iRobot Roomba Discovery 510

*Est. $250

Basic robotic vacuum cleaner

Simple, autonomous operation
Good for pet hair maintenance
Stops when full

No programmable schedule
Requires plenty of maintenance
Concerns about longevity

Where to Buy

for $279.99
for $176.00
for $249.99

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Although we read some feature articles about the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, user reviews are the best place to get a feel for its real-life performance. We found more than 100 user reviews for the Discovery 510 and 530. A perusal of the customer reviews at Amazon.com, Viewpoints.com and Epinions.com shows that the Roomba is a love-it-or-hate-it item, with owners either thrilled or very disappointed with it.

Reviewers of the iRobot Roomba Discovery, which is a disc-shaped vacuum that can reach under furniture, are mainly happy and impressed by its novelty. They report that it's quite effective, even in rooms where pet hair is a problem. Many owners laud it for being a timesaver but also point out that it does not fully replace a full, standard vacuum cleaner. You can spend a lot less on the Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870MZ (*est. $150), and you'll get a more powerful (though not robotic) vacuum. For more complete vacuuming automation, take a look at the similar Roomba Discovery 530 (*est. $300). The 510 does not return to its charging base when finished vacuuming; the 530 does.

Where To Buy

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
1423 store reviews	In Stock. Free Gift with Purchase & Free S&H with $59+ order	$279.99	See It
1175 store reviews	In Stock.	$176.00	See It
524 store reviews	In Stock. Free Shipping for all items over $49!	$249.99	See It
		See All Stores

Our Sources

1. Amazon.com

A smattering of owners (16 or so) talk about the iRobot Roomba 510 at Amazon.com. Contributors here agree that the Roomba is a fun gadget that does a fairly good job of keeping floors dust free. One owner summarizes: "Roomba is a good robot, and just an OK vacuum."

Review: iRobot Roomba 510 Vacuuming Robot Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

2. Amazon.com

More customers (125 as of this report) weigh in on the iRobot Roomba 510's step-up model, the 530, which incorporates a charging dock that the vacuum returns to automatically when it detects a low battery. A substantial majority give it very positive feedback.

Review: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

3. ConsumerGuide.com

Editors at ConsumerGuide.com appear to have done some informal testing for this short write-up on the Roomba 510. They're fairly complimentary about its ease of use, but they wish it could also do stairs.

Review: Expert Review iRobot Roomba 510 Robotic Vacuum, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, June 2008

4. Viewpoints.com

These customer reviews again focus on the step-up Roomba 530, which is basically the same as the 510, save for its self-charge feature. A small community of users weighs in here, with most rating the Roomba 530 a four- or five-star device. Comments are super-positive, with most touting the convenience the unit offers.

Review: iRobot Roomba 530 Robotic Vacuum Reviews, Users of Viewpoints.com

5. Good Housekeeping Details/Subscribe

This short article describes four vacuum cleaners, including the iRobot Roomba 560. Although Nathaniel Benforado is mainly positive, the author does note the Roomba's inability to deep clean. We aren't told if vacuums were tested before being included in this article.

Review: Best Vacuums, Nathaniel Benforado, Oct. 2007