(Disclosure - Roomba sent me and new e5 model to try out and after a couple of months of using it, here are my takeaways.)

As vacuuming goes, it’s not my favourite household chore and I feel that many would side with me.
Yes, it’s a necessity, especially if you have pets like I do, but that doesn’t mean it’s something I want to do.
Whether you have a stick vacuum or a central vac system, you’ve gotta pull it from the closet, plug it it, dance with the cord and plug/unplug/plug/unplug from room to room.

The solution? The new iRobot Roomba e5.
It’s kinda like that 90’s infomercial for the Ron Popeil  Ronco Showtime Rotisserie & BBQ:
Set it and forget it!
(Terrible product name length but fun catch-phrase!)

Let’s run through some point form notes as to what exactly the Roomba e5 does:

It’s “Power-Lifting Suction” delivers 5X the air power (compared to the 600 series) for improved pick-up performance, so more power, more cleaning.

It picks up almost all of the pet hair on floors. In fact, the “High-Efficiency Filter” traps 99% of cat and dog allergens.

Its “Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System” cleans the dirt and pet hair you see and allergens and dust you don't.  When it’s done working, you can easily rinse away dirt or debris left behind in the washable bin.

It does more than simply suction up dirt. The “Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes” adjust and flex to stay in constant contact with carpets and hard floors for maximum dirt/dust removal.

It intelligently navigates your home via a large suite of sensors that cleverly navigate the robot under and around objects and under furniture to help thoroughly clean your floors.

My favourite part is that you can control and schedule cleanings on your Wi-Fi® connected Roomba® robot vacuum with the iRobot HOME App. Monitor cleaning activity, view cleaning history, and watch maintenance videos. The app also updates your robot with the latest software, so it’s always up-to-date with new features.

Yes, it’ll work without using the iRobot HOME App but investing the couple of minutes to download and utilize the app makes a massive difference.

A close second is that connected Roomba® robot vacuums are now compatible with Alexa-enabled devices and the Google Assistant to start, stop, or dock your robot.

It’s got a mind of its own (in a good way) by running up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging.

It can slide beneath most big pieces of furniture to snag the dirt that the upright vacuums can’t.
(I used to huff and puff and move the couch from the wall weekly to get all the dirt out…used to.)

Got different flooring material in your place? No issues here as it automatically adjusts to clean carpets, rugs, tile, hardwood, and laminate floors.

Spec-wise, here’s what you’ve got:

Weight: 7.2 lbs.
Dimensions: 13.3 inches width x 3.6 inches high
Battery Type: Lithium Ion

After two months of using the Roomba e5, the only benefit to not using it, is time – it’s simply faster to run around with an upright vacuum. I can polish off all three floors of my house in about 45 minutes.
Where as it may take a robot vacuum 45 minutes to do one floor.
However, it’s also labour intensive opposed to a few taps of the app and literally walking away.
The majority of the time, I set it up as I was about to leave the house for errands/groceries/work/etc so that when I came home, the floors would be clean.

Overall, automating chores is something I’m all in for. We have it with dishwashers, self-cleaning ovens, timed coffee makers/appliances, washing machines, and others.

If you’re interested in picking up a Roomba e5 for yourself, head here.