Tested using Methodology v1.3
Reviewed Apr 26, 2021 at 10:05 am
Latest change: Retest Aug 26, 2024 at 03:53 pm
By Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Jackson Smylie, and John Peroramas
6.6
Bare Floor
7.1
Low-Pile Carpet
6.8
High-Pile Carpet
5.0
Pets
5.9
Stairs
4.8
Cars
4.2
Workshop
+ Create your own
overview test results deals 0 comments
Vacuum Type
Bagless
Cordless
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Wet Compatible
The iRobot Roomba i4 is a robot vacuum with a versatile performance. It automatically adjusts its height and suction power depending on the surface type, so it can easily move between carpet and bare floors. It's best suited to cleaning high-pile carpet, where it clears pet hair and debris like sand. This vacuum also comes with a Dual Virtual Barrier Device, which lets you mark areas for the vacuum to avoid by setting up a boundary that it won't cross. It has a very good build quality and comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, but it's difficult to maintain and incurs a lot of recurring costs.
Our Verdict
6.6 Bare Floor
The iRobot Roomba i4's performance on bare floors is alright. It has no problem picking up small and bulky debris like rice and cereal. Its cleaning performance may also decrease slightly as the dirt compartment fills up. This vacuum follows an efficient path, and you can even use the Dual Virtual Barrier Device to keep it out of certain areas. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to maintain since quite a few parts need regular servicing.
Pros
-
Easily picks up small and bulky debris on bare floors.
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Sturdy build.
Cons
-
Many recurring costs.
-
Doesn't pick up pet hair too easily on bare floors.
7.1 Low-Pile Carpet
The iRobot Roomba i4 provides decent performance on low-pile carpets. It does a fairly good job of cleaning pet hair and large debris like rice or cereal, though it struggles to pick up finer debris like sand in corners. It automatically adjusts the height of the vacuum head and its suction power, which is helpful when switching between different surface types. Unfortunately, this vacuum can occasionally get caught on rug tassels, which may be annoying. Also, it incurs quite a few recurring costs since quite a few parts need to be replaced from time to time.
Pros
-
Sturdy build.
-
Automatic surface-type adjustment.
Cons
-
Many recurring costs.
-
Struggles to pick up fine debris on carpet.
6.8 High-Pile Carpet
The iRobot Roomba i4 is okay for cleaning high-pile carpets. It picks up pet hair and large debris like rice and cereal fairly easily but really struggles to clean fine debris like sand in corners and along walls. Thankfully, its performance remains consistent as the dirt compartment fills up. It also automatically adjusts its suction and height off the ground, which is helpful when cleaning high-pile carpets. Unfortunately, it has quite a few recurring costs, since a lot of parts need to be periodically replaced.
Pros
-
Automatic surface-type adjustment.
-
Long battery life.
Cons
-
Difficult to maintain.
-
Struggles to pick up fine debris on carpet.
5.0 Pets
The iRobot Roomba i4 is a good option for dealing with pet hair on floors. It does quite a good job of cleaning pet hair from low- and high-pile carpets but struggles more when picking up pet hair on bare floors. It comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, which is useful if you have a pet that sheds heavily. Also, you can easily remove its brushroll, letting you clean any hair that gets tangled around it. Unfortunately, a lot of parts need regular cleaning, especially if you have pets.
Pros
-
Comes with a HEPA filter.
-
Long battery life.
Cons
-
Difficult to maintain.
-
Doesn't pick up pet hair too easily on bare floors.
5.9 Stairs
The iRobot Roomba i4 isn't designed for use on stairs.
4.8 Cars
The iRobot Roomba i4 isn't designed for use in cars.
4.2 Workshop
The iRobot Roomba i4 isn't designed for use in workshops.
- 6.6 Bare Floor
- 7.1 Low-Pile Carpet
- 6.8 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.0 Pets
- 5.9 Stairs
- 4.8 Cars
- 4.2 Workshop
+ Create your own
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated the scores in the Hard Floor Pick-Up, High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, and Pet-Hair Pick-Up tests to align with a broader data set. For more information about the reasoning for this update, you can look at our forum post.
- Updated Aug 13, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2 and Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated May 24, 2024: We've added a link to the Shark Matrix Plus in the 'Physical Automation' section of the review to provide an alternative with a self-emptying station.
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
- Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Jul 28, 2022: We've corrected an input error in the 'Navigation Control Buttons' field of the 'Physical Automation' section and adjusted the score for the 'Companion App Automation' section to maintain consistency with other iRobot models. All relevant text has been updated.
- Updated Apr 13, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Apr 26, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 20, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 13, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 08, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Mar 28, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The iRobot Roomba i4 comes in one color variant: Black. You can see the label for the model we testedhere. Another variant of this vacuum, the iRobot Roomba i4+, comes with an external dirt bin/charging station for automatic debris disposal. We can't confirm that this model performs similarly, as its automatic dirt emptying capabilities could impact performance.
If you come across another variant not listed here, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The iRobot Roomba i4 has a very similar design to the iRobot Roomba i3+, though it has a better performance on low and high-pile carpet. It also comes with a Dual Virtual Barrier Device, which lets you mark areas that the vacuum will avoid. Like the i3+,It follows an efficient cleaning route and cleans a room by sections, rather than following the same pattern for the entire area. However, it doesn't have an external dustbinattached to the docking station, so it can't empty its dirt compartment automatically. Like many robot vacuums, it's quite difficult to maintain and has a lot of recurring costs.
If you want to see more options, check out our recommendations for thebest robot vacuums, thebest robotvacuums for hardwood floors, and thebest robot vacuums for pet hair.
iRobot Roomba 694 [690, 692]
The iRobot Roomba i4 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The i4 has fewer parts that require regular cleaning and a smart-pathing navigational system, which yields superior maneuverability. The i4 does a better job cleaning debris on low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the 694 clears more debris on bare floors, has a bigger dirt compartment, and lasts longer on a single charge, though this can vary in the real world.
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SEE OUR REVIEW
iRobot Roomba 675
The iRobot Roomba i4 is better than the iRobot Roomba 675. The i4 delivers better cleaning performance on bare floors, low-pile carpet, and high-pile carpet. It also maneuvers more effectively thanks to its smart-pathing navigation system and has a far more advanced suite of automation features. Meanwhile, the 675 is slightly easier to pick up and carry to another room, incurs fewer recurring costs, and has a slightly longer runtime, though it takes longer to recharge.
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SEE OUR REVIEW
iRobot Roomba i7
TheiRobot Roomba i7is a better vacuum than theiRobot Roomba i4. The i7does a much better job of clearing pet hair from all surface types, and it has a larger dirt compartment. Also, it uses theiAdapt 3.0 with Visual Navigation system to follow an efficientroute, and it learns its environment as it cleans. There's an external dustbin attached to the docking station, so it can automatically empty its dirt compartment. That said, the i4 doesn't have an external dirtbag, which results in fewer recurring costs, and ithas a longer battery life.
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iRobot Roomba j7/j7+
The iRobot Roomba i4 and iRobot Roomba j7each have advantages, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. Both vacuums are compatible with self-emptying stations. That said, the j7does feel better built, delivers better performance on high-pile carpet, and has a more advanced navigation system that allows it to identify hazards like pet waste. Meanwhile, the i4 charges faster while offering similar battery life, incurs lower recurring costs, has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, and clears more debris on low-pile carpet.
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SEE OUR REVIEW
iRobot Roomba i3
TheiRobot Roomba i4 is a better robot vacuum than theiRobot Roomba i3. The i4 has a better cleaning performance on low and high-pile carpet. Since it doesn't have an external dirtbag, it has fewerrecurring costs. Also, it comes with a Dual Virtual Barrier Device, which lets you mark areas for the vacuum to avoid while cleaning. That said, the i3does a better job of cleaning bare floors, and it has a larger dirt compartment. Also, it comes with an external dustbin attached to the docking station, so it can automatically empty its dirt compartment.
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iRobot Roomba E5
The iRobot Roomba i4 is a slightly better vacuum than the iRobot Roomba E5. The i4 does a better job of cleaningbare floors and high-pile carpet, and its suction performance doesn't decrease as much as the dirt compartment fills up. It also follows an efficient cleaning route, whereas the E5 follows a random path. However, the E5 doesn't get caught on rug tassels or electrical cords as easily.
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iRobot Roomba S9
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba i4. The S9 is better built, easier to maintain, has a larger dustbin, and delivers superior performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpeting. It also does a better job of maneuvering itself around obstacles.
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eufy RoboVac 15C
The iRobot Roomba i4 is a better robot vacuum than the eufy RoboVac 15C. The iRobot has a better cleaning performance on all surface types, especially low and high-pile carpets. It's also better-built and comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. It follows an efficient cleaning route, whereas the eufy follows a random cleaning path. That said, the eufy has a slightly larger dirt compartment, and its battery lasts a bit longer when used in its default mode.
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eufy RoboVac X8
The iRobot Roomba i4 and eufy RoboVac X8 have different strengths, meaning one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The eufy has a longer maximum runtime and performs notably better on bare floors. Conversely, the iRobot is better-built, charges much faster, maneuvers itself more effectively, and has fewer parts that need regular cleaning.
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Shark IQ Robot
The Shark IQ Robot and iRobot Roomba i4 each have their own advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Shark has a bigger dustbin and performs better on both bare floors and low-pile carpet. It also has a longer maximum runtime, though this can vary in the real world. Meanwhile, the iRobot charges much faster, has an automatic surface type adjustment feature, feels better-built, and incurs fewer recurring costs. It also does a better job of maneuvering around obstacles.
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eufy RoboVac G30
The iRobot Roomba i4 is better than the eufy RoboVac G30. The iRobot is better-built, recharges much faster, has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and delivers better performance across all floor types.
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Wyze Robot Vacuum
The iRobot Roomba i4 and Wyze Robot Vacuum each have advantages, so one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The iRobot has a larger dirt compartment, requires less time to charge, and delivers better performance on high-pile carpets. Conversely, the Wyze is less demanding in terms of maintenance requirements, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a longer runtime in its least powerful suction mode, and cleans debris more effectively on bare floors.
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Roborock S6
The Roborock S6 is better for more use cases than the iRobot Roomba i4. The Roborock feels better-built, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a larger dirt compartment, maneuvers more effectively, and delivers superior performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet. It also comes with a mopping attachment, though we don't currently test that function. Meanwhile, the iRobot does a much better job of sucking up larger debris, such as sand, from high-pile carpets.
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Shark IQ Robot AV992 Series
The iRobot Roomba i4 is better for most purposes than the Shark IQ Robot AV992 Series. The iRobot delivers much better performance on bare floors is somewhat better on high-pile carpets as well. It automatically adjusts its head height and suction power depending on what surface type it's cleaning. On the other hand, you can set the Shark's suction power manually, unlike the iRobot.
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Test Results
8.0 Design
Vacuum Type
The iRobot Roomba i4 has a very good build quality. It has a similar design to the iRobot Roomba i3+, and it's mostly made of hard plastic with rubber wheels and brushrolls. Although it feels sturdy overall, the dustbin feels like it could break if you drop it. There are three buttons on the top to start a cleaning cycle, spot-clean an area, or return to the dock. The vacuum comes assembled, so you just need to set up the docking station.
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6.0 Design
The iRobot Roomba i4 requires quite a bit of maintenance. Several parts need regular servicing, but fortunately, most of them are easy to access.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment can be easily removed by pressing the button on the side of the vacuum. Once you empty it, you can clean it with water. It must be dry before you use it again.
- Brushrolls: The rubber brushrolls are easy to take out since you only need to remove the brushroll guard. You can remove any tangled hair, but they're somewhat difficult to put back as you need to carefully align them. iRobot suggests that you clean the brushrolls once a month or twice if you have pets.
- Filter: The filter is located inside the dirt compartment. To clean it, you have to gently tap it on the side of a garbage can since you shouldn't wash it. It needs cleaning once a week or twice a week if you have pets.
- Side brush: The side brush can be difficult to remove since you need a screwdriver to take it out. You should clean it once a month, or twice if you have pets.
- Wheels: The omnidirectional wheel in front can be removed. It needs cleaning every two weeks.
- Sensors: The sensors on the vacuum should be cleaned once a month with a dry cloth.
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4.5 Design
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number 4639161
HEPA Filter Part Number 4639161
The iRobot Roomba i4 has a lot of recurring costs. Although it's bagless, quite a few parts need to be replaced periodically.
- HEPA Filter: The HEPA filter should be replaced every two months.
- Rubber Brushrolls: The brushrolls should be replaced every 12 months.
- Side Brush: The manufacturer recommends replacing the side brush every 12 months.
- Front Wheel: The front wheel should be replaced every 12 months.
Thankfully, iRobot sells a 'Replenishment Kit' on its website that includes brushrolls, three side brushes, and three HEPA filters. You can also purchase these parts individually.
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8.9 Design
Height
Width
Depth
Cord Storing
On-Board Tool Storage
Vacuum Rack/Station
The iRobot Roomba i4 is remarkably easy to store. It comes with a low-profile docking station, which it can return to on its own. The vacuum itself is fairly small, so it shouldn't take up too much space in storage.
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6.2 Design
Bagless
Volume
Full Indicator
Bag Included
The iRobot Roomba i4's dirt compartment is an adequate size for a robot vacuum. Unfortunately, there's no indicator for when it's full, and you can't see inside the dirt compartment for yourself since it's made of opaque plastic.
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Design
- iRobot Roomba i4 robot vacuum
- Docking station
- Charging cable
- 3x HEPA filter
- Dirt compartment
- 2x Multi-surface rubber brushrolls
- Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier + 2x batteries
- User guide
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10 Design
Cordless
Cord Length
Hose Length
Minimum Wand Length
Maximum Wand Length
Total Range
The iRobot Roomba i4 has a virtually unlimited range as long as it still has battery life left and sufficient room in its dirt compartment. That said, it can't go up or down stairs.
—
8.0 Design
Total Weight
Weight In Hand
Carrying handle
The iRobot Roomba i4 is very portable. It's small and quite light, though it doesn't have a carrying handle to make it easier to bring to another floor.
—
9.2 Design
Minimum Battery Life
Maximum Battery Life
Recharge Time
Recharge Dock
Battery Life Indicator
Removable Batteries
The iRobot Roomba i4 has an incredible battery performance. It provides around 100 minutes of continuous runtime, and it takes roughly an hour and a half to recharge. The vacuum automatically adjusts its suction power while in use, so its battery life may vary depending on your floor type. When the battery is low, the large button on top of the vacuum changes from white to red, and there's also a battery indicator in its companion app.
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LEARN ABOUT BATTERY
Design
Rotating Head
Power Adjustment
Self-Propelled
Headlights
Easy On/Off
Head Surface Type Adjustment
The iRobot Roomba i4 4150 has a few extra features. It senses how much dirt there is around it and concentrates on those areas. Also, it automatically adjusts its power and height setting based on the surface it's cleaning. However, you can't adjust either of these settings manually.
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Design
Brushroll
Brushroll On/Off
Removable Brushroll
Turbo Brush
Crevice Tool
Upholstery Tool
Soft Bristle Brush
Hard Bristle Brush
Extension Wand
Ceiling Fan Tool
Pet Grooming Tool
The iRobot Roomba i4 is equipped with two removable rubber brushrolls, as well as a side brush that pushes debris into its cleaning path. There's also a Dual Virtual Barrier Device included, which lets you mark areas for the vacuum to avoid.
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Design
Blower Mode
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8.0 Performance
This vacuum does an impressive job of cleaning hard floors. It's capable of dealing with bulky and medium-sized debris like cereal or rice. That said, it does struggle a little bit with smaller materials like sand that's piled up against walls and corners.
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7.5 Performance
This vacuum delivers good performance on high-pile carpets. It's very effective when it comes to dealing with medium-sized and large debris on this surface type like rice or cereal. That said, you'll probably have to clean along walls and in corners with a conventional vacuum to fully clear away finer debris like sand.
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7.0 Performance
This vacuum's performance on low-pile carpets is decent. As with its performance on high-pile carpets, it has little trouble dealing with large and medium-sized debris like cereal pieces or rice, but you'll probably have to clean up any finer debris left along walls and in corners yourself.
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8.5 Performance
This vacuum does an excellent job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpets. Within a single cleaning cycle, it can clear away the majority of strands, with barely anything remaining.
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0 Performance
Maximum Hose Suction
Maximum Head Suction
Normal Head Suction
Setting Used For Normal "Clean"
Hose Diameter
The iRobot i4's suction force isn't very strong, though this isn't unusual for a robot vacuum; its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal on bare surfaces, resulting in low suction power measurements.
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0.9 Performance
Maximum Hose Airflow
This vacuum's airflow performance is pretty low, even for a robovac. It's noticeably less powerful than higher-end models, like the iRobot Roomba S9, and will have a slightly harder time dealing with especially heavy debris.
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9.0 Performance
Bare Floor
Low-Pile Carpet
This vacuum is remarkably quiet. Even with the vacuum running nearby in its most powerful setting, you won't have to raise your voice too much to be heard by someone standing nearby.
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7.5 Performance
The iRobot Roomba i4 has good maneuverability. It automatically adjusts the height of its head, making it easier to clean a room with different surface types. Similar to the iRobot Roomba i3+, it follows a smart path and cleans a room by sections, rather than using the same pattern for the whole area. It also produces a map of its cleaning coverage, which you can see in the companion app. This vacuum is small enough to fit under most couches, but it may occasionally get stuck on a rug tassel or drag an electric cord. If you're looking for a robot vacuum that does a better job of maneuvering itself, try the Roborock S6 MaxV.
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0 Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
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Performance
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
This vacuum does a good job of sealing in fine particles, thanks to its on-board HEPA filter.
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5.0 Performance
Wood Cracks Post Test
This vacuum has poor crack-cleaning performance. It struggles with drawing up fine debris wedged deep within crevices, but at the very least, its side brush doesn't spread around debris.
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1.0 Performance
Stain Pickup Post Test
This vacuum has no impact on stains.
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0 Performance
Wet Compatible
Water Pickup Post Test
This vacuum isn't designed to clear away liquid spills.
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7.1 Automation
Automatic Recharging
Automatic Bag Emptying
Pathing Algorithm
Physical Boundary Markers
Scheduled Start Buttons
Cycle Control Buttons
Navigation Control Buttons
The iRobot Roomba i4 has decent physical automation features. It comes with a Dual Virtual Barrier device, which lets you mark boundaries for the vacuum not to cross. You can use the physical buttons on the vacuum itself to start cleaning, spot-clean, or have it return to the dock. Unfortunately, unlike alternatives like the Shark Matrix Plus, it isn't bundled with a self-empty docking station that would cut down on maintenance requirements.
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7.5 Automation
App Name
iOS Availability
Android Availability
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
App Scheduled Start
App Cycle Control
Navigation Control within App
The iRobot HOME app is good. With it, you can schedule cleaning times, view the battery status, or return the vacuum to its docking station. The app is compatible with Alexa and Google Home for voice commands, though we don't currently test for this.
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