Both the Ecovacs Deebot N8+ vs Roomba J7+ are feature-rich robot vacuums. But when the dust settles, my vote goes to the latter for good reasons.
These robots share a common set of high-tech features, from Clean Base systems for effortless emptying to advanced obstacle detection and an array of customizable settings in their respective apps. But the Roomba J7+ has better cleaning performance, a longer battery life, and an “away-from-home” cleaning mode, while the Deebot N8+ functions not only as a vacuum but also as a mop.
Ecovacs Deebot N8+ Vs Roomba J7+: Comparison Chart
Ecovacs Deebot N8+ Vs Roomba J7+: Differences
The Ecovacs Deebot N8+ wins 4-2 against the Roomba J7+, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Keep reading for more information!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba J7+
Hard Floor
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ |
|---|---|
| ≈ 92% | ≈ 95% |
Both robots managed to sweep up most of the debris scattered on my hardwood floors. I thought they performed well but didn’t get top-notch results. As noted earlier, the Deebot N8+ was particularly weak in corner cleaning. If you’re looking for something with near-perfect performance on this floor, the Roomba S9+, with its 99% debris removal rate, is highly recommended.
Carpets
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 88% | ≈ 92% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 84% | ≈ 96% |
In my testing on both low- and high-pile carpets, they also performed pretty well, whereas the Roomba J7+ still took the lead. I noticed they had difficulties with finer debris like sugar, but you should know this is a widespread issue across even top-tier robotic vacuums.
The Deebot N8+ features a carpet detection function, allowing it to automatically detect carpets and switch to a stronger power mode (Maximal+). And by the way, this one has 3 power modes, while the Roomba J7+ only has one.
Hair Pet
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | 64% | ≈ 72% |
| 10-inch Strands | 48% | ≈ 56% |
Sadly, they didn’t steal the show when it comes to hair collection, and, once again, this is a common challenge in the realm of robot vacuums. The Deebot N8+’s dual rubberized rollers resist hair tangles better than the single bristle-fitted brushes on the Deebot N8+. Anyway, they are easily removable to detangle hair, and this should be part of your regular maintenance routine.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roomba J7+
Dimensions & Weight
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.5 x 3 inches | 13.3 x 3.4 inches |
| Weight | 8.2 lbs | 7.49 lbs |
They are quite average-sized robots and circle in shape, just like the majority of robotic vacuums on the market I’ve seen, except for some D-shaped models like the Roomba S9. Their Clean Bases aren’t compact enough to be hidden under the bed, but I don’t think that’s a con since their eye-catching design makes them a focal point worth showcasing in your living room.
I was especially drawn to the Deebot N8+’s unique white finish, which is an uncommon colour option, while the black chrome casing that covers the Roomba J7+ also looks great. I thought they were handsome guys, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Extractor & Side Brush
All the robot vacuum cleaners, no doubt, will be useless without these parts. On the underside of the Roomba J7+, you will find a pad of centrally located rollers that rotate in opposite directions and are made of rubber for better hair tangle resistance and picking up debris more effectively. Meanwhile, the brushroll on the Deebot N8+ blends spiral rubber paddles with soft bristles – akin to the Zero-M rollers used in some Shark vacuums.
On the other hand, the Roomba J7+ only has a single spinning brush located in the left corner, designed for sweeping dust and debris from corners and directing it into the main extractor’s cleaning path. The Roomba Deebot N8+ has dual long spinning side brushes to potentially offer more comprehensive coverage while limiting the scattering of debris, especially on hard floors. They can also all be disassembled for easy routine maintenance.
Navigation
Let’s talk about their abilities to map your house/floor. The Deebot N8+ uses advanced laser-based LiDAR (Detection and ranging) navigation, which employs a laser tower to scan its surroundings, generating a detailed, 360-degree map of the area. Meanwhile, the Roomba J7+ uses Imprint Smart Mapping technology to comprehensively map out all the rooms in your home and remember their layouts for future cleanings.
To my mind, the laser-based navigation on the Deebot N8+ is currently the best navigation method since it allows the robot to work well even in poor lighting conditions. The Roomba J7+ doesn’t work effectively in dark or dimly lit areas, even when it is equipped with an LED headlight. However, the Roomba J7+ is an ideal choice for multi-story dwellings because it can save up to 10 maps, compared to the Deebot N8+’s limit of two layouts.
Good news for families with children and furry friends: These little housekeepers can detect and automatically avoid some objects like toys and animal faeces instead of bumping into them. That said, you can send these boys out to clean your house without a second thought, even if it’s not perfectly tidy.
The Deebot N8+ relies on a cross-laser named TrueDetect, which is also laser-based 3D technology, while the Roomba J7+ has a front-facing camera called Precision Vision Navigation technology to see what’s in front of them and look for the best direction to drive around the potential threat. Both passed my fake dog poop tests without fault, and they could also do very well at avoiding large objects such as shoes, toys, teddy bears, and thicker cable wires.
However, I did observe that the Deebot N8+ occasionally missed flat objects like clothes or slender cables like the one I use for my smartphone, while the Roomba J7+ had no such issues. In addition, when TrueDetect 3D obstacle detection is enabled, the N8+ couldn’t get entirely into corners as efficiently for a complete vacuum.
Well, the Roomba J7+ isn’t Mr. Know-it-All, but it can get smarter over time. When encountering objects that confuse this one, it will take a photo of them and let you decide if it should avoid them in future cleaning cycles (via the iRobot app).
Battery Life
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 42–93 mins | ≈ 98 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 192 mins | ≈ 120 mins |
The Ecovacs Deebot N8+ uses a 3200 mAh Li-ion battery, whereas the Roomba J7+ is powered by a 2410 mAh Li-ion battery. No matter what mode it is in, its battery seems to drain quite quickly compared to the Roomba J7 and some other robot vacuums, even though it is indeed larger. It also takes longer to reach a full charge.
But I’d say the whole above niggle doesn’t make the Deebot N8+ a red flag. It and the Roomba J7+ both have a “Recharge and Resume” function, meaning they will automatically return to the charger when they run out of juice in the middle of a vacuuming cycle. Even better, they have a good enough memory to return to the exact spot where they paused and resume from there for a complete clean.
Control
Winner: Tie
Manual Control
There are a total of three different ways to control these robots, including pushing the button on the vacuum, remotely controlling via the app, and voice controlling via Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Both feature a single button on their topsides that can be used to start/pause the cleaning trip or direct the vacuum back to the Home Station. Of course, that’s not a perfect integration into your smart home, but it comes in handy whenever your phone’s battery is drained.
App Connectivity
To unlock the full potential of these smart units, you need to connect them to your smartphone via the Ecovacs or iRobot apps (which work on both iOS and Android devices). Then, you can access a complete list of various hands-free control options, including starting, stopping, or scheduling the cleaning cycle.
For those who prefer vocal control, their compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home has them covered. For example, just say, “Alexa, tell Deebot/Roomba to clean the bedroom”, and your little friend will make its way to your bedroom. This is especially useful for people with visual impairments.
Right off the bat, the app will display detailed maps of your flat/floors with independently separated rooms that they memorized during their initial runs (Yes, they can delineate the boundaries of each room right at the door edges). You can then label each room and send them to clean specific rooms or even a smaller zone within a room. You can even form cleaning schedules with some simple taps to have them clean your flat on a daily basis or on the days you want.
Moreover, they enable you to use virtual boxes to set up keep-out zones, effectively telling the robots which areas are off-limits for cleaning. As for the Deebot N8+, you can form no-mop areas when its water tank and mopping plate are attached, ensuring it avoids areas you don’t want to be mopped. You also have the freedom to adjust the suction level and water flow settings room by room with this hybrid robot.
Now, let’s delve into the contrasts between these two robotic vacuums. One distinct advantage of the Deebot N8+ is its real-time location tracking feature, accessible via its app, which is a godsend for those residing in spacious apartments. I sincerely hope that iRobot will incorporate this feature into their future models.
The Roomba J7+ has its own trick up its sleeve as well. Via the iRobot app, you can set up a virtual boundary around your home and program the vacuum to clean only when you’re away. Likewise, It will automatically dock itself as soon as you return home.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roomba J7+
The Deebot N8+ features a 420-ml dust remover container, a little smaller compared to the 500-ml tank on the Roomba J7+. They come with Clean Bases, taking one less task off your plate. As soon as they dock at the base, they empty their dust containers themselves without your intervention.
You’re probably wondering where all the content is sent. Well, they simply find their way to a disposable dust bag inside the clean tower. A light touch is all that’s needed to flip open their lids, making dust bag replacement a breeze. According to Ecovacs and iRobot, these single-use bags can store waste for as long as 30 and 60 days, respectively, so the ongoing costs are almost negligible.
The Roomba J7+ uses a HEPA filter, while the Deebot N8+ doesn’t. That is also a factor contributing to the latter’s winning edge in this comparison.
Other Features
Winner: Ecovacs Deebot N8+
Noise
| Ecovacs Deebot N8+ | Roomba J7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 61 dB | ≈ 59 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 87 dB | ≈ 72 dB |
While these robots are pleasantly quiet during their cleaning trips, I have to point out that the self-emptying process of their auto-empty bases is very loud. But considering the whole process only lasts 10–20 seconds, it won’t bother us that much. If it’s late and you don’t want to disturb anyone, you can always opt to empty the dust tanks manually.
Mopping Ability
Regarding the mopping function of the Deebot N8+, I found it to be good but not great, and it couldn’t be a replacement for a specialized mop or mopping by hand. This one couldn’t put enough pressure on the mop (since the robot itself is somewhat lightweight), so it just did an adequate job on light messes and failed to get rid of some stuck-on stains. Anyway, it’s still a nice-to-have feature and will add a tad more cleanliness.
This 2-in-1 robot comes with one washable mopping pad and some single-use ones. The washable pad can be easily cleaned in your washing machine and reused over and over again, making it a great eco-friendly option. And although it is quoted as relying solely on water for cleaning, I found that adding a specialized floor cleaner to the water tank gave me better results.
If you’re leaning towards the Roomba J7+ but are also interested in a mopping feature, the iRobot Braava Jet M6 could be a good addition to your smart home setup. The Braava Jet M6 is a dedicated mopping robot from iRobot that can work in conjunction with the Roomba J7+ through Imprint Link technology. This allows for coordinated cleaning: once the Roomba J7+ finishes vacuuming, it can signal the Braava Jet M6 to start mopping, providing a more comprehensive clean.
Quick Rundown Of Roomba J7+
- CLEANS WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT– Only iRobot brings you Imprint Smart Mapping allowing you to control and schedule which rooms are cleaned and when, while storing multiple maps for easier cleaning on each level of your home.
- AVOIDS PET ACCIDENTS – WE GUARANTEE IT - IRobot brings you P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise). You can rely on your Roomba j7+ to avoid pet waste, or we’ll replace it for free. Additional terms and conditions apply – see iRobot website for details.
- KNOWS WHAT TO CLEAN AND WHAT TO AVOID - The Roomba j7+ robot vacuum uses IRobot OS Technology and PrecisionVision Navigation to recognize and avoid common objects in its way like cords, pet waste, socks and shoes.
- MORE THOUGHTFUL THAN YOU THOUGHT - The Roomba j7+ takes vacuuming off your mind with personalized cleaning suggestions powered by the unique intelligence of IRobot OS. Learns your habits and your routines.
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE. The 3-Stage Cleaning System packs 10x the Power-Lifting Suction, an Edge-Sweeping Brush gets along walls and corners, and Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes flex to adjust to different floor types. Compared to the Roomba 600 series.
Quick Rundown Of Ecovacs Deebot N8+
- More than 500,000+ users' choices, you can always believe Ecovacs Deebot N8 Pro+; Featured in Better Homes and Gardens Clean House Awards 2022.
- CLEAN MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH SUPERIOR 2600Pa SUCTION that draws out dirt and dust from wherever it’s hidden in your hard floors and carpets, while optimizing energy and maintaining low noise levels.
- HASSLE-FREE CLEANING WITH TRUEDETECT, a laser-based 3D technology that lets N8 Proplus detect and avoid objects such as cables, slippers and pet mess to reduce the risk of getting stuck.
- 30-Day HANDS-FREE CLEANING WITH SELF-EMPTY STATION. ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Proplus self emptying robot vacuum automatically empties its dustbin after cleaning. The station’s disposable dust bag holds up to months of dirt and debris.
Product Videos
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References:
- Roomba J7+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-j7plus-self-emptying-robot-vacuum/J755020.html
- Ecovacs Deebot N8+: https://www.ecovacs.com/uk/deebot-robotic-vacuum-cleaner/n8-plus
Richard B. Schmidt is a prominent figure in the vacuum cleaner industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise. Armed with a Robotics Engineering degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Consumer Science from Harvard, his unique blend of technical knowledge and consumer insights positions him as a sought-after authority in vacuum cleaner evaluation. Richard’s career began at Dyson, where he contributed to the development of innovative vacuum models. Transitioning to advocacy and reviews, he co-founded the first Vacuum-focused blog in 2008, offering comprehensive analysis and user guides for various vacuum cleaners. In 2020, he founded RoboMop.net, providing ongoing insights through columns and buyer’s guides.