iRobot Roomba j7+(plus) robot vacuum cleaner in review – light, camera, action!
The well-known robot vacuum manufacturer iRobot has introduced another robot vacuum series with its j-series. The smartest robot vacuum on the market. iRobot Roomba j7+ is smart, sleek, and strong. It identifies and avoids obstacles like pet waste and cords, and empties itself for 60 days. It’s perfect for pet hair and delivers 10x power-lifting suction. It learns and maps your home while it vacuums to keep you out of trouble. We are talking about the iRobot Roomba j7 and j7+. The plus in the name stands for an included suction station, otherwise, the devices are identical. In our iRobot j7 review, we show which features you can expect.
Design and features
iRobot Roomba j7 has a round shape and a camera on the front, which it uses to orient itself. iRobot calls this PrecisionVision Navigation. A small LED provides light in the dark.
While competitor models that use laser navigation to navigate through rooms are usually taller, as there is a laser tower on the top, iRobot Roomba j7 only has the cleaning button to start it there. This not only makes iRobot Roomba flat to get under furniture, but also makes it detect flat objects as the camera visually detects cords, for example, and the laser sits too high for this task in comparison.
As an iRobot Roomba robot vacuum, iRobot Roomba j7+ has two rubberized double brushes on the bottom as is typical of the manufacturer. It is strong because the fewer bristles on the brush, the harder it is for long hairs to get caught in them. This also makes it interesting for pet owners and a robot vacuum for pet hair. Thanks to an edge brush, corners also become clean. Numerous sensors guarantee that j7 safely drives along the wall or detects drop-offs and does not fall stairs.
The iRobot Roomba i7+ variant also comes with a practical suction station, which is also the charging station. Users only need to replace the dust bag included in it about every 60 days. This offers convenience, as the suction station replaces the regular manual emptying of the robot vacuum’s dust container. Additionally, allergy sufferers do not come into contact with dust. We considered it positive that there is a cord rewind on the back and thus cord management is possible. This is not available in some models, so the suction station can be a tripping hazard for the robot vacuum due to its cord, depending on the installation location.
Special features and functions of the robot vacuum
The greatest special feature of iRobot Roomba j7+ is obstacle detection. This simplifies the cleaning process enormously. Thanks to a camera, the robot vacuum recognizes obstacles, such as cords, and reliably avoids them. We consider this a strength since most robot vacuums have problems with cords, which have to be moved out of the way before cleaning the floor. With iRobot Roomba j7, no one has to worry about the robot vacuum making a mess when you are away if you forget this step of preparation. The iRobot Home app also sends users pictures when the robot vacuum encounters obstacles. Thus, householders can remove the dangers or obstacles for the next cleaning process or give their smart household helper tips on how the model can best avoid them.
The manufacturer iRobot is so sure of the effectiveness of obstacle detection that they have made a strange promise to pet owners. With the “Pet Owner Official Promise” (P. O. O. P.), iRobot guarantees the replacement of their device if the j7 should ever fail to avoid the four-legged friends’ leftovers and instead spread them around the apartment.
Also, iRobot Roomba j7 can create maps and the robot vacuum can be sent to different rooms for cleaning. iRobot uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) here, so Roomba j7 learns with every cleaning trip and always chooses the best route. On the highest of three suction levels, the iRobot Roomba j7 is said to offer up to 10 times more suction power compared to Roomba 600 series models.
Other special features of iRobot Roomba j7 are:
Combination with mopping function
Although iRobot Roomba j7 is a pure vacuum robot without mopping function, it can be combined with the mopping robot iRobot Braava jet m6. Then iRobot Roomba j7 provides dust-free surfaces in the first pass and iRobot Braava jet m6 provides good wet cleaning afterward.
Dirt Detect Technology
The manufacturer’s technology guarantees that the robot vacuum recognizes particularly dirty areas and cleans accordingly more intensively in these places. This can be in the kitchen, for example, where there are always many crumbs.
iRobot Genius
This is what iRobot calls the geofencing function. This means that iRobot Roomba j7 notices whether the smartphone of its user is nearby or not. If this function is activated, the robot vacuum starts automatically as soon as its owners are on their way to work, for example. If it is a short walk with the dog, the robot vacuum automatically stops its activity when it arrives. We rate this as practical, as it keeps the apartment clean without users having to witness the volume.
Prices and availability of iRobot Roomba j7
iRobot Roomba j7 without suction station is available for $649.99. iRobot Roomba j7+ as a combination with the suction station is priced at $849.99 (09/2021). iRobot Roomba j7 and plus released on September 19, 2021.
Roborock S7 as an alternative to iRobot Roomba j7
We recommend Roborock S7 for those who are not only looking for a pure robot vacuum but also want a hybrid model with a mopping function. Thanks to lasers, the vacuuming and mopping robot finds its way around rooms very well, creates maps and the innovative wet cleaning could convince us in the test. The special feature is that the mopping plate is set into vibration and therefore imitates manual mopping well. Another advantage: Low carpets are protected from water since the mopping plate can also be lifted.
Roborock S7+ is a set consisting of a Roborock and suction station. The advantage of the suction station: It can be used with a bag or bagless. This saves interested users additional costs for buying bags.
Conclusion of iRobot Roomba j7+ – Robot Vacuum with Suction Station in Review
With Roomba j7 and Roomba j7+, iRobot Roomba expands its product portfolio with robot vacuums that score particularly well in terms of obstacle detection. Thanks to a built-in camera, the iRobot Roomba j7 bypasses cords, for example, without “eating” them. This is an advantage over other models, where users may be in for a nasty surprise if they have not secured their home before cleaning their robot vacuum. A lot of conveniences are also promised by Roomba j7+, which provides even more comfort thanks to a suction station and takes over the manual emptying of the dust container.
Typical for iRobot are the two rubber brushes, in which little hair or pet hair can get caught. The manufacturer has improved the suction intensity compared to its predecessors. Due to these strengths and obstacle detection, we give iRobot Roomba j7+ a buy recommendation. Unfortunately, an additional mopping function or laser navigation is not available.
