There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder, “Do they really work?” In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
The Tester
Brandon Carte, dog dad to a husky and German shepherd who profusely shed.
The Brief
I've tested more than a dozen different robot vacuums and was absolutely blown away by the performance of the Roomba j7+.
I primarily rely on a cordless stick vacuum to keep my carpet, rugs, and hardwoods free from the copious amounts of hair and dust bunnies that always pile up in the corner, but sometimes I'm just too busy or exhausted to get the job done myself. So, I occasionally rely on a robot vacuum when I can't find the time to vacuum by hand.
The Roomba j7+ is one of the best robot vacuums in the business. What sets it apart from the competition is its outstanding navigation performance and dual rubber brushes that help it suck up debris buried deep between carpet fibers. The vacuum packs serious smarts, too. It navigates in straight lines and uses an onboard camera to avoid obstacles like socks and cords, which would likely get tanged up with other vacuums and halt cleaning completely.
Priced at $799, the Roomba j7+ may cause some sticker shock, but it's one of the most high-end robot vacuums on the market and, surprisingly, isn't the most expensive one you can buy. What I love most about the Roomba is that you can run it without feeling the need to babysit it or tidy up your home prior to cleaning. Here's why else you should consider adding the Roomba j7+ to your home.
It Navigates Around Obstacles And Rarely Gets Stuck
When most people picture a robot vacuum, they probably think of them nonsensically bumping into walls and spinning around endlessly in a frenzied manner. But trust me, robot vacuums have improved by leaps and bounds just in the last 3 years alone.
The Roomba j7 is equipped with a camera and a LED headlight on its front side so it can “see” where it’s going. I also tested Roomba’s even pricier S9+ vacuum and found that this one actually did a better job at navigating my living spaces. In fact, the S9+ would frequently get stuck and end jobs early.
As for the j7, this vacuum moves methodically in straight lines and will cover your entire floor plan. It has onboard sensors to detect staircases and is the first Roomba vacuum to have an obstacle avoidance system, which can identify objects like cords, socks, potted plants, pet bowls, and even pet waste. When it detects a stray cable, it will sense it and dodge it. iRobot even promises that the vacuum will not smear poop throughout your home. If it does, they'll send you a new one within the first year of purchase.
As the vacuum cleans, it occasionally snaps photos of obstacles it encounters, and within the iRobot app, you can review the photos and give feedback on how the robot should behave when it detects said obstacles. You can even “train” the vacuum to avoid problem spots entirely.
If you have privacy concerns, you'll be comforted to know that images are encrypted and only viewable by you. Alternatively, you can disable this feature and still run the vacuum as normal, too.
It Empties Itself and Requires Little Maintenance
The j7 robot vacuum includes iRobot's signature Clean Base — which was first introduced back in 2018 with the iRobot i7+ vacuum. When the vacuum's bin is full, it'll automatically return to its base, empty itself into an enclosed bag (which won't need replacing for 2 months), and resume cleaning where it left off. The iRobot app conveniently will inform you when it's time to replace parts like the spinning dust brush, and its accessories are readily available on Amazon.
I appreciate that the bin is more compact than its predecessors, so you can store it under tables. It's more stylish than other robot vacuum docks and has leather accents to make it feel less like a boxy piece of tech and more like a piece of furniture. There's also a nifty storage area within the bin for stowing new vacuum bags.
It's worth mentioning that when the motor sucks out the debris, the Clean Base is uncomfortably loud. The vacuum itself is 60 decibels, but the dock measures in at over 80 decibels and sounds like an airplane taking off, which can be a bit annoying to listen to. Fortunately, it takes less than 10 seconds to empty.
It Works Well on All Floor Types
My home primarily has hardwood floors, but there are area rugs both in the bedroom and the living room — plus I have some tile in the bathroom and some carpet in my office. The j7+ has no issues whatsoever transitioning between the two. I also have an incredibly steep threshold that goes from the hallway to the bathroom, and was surprised that the robot vacuum was able to overcome it.
Compared to other robot vacuums I’ve tested, the j7+ delivers better carpet cleaning performance. That’s because it’s equipped with dual rubber brush rollers — a feature that’s exclusive to iRobot vacuums. They work well at resisting hair tangles and effectively beat out the dirt and debris on your carpets. The j7+ was an absolute beast at sucking up dust bunnies, stray food crumbs in the kitchen, and of course, the copious amount of pet hair that is scattered on my floor. I also love that it’s shorter than a lot of other vacuums, so it can more easily clean under furniture.
The only thing the vacuum struggled with was sucking up cotton from dog toys, but I've yet to come across a vacuum that doesn't.
Its App Is Easy and Enables Remote Control
The iRobot app is extremely user-friendly and has come in handy more times than I can count. I programmed automatic cleaning schedules so the vacuum will fire up on its own to vacuum while I'm getting ready in the morning Monday-Friday, but on weekends it runs a little later in case I decide to sleep in.
The app's "Keep-Out Zone" feature especially comes in handy if there are problem areas for the vacuum where it gets stuck or knocks things over. You can draw borders around areas on a map where you don't want the vacuum to go. I created a border to avoid the spot where I keep my dogs' water bowl and a narrow section between the fireplace and my credenza where the vacuum sometimes gets stuck.
It's also super convenient to be able to open up the iRobot app to instruct the vacuum to clean specific areas or rooms, be it under the couch or in the kitchen. I admire iRobot for frequently pushing software updates to improve the vacuum's features and object recognition. For instance, there's a new "child and pet lock" that disables the robot's "Clean" button, so your children or pets don't accidentally turn it on.
iRobot also enabled voice controls via Siri, so vacuuming the house is as simple as saying, "Hey Siri, ask Roomba to clean everywhere."
Some Minor Quirks and Shortcomings
My biggest complaint about the Roomba j7+ is that in order for it to operate and navigate correctly, it needs to be in a well-lit room. Vacuums like the similarly priced Roborock S7 use LIDAR to navigate — that's the same tech self-driving cars use — so it can clean and get around in the dark. Fortunately, the j7+ does have a headlight to help it see for early or late-night cleaning sessions.
If you live in a large home, you might wish the j7+ had better battery life. During my testing, the vacuum ran for around an hour and a half before needing to head back to its base for a charge. After it juices up (which takes roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes), it'll resume cleaning where it last left off.
The Closing Argument
The Roomba j7+ is an outstanding robot vacuum that will leave your floors noticeably cleaner without any significant effort on your end. Thanks to its included Clean Base, you don't have to worry about manually emptying its dust bin since the dock can hold around 60 days of dirt and debris.
While I wish the j7+ was a tad cheaper, I've got to hand it to iRobot, this vacuum works wonderfully, it's easy to use, and is smart enough to avoid common household objects that would otherwise terminate the cleaning process with more inexpensive vacuums — making it well-worth its hefty price tag.
