In this head-to-head comparison of the Roomba J7+ vs I7+, I’ll scrutinize each model in multiple dimensions to assist you in selecting the most fitting option. To put it succinctly, the J7+ has my vote.
The Roomba J7+ is the first Roomba robot equipped with PrecisionVision Navigation technology. It is a front-facing camera that can detect things like animal poop and power cords, so the robot can avoid them before bumping into them. This one comes with a Clean Base, so you don’t have to get your hands dirty to empty its dustbin.
The Roomba I7+ is also a top-notch performer with better cleaning performance. This also uses a Clean Station to empty its dust cup automatically, but the lack of obstacle avoidance makes it less appealing to pet parents. That said, if your four-legged family members are either outdoorsy or impeccably potty-trained, you should find this model satisfactory.
Roomba J7+ Vs I7+: Comparison Chart
Roomba J7+ Vs I7+: Differences
The J7+ knocks out the I7+ with a 4-2 win. Now, let’s delve deeper into the comparison for a more detailed analysis!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba I7+
Hard Floor
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ |
|---|---|
| ≈ 95% | 98% |
Both have very high scores across the board, and the I7+ clearly performed a bit better. I found the side brush on the J7+ had a tendency to spin too fast, flinging a small amount of debris around the testing lane and into corners.
Carpets
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 92% | 95% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 96% | 97% |
They passed my carpet tests with flying colours as well, and the i7+ once again showcased superior cleaning performance. Their dual multi-surface rubberized rollers proved highly effective in agitating my carpets, enabling almost all the debris to be sucked up.
Hair Pet
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 72% | ≈ 82% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 56% | ≈ 68% |
Last but not least, I put them on hair removal tests and observed that both models were highly effective at pitching up 5-inch hair strands but had trouble with 10-inch strands. Additionally, there was a moderate amount of long hair getting caught in their rollers, so it’s important to remember to untangle them at the end of the day.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roomba J7+
Dimensions & Weight
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxH) | 13.3 x 3.4 inches | 13.34 x 3.63 inches |
| Weight | 7.49 lbs | 7.44 pounds |
It’s clear that there’s little to differentiate these two robots in terms of size and weight. Like the rest of the Roombas family, they both are circular in shape and have a relatively low configuration (except the S9+, the only Roomba with a D-shape design). The I7+ even features a convenient carrying handle, simplifying the task of moving it from one floor to another.
Extractor & Side Brush
Both are fitted with a dual mail extractor system located between the wheels. This includes two rubber-nubbed brush rolls that rotate in opposite directions with each other to dig debris out of carpets and are resistant to hair tangles effectively.
They also use spinning brushes with single long bristles to effectively extract dirt and dust from corners and edges, ensuring a thorough clean. The only point of divergence is the colour: the side brush on the I7+ comes in white, whereas the J7+ has a black one.
Navigation
These Roombas both run on the same mapping technology called Imprint Smart Mapping. After an initial 3 to 4 runs, their integrated sensors generate a comprehensive map of your home, including all the rooms, which is then displayed on the iRobot Home App. You can then personalize this map on your smartphone by naming individual areas and designating clean or no-go zones.
The main difference between the J7+ and the rest of the Roombas is its advanced obstacle-avoidance capabilities. The J7+ features a front-facing camera (called PrecisionVision Navigation technology), while the I7+ relies solely on its front- and top-mounted sensors for navigation. That way, the former can recognize and avoid household obstacles effectively.
One thing that I guess all the pet parents are most concerned about is Roomba’s P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise). The manufacturer assures that the J7+ can skillfully steer clear of any pet poo, and they stand behind this promise with a free replacement guarantee. There is nothing worse than a robot passing over dog droppings and then going on to spread them around the house. Ew! This is too horrifying to imagine!
I tested its pet waste avoidance with three fake dog feces of three differing shapes, and thank God -this one dodged all of them across multiple tests. For the first time in their lives, pet owners can simply open the app, turn the vacuum on, and leave with a sense of peace instead of having to go from room to room to pre-clean pet messes.
Up to now, the J7+ can recognize cords, USB-C cables, pet waste, socks, and shoes, but it also possesses adaptive learning capabilities. Yes, when it stumbles upon an unrecognizable object, its front-mounted camera will take a photo and send it to the iRobot app. Then, you have the choice to instruct the robot to either avoid or interact with the object in future cleaning sessions.
The I7+, on the other hand, just has a bump sensor, which means it has to lightly collide with obstacles to change direction. As you guessed, this won’t work with pet feces. But this one is a more budget-friendly option if you have no indoor pets and don’t mind manually clearing obstacles like toys, remote controls, and cables beforehand.
Battery Life
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 98 mins | ≈ 78 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 120 mins | ≈ 105 mins |
The Roomba J7+ uses a 2410 mAh Li-ion battery, while the I7+ is powered by a 1,800 mAh battery. The larger battery on the J7+ means it can operate for longer intervals between charges, while the I7+ compensates with a quicker charging time.
If it takes several hours to completely clean your mammoth-sized house, that’s no problem either. Both have a “recharge and resume” function, meaning they can remember exactly where they left off. Then, after returning to their docking stations and getting a full charge, they’ll promptly return to the exact spot where they halted temporarily in the vacuuming cycle, ensuring that no area is left unattended.
Control
Winner: Roomba J7+
Manual Control
You access the functions directly from the I7+ via a set of three touchscreen buttons, including “Spot Cleaning” (clean one precise spot), “Home” (return to home base), and “Clean” (start/stop vacuuming cycle). On the flip side, the J7+ feels more “cutting edge” with a single button – tap it to start cleaning, tap it again to stop, or press and hold it to make the robot return to its charging station.
App Connectivity
To remotely control these Roombas and unlock all of their advanced features, you’ll need to download the iRobot Home App for free and link the vacuum to your iOS or Android smartphone. You can even use Alexa or Google Assistant if you want to control these machines with commands, such as “Hey Alexa, clean my living room” or “Please drive back to the cleaning station,” and they will respond instantly. That is truly a great way to leave your friends raising their eyebrows in wonder.
The J7+ and I7+ share some functions, such as storing up to 10-floor layouts, allowing room naming, and defining specific cleaning zones. You can use the blue and red virtual boxes to designate clean and no-go zones, respectively. Additionally, you are able to establish one-time or recurring cleaning schedules. For instance, you can program these robots to clean your bedroom on Mon and Wed at 9 a.m. It’s akin to having a personal butler, don’t you think?
They also allow you to keep track of the health of brush rolls, spinning brushes, and filters so you can tell when they need maintenance or replacement. You can also access detailed information about each cleaning cycle, including data and statistics.
Apart from the app’s functionality to set no-go zones, the I7+ has a battery-powered virtual barrier to block off specific pathways or corridors you don’t want the Roomba to enter. Also, it can create a 10-foot virtual wall or a circular barrier with a diameter of up to 4 feet, perfect for safeguarding sensitive areas or objects in a circular pattern, such as pet food dishes or delicate decorations.
As mentioned above, the J7+ will take pictures of unknown objects and send them to you through the app so you can then decide what you should do with them. Moreover, this one has something called “Clean While I’m Away,” which will automatically kick-start the vacuuming cycle when both you and your phone have departed from the home.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
The only reason why you might want to spend extra money on these Plus versions is that they come with self-cleaning towers – This is a game-changer for people with severe allergies or those who live in huge apartments.
Instead of constantly emptying their small dustbins, they will automatically head back to the base when they are full, and the system will suck all the contents out and deposit them into a waiting disposable dust bag. Both come out of the box with two dustbags, each designed to last up to two months of usage. Another thing that needs to be replaced every two months is the HEPA filter.
At first glance, the cleaning base of the I7+ is larger than the one that comes with the J7+, but they indeed use the same single-use dustbags. That means the j7+’s disposal bag doesn’t need to be emptied more often just because its station is a bit smaller. And, of course, you also have the option to manually empty their dust cups if you prefer not to incur the cost of replacing the dust bag.
Other Features
Winner: Roomba J7+
Noise
| Roomba J7+ | Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 59 dB | ≈ 62 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 72 dB | ≈ 81 dB |
While they’re certainly not whisper-quiet, the noise level isn’t high enough to drown out a conversation or a TV-watching session in the same living space, even though it’s quite unpleasant. But they become noisier when emptied at the clean base. The I7+ even sounds like a jet engine, but that’s just a brief process lasting no more than 10 seconds.
Imprint Link
This Imprint Link function comes in handy if you have the J7+ or I7+ and the Braava Jet M6, a robot mop. Once the Roomba completes its vacuuming job and returns to its base or dock, it will send a signal to the Braava Jet M6, instructing it to begin mopping. The Braava Jet M6 will then start its mopping routine, using water or a cleaning solution to mop and scrub the floors.
Headlight
Right at the location of the detecting camera on the J7+, you will see a minor LED light that illuminates those dark nooks and crannies, enabling the robot to function optimally.
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 Roomba I7+
- ALWAYS GETTING SMARTER - Quality that lasts; Intelligence that grows; equipped with advanced hardware capable of providing the intelligent features you love today, and access to our latest advancements in the future
- COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR CLEAN - With Smart Mapping, your robot knows your kitchen from your living room, so you can decide where it cleans and when; With Keep Out Zones, your robot knows to avoid sensitive areas like pet bowls or play areas
- Roomba, CLEAN MY KITCHEN - Enjoy hands-free control with Alexa and the Google assistant*
- ALWAYS GETTING SMARTER - Quality that lasts; Intelligence that grows; equipped with advanced hardware capable of providing the intelligent features you love today, and access to our latest advancements in the future
Product Videos
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References:
- Roomba J7+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-j7plus-self-emptying-robot-vacuum/J755020.html
- Roomba I7+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming/robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-i7-plus/I755020.html
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.