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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Roomba

LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roomba logo

Roomba

IoT & Smart Home

iRobot's intelligent robot vacuum series

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LIFX the Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.; Roomba robot vacuums list from $399.99 up to $999.99 for the top combo model, and Affirm financing on iRobot.com carries rates up to 36 percent APR
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Roomba covers Smart Mapping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Roomba actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Roomba differ
AttributeLIFXRoomba
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSIOS, Android, Web
Founded20121990

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in LIFX

  • No Hub Required
  • 16 Million Colors
  • WiFi Direct
  • High Brightness
  • HomeKit
  • SmartThings
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

Only in Roomba

  • Smart Mapping
  • Auto-Empty Base
  • Multi-Room Navigation
  • Dirt Detect
  • IFTTT
  • Smart schedules
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

LIFX

  • Ambient lightingnot Roomba
  • Gaming setupnot Roomba
  • Photography lightingnot Roomba
  • Smart homenot Roomba

Roomba

  • Automated vacuuming and mopping of home floorsnot LIFX
  • Scheduled cleaning managed through a connected appnot LIFX

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

LIFX

  • The Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.

Roomba

  • Robot vacuums list from $399.99 up to $999.99 for the top combo model, and Affirm financing on iRobot.com carries rates up to 36 percent APR

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

On request
  • LIFX Bulb$40/month
    • 16M colors
    • WiFi direct
    • No hub required

Roomba

On request
  • iRobot Select$29/month
    • Robot ownership
    • Extended warranty
    • Consumables

Which should you pick?

Choose LIFX if

  • You need no hub required.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 16 million colors.
LIFX review

Choose Roomba if

  • You need smart mapping.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want auto-empty base.
Roomba review

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Roomba better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Roomba at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Roomba?
LIFX starts at On request and Roomba at On request.
Does LIFX or Roomba run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Roomba runs on IOS, Android, Web.
What is LIFX best used for?
LIFX is most often used for ambient lighting, gaming setup, photography lighting, smart home. Of those, ambient lighting and gaming setup are not what Roomba is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Roomba cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Roomba covers Smart Mapping, Auto-Empty Base, Multi-Room Navigation, Dirt Detect. Both handle Alexa, Google Home, IOS support, Android support.
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