iRobot Roomba J7+ review

A robot vacuum cleaner that can recognize and avoid dog poop. That was the promise iRobot shared when it announced the new Roomba J7+. My attention was immediately drawn and I decided to buy this new Roomba robot vacuum cleaner myself.

I have extensively tested the Roomba J7+ on different floor types. In addition, I closely examined the operation, the functionalities and the cleaning settings. In this iRobot Roomba J7+ review you will discover my experiences with this robot vacuum cleaner.

Unboxing iRobot Roomba J7+

Like every other review, I start the test with the unboxing of the iRobot Roomba J7+. Check out the image below to see which accessories you get.

© Vacuumtester

1. iRobot Roomba J7: the robot vacuum itself
2. Extra side brush: an extra brush for the sides
3. Extra filter: a HEPA filter for replacement
4. Extra dust bag: a dust bag for the emptying station
5. Power cable: a power cord for the charging and discharging station
6. Charging and emptying station: the charging station, which also empties the robot vacuum cleaner

As you can see, you mainly get replacement parts with this robot vacuum cleaner. A big plus, because you don't have to worry about new purchases for a while.

Suction performance Roomba J7+

Also with robotic vacuum cleaners it is incredibly important to test the suction performance on different floor types. How does this robot vacuum cleaner score on carpet? And does it vacuum neatly along the sides on a wooden floor? And to what extent is this robot vacuum cleaner suitable for pet hair?

So I tested the Roomba J7+ on three different floor types: hard wood floors, deep-pile carpet, and low-pile carpet. I also tested how easily this iRobot robot vacuum cleaner can remove pet hair and whether it is suitable for dark floors. The latter can be a problem with robot vacuum cleaners.

© Vacuumtester.com

Suction performance for different floor types, dark floors and pet hairs

The Roomba J7+ uses a 3-step cleaning system: a side brush that cleans the sides, a very strong suction and two rubber brushes that are suitable for all floor types. These rubber brushes are also very interesting for removing pet hair. Dog and cat hairs are easily removed by this robot vacuum cleaner.

© Vacuumtester.com

Imprint-Linktechnolgie

If you have a wooden floor, you may want to consider pairing the Roomba J7+ with a Braava mopping robot. The robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with Imprint-Link technology, whereby the mopping robot starts mopping when the Roomba has finished vacuuming. A robot vacuum and mop combination is very interesting for optimal cleaning.

Suitable for dark floors

A big problem with robot vacuums is that they often don't work on dark floors. This is because sensors cannot detect a black or other dark color. However, with the Roomba J7+, a dark floor is not a problem: thanks to a special light, it can be used on dark floor types.

• Hardwood floors: 8/10 (dark floors too)
• Carpet: 7,5/10
• Pet hair: 9/10

User-friendliness: installation, app, operation and functions

The user-friendliness of a robot vacuum cleaner is based on other factors than, for example, a stick vacuum. For example, with a robot vacuum cleaner we have an installation that we operate via an app on a smartphone. In addition, there are various functions (such as cleaning schedules or a do not disturb function) that we do not encounter with other types of vacuum cleaners.

To assess the user-friendliness of the iRobot Roomba J7+, I looked at the installation process, the iRobot app and the functionalities of the vacuum cleaner itself.

Installation Roomba J7+

Before you can use the iRobot Roomba J7+, you must first install it. The installation process is very easy and consists of the following steps:

1. Take the robot vacuum cleaner and the charging station out of the box
2. Position the charging station in a place with at least 1.5 meters of free space in front of the station
3. Plug the charging cable into the charging station and then into the wall socket. Make sure that this cable is not in the way of the robot vacuum cleaner
4. Manually place the iRobot Roomba J7 in the charging dock on the metal charging panels. After a few minutes you will hear a sound signal
5. Download the iRobot app on your smartphone or tablet. Follow the installation steps on the app to add your robot vacuum cleaner
6. You can now let the robot vacuum cleaner start vacuuming and make settings

As you can see, the installation process is not difficult at all.

iRobot HOME app

The Roomba j7+ is controlled via the accompanying iRobot HOME app. After you have successfully added your robot vacuum, you can monitor the vacuum here, view its cleaning history and create cleaning schedules. You can also assign a new task to your robot vacuum cleaner. You can indicate how long the robot vacuum cleaner should vacuum and where it should vacuum.

You can also easily make settings there. For example, you can turn on a child and pet lock, whereby the buttons on the robot vacuum cleaner itself are temporarily disabled. And does your robot vacuum cleaner get stuck? Then you can reset or reset the Roomba to factory settings.

The Roomba J7+ is controlled via the iRobot HOME app. © Vacuumtester

Controls and Features

The Roomba J7+ can create a Smart Map of your home. After vacuuming twice, the robot vacuum cleaner gets to know your home well and can start following an efficient cleaning route.

As I mentioned in the introduction, the robot vacuum cleaner can recognize obstacles and avoid them thanks to iRobot's PrecisionVision technology. Even dog poop and cables are neatly avoided! You will receive a message if an obstacle is recognized, where you can indicate whether the robot vacuum cleaner should continue to avoid this in the future or not.

The iRobot Roomba recognizes cords and dog poop. © Vacuumtester

The Roomba J7+ is also self-learning. The robot vacuum cleaner is able to recognize habits and adjust its cleaning schedule accordingly. In fact, if the robot vacuum cleaner encounters more pollen or dust in specific places, it can advise you to clean there more often.

Thanks to the iRobot Genius software, the robot vacuum cleaner can see when you are home and not, to vacuum when you are not. The best quiet vacuum cleaner can't beat that when it comes to quietness. iRobot Genius is constantly innovated, so that the robot vacuum cleaner continues to get smarter and better after purchase.

Voice control possible via Google Home and Amazon Alexa

Do you have a smart speaker with Google Assist or Amazon Alexa? Then I have good news for you. The Roomba J7+ supports these two voice assistants. This way you can control your robot vacuum cleaner with spoken commands. For example, tell him to start vacuuming or return to the charging dock.

How iRobot handles your data

Robot vacuum cleaners that work via an app collect a lot of personal data. Not only to be able to reach you, but also to make your robot vacuum cleaner work smarter. It is therefore important to look at how iRobot deals with this in this iRobot Roomba J7+ review.

iRobot claims to use the highest standards of data security. For example, the highest data encryption standards are used to keep personal data and information safe. Good to know: iRobot is the first company to receive the renowned TÜV SÜD Cyber Security seal of approval.

Maintaining the iRobot Roomba J7+

The iRobot Roomba j7+ is a self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner. However, you will have to deal with maintenance. Because the emptying station also has to be emptied every now and then, the sensors have to be cleaned regularly and the brush sometimes has to be washed.

How easy it is to maintain is an important part of the review. For example, are the filters washable or easy to replace? Let's take a quick look at what needs to be cleaned, how often this should be done and how easy it is.

How to clean the Roomba J7+?

The maintenance of a robot vacuum cleaner often goes much further than just emptying the dust container. For example, the robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with sensors: if these are not cleaned properly, the vacuum cleaner is less able to recognize obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba J7+ also consists of many parts that need to be cleaned and replaced regularly. View all parts that require maintenance at a glance:

• Dust container of the robot vacuum cleaner itself
• The filter
• Full dust container sensor
• Front wheel under the robot vacuum cleaner
• Side brush and the double rubber brushes
• Sensors and Charging Contacts
• Camera screen
• Charging points on the charging station
• Blower cover under the vacuum cleaner itself

As you can see, there are quite a few parts that you have to keep clean. Fortunately, cleaning can be done quickly and easily.

For example, the dust container is super easy to empty above the trash can and the filter is easy to knock out. And as I just showed during the unboxing, you will also receive a new replacement filter. Unlike the filter, you can clean the dust container under the tap. You have to make sure that it is completely dry before using it again. The side brush and the double rubber brush are also super easy to click out of the Roomba J7+, after which you can easily remove pet hair and other dirt.

The parts of the Roomba J7+ are easy to clean and replace. © Vacuumtester

The emptying station of the Roomba J7+ is equipped with a dust bag. When this bag is full, you need to replace it with a new one. You will also receive an extra bi for this. Replacing the dust bag is super easy by opening the flap at the top.

How often should you clean and/or replace the parts?

In the overview below you can see how often you need to clean or replace specific parts.

Conclusion Roomba J7+ review

The iRobot Roomba J7+ is a super smart robot vacuum cleaner that is suitable for all floor types. It is one of the few robot vacuum cleaners that is also suitable for dark floors. In addition, thanks to the double rubber brushes, it is also very suitable for removing animal hair.

The Roomba is easy to operate via the iRobot HOME app. Here you can create cleaning schedules, have the robot vacuum cleaner vacuum a specific room or make various settings. The Roomba J7+ creates a virtual map of your home, after which it can vacuum more efficiently and better. This works very well. Where the vacuum cleaner really excels is recognizing obstacles. Cables are neatly avoided and even dog poop is noticed.

Finally, the maintenance of the vacuum cleaner may be a bit much, but very easy to do. Many parts can easily be clicked out of the vacuum cleaner, so that you can clean them properly. The Roomba J7+ is a self-emptying vacuum cleaner: you don't have to worry about emptying the charging station for weeks.

With a suggested retail price of around 999 euros, it is certainly not a cheap choice. However, this robot vacuum cleaner is worth it in my eyes. The cleaning results are good, the functions are of added value and thanks to iRobot Genius, the robot vacuum cleaner is constantly updated. So you don't have to buy a new robot vacuum cleaner after two years, because the software is outdated or because there are ‘smarter' vacuum cleaners on the market.