Roomba and Neato vacuums on sale for $299 ahead of Prime Day

Robot vacuums on sale until October 6:

• Best for Pet Hair: iRobot Roomba E5(opens in a new tab) — save $50.99

• Best for intriguing layouts: Neato Botvac D4(opens in a new tab) – save $130

Buying a new vacuum at a time when you’re staying home more than usual is either a waste or a genius – depending on how you look at it. We’re on the latter side.

If you’re working from home and avoiding leaving your home as much as possible, you’re tracking down less dirt and debris than normal times. On the flip side, more time spent at home means more man-made debris in the house.

Shorter work lunches and less eating out means more crumbs, and people with long hair fall have undoubtedly noticed hairballs collecting under their home desks. Dust made up of clipped hair and skin cells is probably at high levels as well.

Two of our favorite affordable robot vacuums – the iRobot Roomba e5(opens in a new tab) and Neato Botvac D4(opens in a new tab) — on sale until October 6 for $299. While Prime Day is generally a great time to snag a vacuum, we think the more expensive models (like the ones from $999 to $699) will be in focus. If you need a cheap solution to your WFH mess, these more affordable models for sale are your best bet:

Best for Pet Hair: iRobot Roomba E5(opens in a new tab) – $299 (Save $50.99)

The ideal entry-level Roomba, the E5 comes equipped with some significant upgrades over the Roomba’s most affordable alternative, the $249 Roomba 675.(opens in a new tab), Unlike the 675, which lacks an on-board navigation system and requires strategic placement of multiple ranges, the e5 learns your cleaning habits and uses Dirt Detect to sniff out the most debris-laden areas. Pet owners will appreciate the rubber brush roll that doesn’t tangle like classic bristles. Its 3.6-inch profile is capable of running under low-clearance furniture like sofas and beds.

Amazon says you’ll save $80.99 with this sale, but we did the research and the regular price for this model on iRobot’s site is $349.99 (not Amazon’s list price of $379.99). But the $50.99 discount is still a great deal.

Best for intriguing layouts: Neato Botvac D4 Connected(opens in a new tab) – save $130

Dust, hair, crumbs, or a good combination of all three always seem to find a good hiding spot in corners. The Neato’s great suction and iconic D-shape make it especially useful for homes with lots of corners and tall walls. The D4’s accurate laser navigation and home mapping are impressive for a vacuum in this price range, plus it includes virtual limits (installed by you) that should keep it from bumping around in areas it shouldn’t in the first place Should have gone

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