Entertainment
We put the best Roombas of 2025 head to head in a robot vacuum brawl
It might come as a surprise that “roomba” isn’t the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital “R” that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a generic trademark. Roombas are just robot vacuums made by iRobot, and looking for the best Roombas is a much more specific task than looking for the best robot vacuums in general. However, Roomba’s Band-Aid or Kleenex level fame really does prove just how iconic iRobot has become in the world of automated floor cleaners.
There’s a good reason for that: Not only was iRobot first to the robot vacuum party, but the company has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but if you’re looking for the best Roomba today, there are only a handful of models you need to know in 2025.
Meet the new 2025 Roomba lineup from iRobot
iRobot released four new Roomba series in March 2025, deviating from its (unofficial) summer release schedule. I think iRobot had two reasons to hurry: the spring release of the top robot vacuums from CES and the company’s rocky financial situation. As someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, I’ll be the first to tell you that Roombas were flopping in a sea of smarter, more fairly-priced robot vacs from the likes of Roborock and Shark.
The new Roomba 105, Roomba 205, Roomba Plus 405, and Roomba Plus 505 series are further broken down into eight total models, many with completely different physical designs that don’t scream “classic Roomba.”
iRobot is playing catch-up with its competition, and for the first time, you can buy Roombas that use LiDAR for smart mapping, Roombas with dual spinning mopping pads, and a Roomba that compacts its own dust rather than self-emptying. Despite such innovations, the new 2025 Roombas are surprisingly affordable, especially compared to past Roombas (which are now very easy to find on sale).
How to tell the difference between the Roomba models
The iRobot Roomba 105. The Roomba Combo i5+. The Roomba Combo j7+ (not to be confused with the Roomba j7). The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but we can teach you.
When shopping for a Roomba, you’ll choose from what I call iRobot’s core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series sold on iRobot’s website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 105, 205, or 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).
A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have “Combo” in the title. “Max” is a new Roomba term introduced with the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a hybrid Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, “Essential” means “most basic” in the Roomba family, meaning no smart mapping.
Testing the Roomba Combo 10 Max.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Testing the Roomba Combo j7+.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
So, which Roomba is best for you? I’ve tested nearly every Roomba released since 2019, and I regularly update this guide to the best Roombas vacuums throughout the year. (As for the newest Roombas, I’ve already gotten my hands on one series, with testing of the other three in the works.) After comparing suction, pet hair pickup, mopping, smart mapping, small obstacle detection, and price, I chose the Roombas that offer the best value.
UPDATE: Apr. 27, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT After testing the new Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, I’ve added it to this guide. iRobot also released the Roomba 105, Roomba Plus 405, and Roomba Plus 505 in March. I’m in the process of testing them, and will update this guide accordingly based on my hands-on reviews.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
