Both the Roborock Q5+ vs Roomba I7+ are highly autonomous robots that can operate without requiring a lot of babysitting. I mean, they can do almost everything themselves, from recharging to dust bin emptying and even initiate scheduled cleanings without manual intervention.
The Roborock Q5+, the overall winner, boasts rapid and precise mapping attributed to its cutting-edge LiDAR technology and excels in overall cleaning efficiency. On the flip side, the Roomba I7+ stands out with its capacity to save up to 10 maps and operate quieter due to its lower airflow.
Roborock Q5+ Vs Roomba I7+: Comparison Chart
Roborock Q5+ Vs Roomba I7+: Differences
The Roborock Q5+ wins 4-2 against the Roomba I7+, and here is how I compared them. Let’s read on to find out!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roborock Q5+
Airflow
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet/Auto | ≈ 9.4 CFM | ≈ 8.5 CFM |
| Balanced | ≈ 11.2 CFM | NA |
| Turbo | ≈ 13.4 CFM | NA |
| Max | ≈ 16.2 CFM | NA |
The I7 operates solely in an auto mode, which automatically adjusts suction based on the amount of dirt and the surface it detects. Its highest airflow of 8.5 CFM is even lower than the Q5+ when at the lowest setting, where it registers 9.4 CFM. At maximum settings, the Q5+ nearly doubles the I7 with 16.2 CFM airflow. The airflow is indeed a critical measure of how well a robot vacuum works, so how did these bots perform in my real-world tests?
Hard Floor
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ |
|---|---|
| ≈ 99% | ≈ 93% |
The Q5+ performed better on my hardwood floor. This isn’t unusual, given its airflow is significantly higher than the I7+, which is a big factor in hard floor cleaning. The I7+ didn’t do as well as the Q5+, but it still achieved a commendable score of 93%.
Carpet
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 95% | ≈ 91% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 93% | ≈ 85% |
On both carpet varieties, the Roborock Q5+ once again showcased commendable performance, achieving high 90s percentages. The I7+ was also decent on my low-pile carpet. The Roborock Q5+ once again worked well on both types of carpets, picking up in the high 90s. The I7+ was also decent on my low-pile carpet but struggled on the high-pile carpet with a below-average score.
Hair
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 79% | ≈ 82% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 54% | ≈ 62% |
Both were decent at picking up 5-inch hair and faced difficulties with 10-inch strands, a common hiccup among robot vacuums. I did see a significant amount of hair wrap around the Q5+’s brush, while the duo rubber roller on the I7+ excelled in preventing tangles.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roborock Q5+
Dimensions & Weight
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 13.78 x 3.78 inches | 13.34 x 3.63 inches |
| Weight | 7.05 lbs | 7.44 lbs |
Much like the majority of robot vacuums, both the Q5+ and I7+ sport a circular frame with a few physical buttons on top, and if you have Alexa or use the corresponding app, there’s rarely a need to press these physical controls. The weight difference is not much, but the Q5 is surprisingly bigger and taller because of a LiDAR dome on top utilized for mapping and maneuvering.
These bots don’t come out of the box alone – they each come with a huge tower that is responsible for emptying their dust boxes. They have a large footprint and will take up space, and yes, it’s a trade-off to say goodbye to the bin-emptying aspect.
Extractor & Side Brush
Under the I7+, two rubber brushes are rotating in opposite directions for optimal agitation and cleaning efficacy. While iRobot claims these rollers are beneficial for pet hair collection, my experience showed that they just helped reduce the burden of the detangling job.
On the other hand, the Q5+ features a single Roborock’s older generation bristled roller, which is more prone to tangling, especially with long strands of hair, not to mention that untangling it is quite cumbersome. If that’s serious enough for you, you can attach the new bristle-less roller to it, but that requires an additional purchase.
The Q5+ uses a five-pronged, all-rubber side brush that Roborock first integrated with the S5 Max model. It definitely offers better durability than the bristled side brush on the I7+. Their side brushes rotate at a slower pace, ensuring debris is collected rather than scattered.
Navigation
While the Q5+ employs LiDAR laser technology for room scanning and map creation, the I7+ leverages vSLAM, using an on-board camera to see and remember everything. Both bots have great mapping capabilities, but the edge goes to the Q5+ as it can map more quickly and accurately, not to mention it can work well in low-light conditions.
One significant advantage that the I7+ has over the Q5+ is the ability to memorize multiple maps. The I7+ can remember and save up to 10 layouts on iRobot’s cloud servers for later use, while the Q5+ can only save 4. But unless you are looking for a robot vacuum for your building, the Q5+ is more than enough for home use, and the I7+ is a bit overkill, given that the majority of homes usually span just one or two floors.
During the cleaning process, both the Q5+ and I7+ move in a logical snake-like pattern, ensuring the entire floor is covered and leaving no missing spots behind. They aren’t gifted with any obstacle avoidance technology, so they tend to bump into objects in their path a few times before altering course.
Though these robots come equipped with built-in bumpers to minimize damage upon collision, the absence of obstacle avoidance technology can have particularly concerning implications when it comes to homes with pets. I mean, there’s a risk these bots will run over pet waste and spread it around your home.
Battery Life
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 82–181 mins | ≈ 68 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 189 mins | ≈ 125 mins |
The Q5+ uses a single 5200 mAh lithium-ion battery, larger than the 1800 mAh battery on the I7+. Hence, while the former offers an impressive working life for cleaning an extremely large area between cleans, the I7+ may need several charging cycles to get the job done.
But battery longevity is something that is not so important for these highly autonomous robots with the Recharge & Resume function. When the battery runs low, they will return to the dock to recharge before returning to the place they left off to do the rest of the work without manual intervention.
Control
Winner: Roborock Q5+
Manual Control
You can use these bots without your phone or an internet connection by using the buttons on their top control panels, but you will not be able to access a lot of features when doing this. Both have a Clean button to start/stop the cleaning process and a Home button to direct the robot back to the charging station. Additionally, the I7+ comes with a “Spot Clean” button, allowing it to focus on a specific area where it’s positioned.
App Connectivity
All the features you’ll get with the Q5+ and I7+ will be found in the Roborock and iRobot smartphone apps, respectively. Here, you can effortlessly switch your robot on or off, guide it back to its docking station, divide the map into rooms, and name them for specialized cleaning. What’s more, you can also review the cleaning history as well as check the status of important components, such as the brush roll, side brush, and filters.
I also greatly appreciated the integration these apps have with virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Once the map of your house is saved and all the rooms are named, you can tell the Q5+/I7+ to clean your kitchen, bedroom, or any other area with your voice. Moreover, with scheduling capabilities, you can set these bots to undertake daily cleaning routines and then let them work autonomously.
In terms of block-off functionalities, both apps allow you to set no-go zones to block the robot from getting into some areas without using physical barriers. You can also set “Clean Zones” to clean square or rectangular areas within a room.
The Roborock app has an option to set invisible walls, which are basically the same purpose as no-go zones, but you draw straight lines instead of using virtual boxes. Another distinctive feature is the ability to render the map in 3D and offer real-time tracking of the Q5+ through the live map feature.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
Right, the major pro and probably the most useful part of these robovacs is the automatic dirt-emptying base. Their dust boxes are on the small side and will fill up quickly, but that’s not a deal-breaker here since you don’t have to empty them physically – their home bases will take care of this dirty job for you.
Having these self-emptying bases is truly a game-changer in a lot of ways. Maybe you have allergies and are concerned about direct dust contact when emptying the bin, or maybe you are someone with a hectic schedule who often overlooks the task of bin emptying. Whatever, this feature has you covered. All the contents will be automatically sent to a large bag inside the base, which, depending on your robot’s usage, might only require changing monthly or even less frequently.
The I7+ uses a HEPA filter, which can be cleaned by tapping it against the side of a trash can once or twice a week. Meanwhile, the Q5+ is fitted with an E11 filter, and you should wash it under running water bi-weekly. The respective app will prompt you when it’s time for a swap.
Other Features
Winner: iRobot Roomba I7+
Noise
| Roborock Q5+ | iRobot Roomba I7+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 59-64 dB | ≈ 56 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 74 dB | ≈ 67 dB |
One advantage of lower airflow is quietness, which is the case for the I7+. The Roborock Q5 is also somewhat quiet, and you can still catch conversations in the same room with this one when it’s at its maximum suction setting. But, based on my own experience, their self-emptying routines are loud enough to deter nighttime usage.
Mopping Ability
These robots lack mopping capability. If you’re seeking a dual-purpose machine that can both vacuum and mop, you might want to dig deeper into your pockets and consider the Roborock Q Revo, for example.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock Q5+
- 7-Weeks of Hands-Free Cleaning: The Self-Empty Dock automatically empties the Q5’s dustbin after each cleanup, so you don’t have to do it manually or frequently. Its 2.5L dust bag can hold up to 7 weeks of dirt.
- Clean Smarter with PreciSense LiDAR Navigation: Extremely accurate LiDAR navigation creates precise maps that can even be viewed in 3D. You can also add furniture and floor materials to recreate your home virtually.
- Clean Harder with Powerful 2700 Pa Suction: With an incredible maximum suction power of 2700 Pa, the Q5 easily lifts debris and pet hair from floors and drags it out from deep inside carpets.
- Clean Better with the Multi-Plane Floating Main Brush: A multi-plane floating brush keeps the brush closer to the ground for deeper cleaning, even on uneven surfaces. It is strongly resistant to hair tangles and perfect for homes with pets.
- Keeps Going for Longer: Powered by high-capacity battery and a 470 ml dustbin, you get long lasting cleaning that can easily tackle most homes in one clean.
Quick Rundown Of iRobot 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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- Roborock Q5+ Vs Roomba S9+: Which is the Best Bang for the Buck?
- Roborock Q5+ Vs Roomba J7+: A Head-To-Head Comparison
Related Articles to Roomba I7 Plus
- Roomba I3+ Vs I7+: What Is The Best Option For Your Home?
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References:
- Roborock Q5+: https://us.roborock.com/products/roborock-q5-plus
- iRobot 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.