomba i3 — takes some of the core features from its higher-end siblings like the i7 and s9, and now offers it at a more affordable price point. Meanwhile, the Roborock S6 Pure is a premium device that combines powerful suction with a mopping mechanism. But does hitting two birds with one stone make the S6 Pure better than the budget-friendly Roomba i3? Here, we compare the two robovacs to see how they fare in key features.

Roomba i3 vs Roborock S6 Pure Comparison Chart

Model	Roomba i3	Roborock S6 Pure
	Amazon product	Deal Finder Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum Featuring a suction power of up to 2000Pa and a large 180mL water tank, the Roborock S6 Pure is a powerful robot vacuum that doubles as a mop. Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.
Price	Amazon product	Deal Finder Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum Featuring a suction power of up to 2000Pa and a large 180mL water tank, the Roborock S6 Pure is a powerful robot vacuum that doubles as a mop. Check Price on Amazon Check Price on Walmart We are reader supported. When you buy through our links we may earn an affiliate commission.
Reason To Buy	Affordable robot vacuum cleaner with powerful suction	Robot vacuum cleaner with mopping feature
Brushes	Dual multi-surface brushes, edge sweeping brush	Rotating brush bar, side brush
Mopping	n/a	180 mL tank and regular detachable mop
Runtime	75 minutes	150 minutes
Charge Time	3 hours	5 hours
Recharge and Resume	Yes	Yes
Compatible with Smart Assistants	Yes	Yes
Height	3.63 inches	3.8 inces
Weight	7.44 lbs	7 lbs

Design

The Roborock S6 Pure sports a more minimalist design compared to the Roomba i3 .

The Roomba i3 and Roborock S6 Pure both sport a round-design that’s typical of today’s robot vacuum cleaners. On the Roomba i3, the finish looks a little sportier with the grey central disc surrounded by a textured silver color, and an edge largely covered by thick, black bumpers. You get three physical buttons on top, all of which feel well-integrated into the i3’s body. This should make them less of a catch basin for dust.

Meanwhile, the Roborock S6 Pure takes a more minimalist approach to design. It’s faceplate is uncluttered, with only two buttons present — one for power, and another for docking or spot cleaning. Because it comes in either a clean and solid white or black finish, the little circular hump on top which contains the laser distance and height sensors is less prominent, too.

Most of the cleaning technology and navigation features are located underneath the two vacuums. A quick look at the underside will show the Roomba i3 and Roborock S6 Pure share many of the same mechanisms: cliff sensors, charging contacts, as well as main and side brushes.

Cleaning Performance

Both devices use fairly similar cleaning brushes but the Roborock S6 Pure turns it up a notch with its mopping module.

When it comes to vacuum cleaning, the Roomba i3 and Roborock S6 Pure are mean machines. iRobot’s budget vacuum comes with about 2,100Pa suction power, while Roborock offers a comparable 2,000Pa. Both are capable of pulling in fine particles and large debris efficiently, although their respective higher-end counterparts will perform better when it comes to deeper carpet cleaning.

On the Roomba i3, you get two main brushes that can adapt to any floor surface. While both are tangle-resistant, they also work independently with one brush loosening the dirt and the other extracting the particles for suctioning. The Roborock S6 Pure, on the other hand, only comes with a single main brush. Nonetheless, it does its job quite well thanks to densely-packed bristles that are tough enough to endure wear and tear, while being soft enough for floor surfaces. Finally, the i3 and S6 Pure are both equipped with a side brush for sweeping corners and edges.

Perhaps the Roborock S6 Pure‘s biggest advantage is that it comes with a mopping module, so you can vacuum and mop at the same time. Keep in mind, however, that the mopping module is a separate attachment, although the vacuum cleaner itself comes with a 180ml water tank built in. If you’d like the same convenience with your Roomba i3, the closest thing you can do is connect it with an Braava robot mop for sequenced cleaning.

Mapping & Navigation

The Roomba i3 has smart navigation but doesn’t come equipped with advanced mapping like the Roborock S6 Pure.

Although the Roomba i3 comes with the same 3-stage cleaning system found in higher-end iRobot vacuum cleaners, it does cut some corners in terms of mapping. The i3 is still equipped with smart navigation to get around your house and clean. In addition, it features a reactive sensor technology to avoid obstacles in a room. However, it doesn’t have the smart mapping that allows other robovacs like the Roomba i7 and Roomba s9 to learn your home’s layout and remember it for future use.

The Roborock S6 Pure, on the other hand, can plot your house more precisely thanks to the use of LiDAR sensors. Best of all, it will remember the information. This allows support for multi-level mapping, so your vacuum cleaner can automatically detect whether it’s cleaning the ground floor or second level of your home.

Now, since the Roomba i3 doesn’t remember your home’s layout, you can’t set up zoned cleaning like in other iRobot vacuum cleaners. Instead, the machine is basically re-learning your home each time it cleans. With the Roborock S6 Pure, you’ll have access to these convenient features although they’re branded a little differently. For instance, users who don’t want to worry about the S6 Pure cleaning rooms with fragile furniture or valuables can create No-Go and No-Mop zones along with invisible walls.

Runtime and Additional Features

The Roomba i3 charges faster while the Roborock S6 Pure runs for longer. Both robovacs support smart assistants and can be controlled through smart applications.

Under normal conditions, the charging time for the Roomba i3 is two hours. This should give it around 75 minutes of runtime. Meanwhile, the Roborock S6 Pure can take up to 6 hours before being fully charged. It’s runtime, however, is three hours — more than twice that on the Roomba i3. Both robot vacuum cleaners can recharge on its own and resume cleaning where it left off.

Like many of today’s appliances, the Roomba i3 and Roborock S6 Pure are compatible with smart assistants. Both robovacs can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant if you like the convenience of voice commands.

Cleaning schedule, sequencing, and device management can all be carried out through the respective apps of the vacuum cleaners as well. The Roomba i3 can be managed using the iRobot Home App that’s running on the enhanced Genius platform. On the other hand, the Roborock S6 Pure can be fully controlled through the new Roborock app.

Verdict

The Roborock S6 Pure should appeal to those who want a 2-in-1 cleaning device while the Roomba i3 is a great entry-level option for those getting their first robot vacuum cleaner.

Combining vacuuming and mopping features, the Roborock S6 Pure is easier to recommend for people who want an all-in-one device. The minimalist-looking robot vacuum cleaner is also equipped with advanced navigation and mapping features, making cleaning schedules, sequences and zones possible. Moreover, you can choose between a white or black variant – options not available with the standard colors of most Roombas.

But if you’re just looking purely for a robot vacuum cleaner without all the mopping implements and extra smart features, then the Roomba i3 is a great choice. It’s iRobot’s entry-level model so it comes with solid cleaning features, smart navigation, and regular mapping technology. While you won’t be able to set up zoned cleaning, the Roomba i3 is a great device for its price-point. Plus, the additional $200 you save if you choose the Roomba over the Roborock can be spent on the upgraded Roomba i3+ model. At the same price as the S6 Pure, you’ll get the convenience of a Clean Base automatic dirt disposal.

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