iRobot Roomba j7+ Review: A Premium Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal
For years, the iRobot Roomba was the undisputed king of robot vacuum cleaners, synonymous with the entire product category. But the rise of more affordable and feature-rich options from brands like Xiaomi and Milagrow has shifted the landscape. Now, iRobot is back with the Roomba j7+, its most advanced and expensive model yet, priced at a hefty Rs. 74,900. This top-of-the-line vacuum comes equipped with the Clean Base automatic dirt disposal system, which promises to empty the dustbin post-cleaning, and boasts improvements to navigation, object detection and avoidance, and more. But is the Roomba j7+ worth its hefty price tag? Let’s delve into this comprehensive review to find out.
Design: Compact and Sleek with a Focus on Cleaning
Unlike many brands that offer multi-functional robot cleaners combining vacuuming and mopping, iRobot separates these functions. The Roomba range focuses solely on vacuuming, while the Braava range handles wet mopping.
The Roomba j7+ is a dedicated vacuum cleaner equipped with the Clean Base docking station for automatic dirt disposal. If you own a Braava device, both can be managed through the same app, allowing them to coordinate and efficiently vacuum and mop your home simultaneously.
The Clean Base dock on the j7+ is significantly smaller than the one found in the iRobot Roomba i3+, yet it serves the same purpose and can automatically dispose of dirt for up to 60 days before needing a bag replacement.
The j7+ itself boasts a familiar disc shape and size, with slightly more height compared to competitors like Xiaomi, Milagrow, and 360. A single button on top allows manual control, but the iRobot Home app offers more detailed and convenient control once connected to Wi-Fi. Unlike some competitors with openable top lids, the j7+ features a removable dustbin on the side. A flexible bumper protects against collisions, while the front houses a camera and light crucial for VSLAM (visual simultaneous localization and mapping) navigation.
The j7+ comes in a single black color and features three wheels at the bottom, two motorized and one free-wheeling stabilizer wheel at the front. The underside houses a single sweeper brush and a double-roller brush mechanism for suction, effectively capturing dirt and debris. The package includes a replacement sweeper brush, a HEPA filter for the dustbin, and a cable for connecting the docking station to a power outlet.
Navigation and Mapping: Camera-Based Accuracy and Object Avoidance
The Roomba j7+ utilizes a camera-based VSLAM navigation system. A forward-facing camera acts as its ‘eye’, complemented by a ‘headlight’ that illuminates the path for improved visibility, particularly in low-light conditions where camera-based navigation often stumbles.
This setup enables the j7+ to outperform other camera-based devices, rivaling even Lidar-based navigation in its ability to detect obstacles and navigate complex furniture arrangements like dining tables and chairs. The higher resolution camera also allows the robot to scan the environment more effectively and adapt its cleaning strategy accordingly. This translates to efficient cleaning of carpets and rugs, and smooth movement within and between rooms.
Despite requiring a couple of test runs to learn the layout and create a map, the j7+ produced a fairly accurate representation of my home. Room divisions were correctly identified, and carpeted areas were successfully marked for effortless navigation. Overall, the j7+ showcased a smoother and less clumsy navigation experience compared to earlier Roomba models. Hard collisions with furniture, especially chair and table legs, were largely avoided, and the device moved with a sense of purpose and caution.
However, there were a few notable exceptions. The j7+ fell off a single step separating two rooms when the door was left open, highlighting the importance of setting a no-go zone in such areas to prevent this in the future. On some occasions, the device unexpectedly veered off to a different room for a brief period before resuming its cleaning course.
A key highlight of the j7+ is its ability to avoid obstacles and pet waste through its intelligent navigation system. While I could not test the latter, the device successfully avoided objects like cables, towels, and clothes placed on the floor. These obstacles were often photographed for review in the app, allowing me to permanently avoid areas like immovable cables or clean over them after removing the obstacle. The j7+ effectively distinguishes between permanent fixtures and temporary obstacles, minimizing the need for constant manual intervention.
App: Comprehensive Control and Insights
The iRobot Home app controls all devices from the Roomba and Braava ranges, allowing for unified management of multiple devices in a single home. The app echoes the simplicity and ease of use of the j7+ itself, visually representing mapping, cleaning progress, battery life, and more.
Once connected to your home Wi-Fi, you can control the j7+ from anywhere, provided both your smartphone and the robot have an internet connection. This allows you to customize cleaning tasks (full house or specific rooms), empty the dustbin, adjust room boundaries, set no-go zones and clean zones, schedule cleaning routines, and modify basic device settings. While no virtual wall option exists, creating a narrow no-go zone across a room effectively serves the same purpose, preventing accidental falls.
Although the app doesn’t display the robot’s location or cleaning status while it’s active, it does update with cleaned areas after each task. This is probably the only minor drawback of the app. However, I appreciated the app’s ability to estimate the cleaning time based on selected rooms and past cleaning data. It also provides a detailed map of cleaned areas, time taken, and images of any obstacles encountered requiring attention.
Cleaning Power: Powerful and Effective with Automatic Suction Adjustment
While other brands typically specify their devices’ suction power and offer adjustable power levels, iRobot takes a different approach. The Roomba j7+ automatically calculates and adjusts suction power based on the area being cleaned. This allows the device to move seamlessly and efficiently, adapting its cleaning strength as needed.
As a user, you simply instruct the j7+ to clean specific rooms or the entire house, and it handles the rest. While the Lidar-based 360 S7 took around 35-40 minutes to clean my home, the Roomba j7+ took approximately one hour. However, I found that this time difference was due to the j7+ performing a much more thorough and effective cleaning job.
The j7+ generally operates quietly, handling everyday dust particles with minimal noise. I observed brief increases in suction power when tackling more stubborn messes, but these noise spikes were marginal and only lasted for short durations.
The device excelled at cleaning rugs and carpets, effortlessly navigating them, a feat that many other robot vacuum cleaners I’ve reviewed struggle with. The HEPA filter effectively captures particles as small as 0.1 microns, offering protection against allergy-causing dust mites.
Connectivity remained stable throughout the review period. The j7+ continued working even in rooms with weak Wi-Fi signals where it occasionally disconnected from the router. While this hindered app control during disconnection, the robot reliably returned to its docking station after each cleaning cycle and delivered cleaning details even for areas outside of Wi-Fi coverage.
Clean Base Dirt Disposal: Effective and Convenient
The Clean Base automatic dirt disposal system included with the Roomba j7+ represents a significant improvement over the one I tested with the iRobot Roomba i3+. This compact and visually appealing docking station operates far more reliably than its predecessor. With the exception of a few large impurities like small plastic pieces that were too hard to lift, the robot’s dustbin remained mostly clean without manual intervention.
The dirt disposal system uses vacuum suction to empty the robot’s dustbin. This process is slightly loud for a few seconds, but it only lasts briefly, making it manageable. Dirt is collected in a disposable bag within the Clean Base, which iRobot claims can last for 60 days of cleaning. The app notifies you when the bag is full, and it should be disposed of with regular garbage. The package includes one additional dirt bag, and more can be purchased for Rs. 1,660 per pack of three. While this feature is highly convenient, the long-term operating costs can add up.
Charging and Battery Life: Average Performance
iRobot claims that the Roomba j7+ can run for up to 75 minutes on a single charge, covering a 1,800 square-foot home. In reality, the actual cleaning area covered on a charge depends on the home layout and room access order. My 900 square-foot home took approximately an hour to clean.
Based on my experience, the 75-minute claim seems accurate, but the actual area cleaned may be closer to 1,200 square feet, slightly lower than iRobot’s estimate. Overall, the battery life is average considering the 2,210mAh battery capacity and the j7+’s price.
There is no specific battery level indicator available while the device is in operation. The app displays a graphical estimate, but it’s not very informative. However, the j7+ was able to clean my home once on a single charge with some battery remaining. In larger spaces, the device will return to charge if necessary and resume cleaning from where it left off.
Like most devices in this category, the j7+ autonomously returns to its docking station for charging. Although charging takes a while, it’s typical for robot vacuum cleaners. It took around two hours for the j7+ to fully charge after cleaning my home.
Verdict: A Premium Vacuum with Room for Improvement
In a market where many competitors offer combined vacuuming and mopping capabilities, the iRobot Roomba j7+ seems expensive at Rs. 74,900, given its sole focus on vacuuming. Of course, you can add a Braava Jet M6 for mopping functionality, but that pushes the combined price to around Rs. 1,25,000. You also need to factor in space requirements for both devices.
The automatic dirt disposal system is an impressive feature that somewhat justifies the premium price. The j7+’s cleaning effectiveness and ease of use make it worth considering. If budgeting allows, it’s an option worth exploring, especially when combined with a Braava Jet M6.
However, for those seeking a more budget-friendly alternative, the Milagrow iMap 10.0 and 360 S7 are strong contenders worth exploring.
Price: Rs. 74,990
Rating: 8/10
Pros:
- Excellent vacuum cleaning performance
- Automatic dirt disposal system works well
- Careful and precise navigation
- User-friendly and easy to operate
Cons:
- High purchase and operating costs
- Mapping could be slightly better
- Average battery life
