The only difference between the Roomba J7 Vs J7+ is that the Plus version comes with a self-cleaning station, whereas the normal one uses a simple charging dock. That said, they share all the new punches from iRobot, such as an upgraded front-facing camera, the ability to be controlled remotely via the iRobot Home App with some notable additions, and more.
So, at the end of the day, if you’re allergy-prone or simply prefer a hands-free cleaning experience, the Roomba J7+ is well worth the extra investment. But if you’re happy with doing it by hand, the Roomba J7 offers a more budget-friendly alternative.
Roomba J7 Vs J7+: Comparison Chart
Roomba J7 Vs J7+: Differences
The Roomba J7+ beats the J7 with a 5-4 win. Keep an eye out for more detailed insights on these smart vacuuming marvels!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Tie
| Hard Floor | ≈ 95% |
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 92% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 96% |
My tests revealed that the Roomba J7 performed admirably across various surface types, though it didn’t quite meet my initial expectations. For comparison, the Roomba S9, released two years prior, could eliminate about 99% of debris on all kinds of flooring.
Regarding hair removal, the J7 also caught a large amount of 5-inch strands of hair with ease but struggled a bit more than 10-inch ones. The good news is that only a small amount got tangled in the brush rolls, and they can be easily disassembled for cleaning.
Design & Usability
Winner: Tie
Dimensions & Weight
| Dimensions (WxH) | 13.3 x 3.4 inches |
| Weight | 7.49 lbs |
The Roomba J7 features a standard circle-shaped design with a diameter of 13.3 inches. This one has a somewhat low configuration, and its obstacle-detecting camera is forward-facing, allowing it easier access beneath low-lying furniture than models with sensors mounted on the top.
Extractor & Side Brush
Flip this one over, and you will see two green rubber brush rolls between a couple of wheels that rotate in opposite directions to lift and suck up dust and dirt. I’ll go into its cleaning performance later, but it’s no spoiler to say it does an excellent job.
Additionally, this one uses a single three-prong brush on the side to sweep debris from edges and corners or along walls, where the main extractor might struggle. However, I found that it scattered a moderate amount of smaller particles due to its fast-spinning nature.
Navigation
Like earlier Roombas, the J7 uses Imprint Smart Mapping technology, mapping out all the rooms in your home and remembering them for future cleanings. This one can even be programmed to focus on individual rooms, thereby shortening the vacuuming cycle.
A key differentiator that sets the Roomba J7 apart from earlier Roombas is its obstacle avoidance capability, thanks to its cutting-edge PrecisionVision Navigation technology. Equipped with a front-facing camera, this is the first iRobot that can detect and steer clear of obstacles around the house, like pet waste and charging cables. This is a truly big step forward for “blind” robots like the Roomba I3, which rely on physical contact with objects before altering their course.
If you’re living with some four-legged friends, you might be particularly interested in Roomba’s Pet Owner Official (P.O.O.P.) Promise, where iRobot guarantees that the j7+ will completely avoid pet waste, or they will replace the Roomba for free. This feature is especially beneficial if you’ve yet to successfully potty-train your pets, as you can operate the robot with peace of mind. During my multiple test runs, I used fake dog poop in three different shapes (of course, who wanted the real thing?). Even so, the J7 gave all of them a wide berth.
Furthermore, I noticed that the J7 is also adept at avoiding other objects, such as power cords and headphone wires. For unidentified items, it even snapped photos and sent them to me via the iRobot Home app, allowing me to classify them as either temporary or permanent obstacles. That said, this one can get smarter by learning over time.
Sadly, this robot doesn’t work effectively or even doesn’t work in areas that are too dimly lit for its sensors. This limitation is a widespread issue across a range of robot vacuums. So in order for it to be able to navigate your home successfully, you need to make sure it gets at least a modicum of light.
Battery Life
| Battery Life | ≈ 98 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 120 mins |
The Roomba j7+ uses a 2410 mAh Li-ion battery, which can continuously power it for over an hour and a half before running out of juice. If the battery drains during cleaning, the robot has the intelligence and good memory to return to its charging station, recharge, and then pick up right where it left off to complete the job.
Control
Winner: Tie
Manual Control
When it comes to the physical control panel, the Roomba J7 has nothing but a single power button on the top of the machine. You can tap it once to start the cleaning cycle and make another tap to stop it and you can press and hold it to send the robot to its dock. This saves me from having to take out my phone and navigate through the app.
App Connectivity
To unlock all the advanced capabilities of the J7, you need to download the iRobot app (compatible with both Android and iOS devices) to your phone/tablet and connect to the machine via a stable WiFi connection. The app is free and very easy to use. It makes scheduling, naming and selecting zones, and blocking off areas a breeze.
Just like other high-end Roomba, the J7 is even compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alex, allowing you to fully control the robot with your commands. For instance, if you use Amazon Alexa, just say, “Alexa, vacuum the bedroom, please!” and the J7 does the job. Well, it sounds like you have a dedicated butler, wouldn’t you agree?
Via the app, you can monitor the status of the robot (extractors, side brush, and filter) and have it programmed to clean on a schedule as you like. You can set up clean areas using the blue virtual boxes or use the red ones to mark no-go zones where you do not want the robot to visit. Additionally, you have the option to label individual rooms and ask the robot to clean only those you specify in lieu of the whole house.
I also loved the “Clean While I’m Away” function. This one uses your location (the location of your smartphone for more accuracy) to start cleaning when you are out of your house and cease operation upon your return. This way, your cherished downtime at home is never interrupted by the robot’s noise.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roomba J7+
The Roomba J7 features a 400-ml bin that contains the collected dirt and a HEPA filter. This filter isn’t washable, and you will need to spend a few bucks about every two months to replace it.
Now, let’s focus on the singular difference between the Roomba J7 and J7+. While the J7 comes with a standard charging dock, the J7+ features an advanced Clean Base that can automatically empty the robot’s dustbin. Once the J7+ docks at this charging station, it automatically transfers all the collected debris into a sealed disposable bag (two bags come complimentary with your purchase) located within the base.
The whole self-emptying process is completely sealed, ensuring that no dust, dirt, or debris escapes back onto your floors and necessitates further cleaning. The manufacturer claims that the dust bag has a 60-day capacity, and when it’s time for a replacement, you’ll receive a notification via the iRobot app.
Nonetheless, this hands-free convenience comes at an additional $200 cost, while emptying the trash bin manually is a breeze as well. Hence, if you have no problem with that (I mean, you’re not dealing with severe asthma or similar concerns), you can save money by opting for the normal version.
Other Features
Winner: Tie
Noise
| Working | ≈ 59 dB |
| Self-Emptying (Only Roomba J7+) | ≈ 72 dB |
Its noise level when operating is loud enough to be noticed but quiet enough not to overwhelm a normal conversation. It’s worth noting that the noise dramatically intensifies to the decibel level of a stick vacuum during the self-emptying stage, but since this is a brief stage, it’s hardly a significant issue.
Imprint Link
This function works only if you simultaneously own the Roomba J7 vacuum and the Braava Jet M6 mop. Once the J7 completes its vacuuming cycle, it signals the Braava to begin mopping. The interplay between these two appliances, orchestrated through the app, is incredibly smooth.
Headlight
There is a minor LED headlight on the front of the robot to light up dark zones like corners and nooks or furniture. But I personally found it not really effective, just more like a gimmick than a game changer.
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.
- IT DOESN’T JUST LEARN YOUR HOME; IT REACTS TO IT IN REAL TIME. With PrecisionVision Navigation and a camera, your robot identifies and avoids obstacles of all sizes like pet waste, charging cords, socks and shoes to get the whole job done.
- 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 J7
- CLEANS WHEN & WHERE YOU WANT– Only iRobot brings you Imprint Smart Mapping allowing you to control & schedule which rooms are cleaned and when, while storing multiple maps for easier cleaning on each level of your home; Plus customizable Keep Out Zones and Clean Zones allow you to tell them the exact area to avoid and clean
- DOESN'T GET HUNG UP; JUST GETS IT DONE; - A full suite of advanced sensors allow this robot to navigate under and around furniture, and along edges, while Cliff Detect keeps it from falling down the stairs
- SET TO AUTOMATICALLY CLEAN WHEN YOU'RE AWAY - Now with iRobot Genius, you can choose to set your robot to automatically start cleaning when you leave and stop when you come home, so you only notice the clean and never the cleaning
- 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; Plus customizable Keep Out Zones and Clean Zones allow you to tell them the exact area to avoid and clean
Product Videos
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References:
- Roomba J7+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-j7plus-self-emptying-robot-vacuum/J755020.html
- Roomba J7: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-j7-robot-vacuum/J715020.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.