Is the iRobot Roomba j7+ worth it?

With advanced features and the latest technology, iRobot Roombas are some of the most popular robot vacuums on the market. But while many Roomba models can accurately map a house, vacuum specific rooms, empty themselves when full and provide customized cleaning options, the j7+ is the first iRobot robot vacuum with advanced obstacle avoidance. 

That feature makes the j7+, which was released in 2021, particularly attractive to pet owners because, if your pet has an accident on the floor, the j7+ won’t run over it and spread the mess even further. It also has 10 times the suction power of Roomba 600 series models such as the 694, providing solid performance on both carpet and hard flooring. Its Clean Base, where the robot docks and empties itself, is shorter and more compact than other self-emptying models, too, so it fits more easily in tight spaces.

The BestReviews Testing Lab put the Roomba j7+ to work in real-world conditions to evaluate just how well it cleans and navigates. Testing included cleaning on hardwood and carpeting and with different types of debris to determine how the j7+ compares with other models and what kind of home it works best in.

What is the iRobot Roomba j7+?

Roomba j7+ cleaning kitchen floor.

Battery life: 97 minutes | Dimensions: 13.3” L x 13.3” W x 3.4” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.4 L | Weight: 7.49 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri | Scheduling: Yes

Like other high-end Roombas, such as the s9+ and i8+, the Roomba j7+ generates smart maps of your home to learn the floor plan. It allows you to fine-tune these maps (for instance, you can change room labels or move around dividers) to ensure they’re as accurate as possible. Unlike other smart-mapping Roombas, though, the j7+ can identify obstacles. This feature allows it to avoid pet accidents, as well as cords and other objects you don’t want it to go near. It also takes photos of items it’s unfamiliar with to get feedback from you about which things are temporary obstacles. We also had the option to create a Keep-Out Zone to prevent the robot from getting stuck in an area with a permanent obstacle. 

A self-emptying model, the j7+ comes with a Clean Base automatic disposal dock like the s9+, i1+, i3+ and i8+. However, the j7+ Clean Base is noticeably shorter and more compact than the base for other self-emptying robots. But it still holds up to 60 days’ worth of debris and has enough space in the top to store extra dust bags. 

To see how the j7+ compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best Roomba.

Pros

• Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance
• Requests feedback to create Keep-Out Zones
• Solid suction on hardwood and carpet
• Compact self-emptying base
• Easy to use with app and voice commands

Cons

• All those special features mean a higher price tag 
• Battery life compared to the j7+ Combo (which has a mopping option) is about 30 minutes shorter 
• Doesn’t mop

iRobot Roomba j7+ price and where to buy

The Roomba j7+ generally costs $799.99. It’s available on Amazon and Walmart.

Testing the iRobot Roomba 

Testing team using Roomba j7+ to determine performance on carpeting and hard flooring.

When testing the Roomba j7+, we first focused on measurable stats that affect its performance. We started by timing how long its battery lasted before it ran out of power. Once the battery was drained, we recorded how long it took to fully recharge. Next, we tested how long the robot could clean before its dustbin was full. Finally, we observed the time needed to clean a complete room and noted the square footage of the space.  

To evaluate its performance on both hard flooring and carpeting, we placed different types of debris in its path, including coarse kosher salt, cereal, kitty litter and pet hair, and noted how well it picked up each type. Our testing also included placing salt in the corners of both hardwood and carpeted rooms, as well as around furniture like a sofa and chair, to see how it handled tough-to-reach spots. Next, we assessed its obstacle-avoidance feature by placing small items like a handbag, a shoe and a pet toy in its path. 

Additionally, we used the iRobot Home app to map, schedule cleaning and create Keep-Out Zones to determine how user-friendly these processes were. We also tested voice commands with Alexa to see how responsive the j7+ was.

Design

The testing team evaluates the design of the Roomba j7+.

If you don’t need a self-emptying model, the Roomba j7 is essentially the same robot as the j7+. It just doesn’t come with a Clean Base for automatic emptying. 

However, the j7+’s most unique design feature is its front-facing camera. All other camera-aided Roombas, except the j7 and j7+ Combo, have top-mounted cameras. With a front-facing camera, the j7+ can easily see obstacles in its path, so it knows to avoid them. To help it see better, it also has a headlight at its front that illuminates its path. The j7+’s navigation sensor is also in the front, which further aids in obstacle avoidance.

Carpet performance

Testing team determining how well the Roomba j7+ can clean carpet.

We then placed a clump of pet hair on the carpet to see how well the j7+ could clean carpeting in a home with pets. Like the premium Roomba s9+, it had no issue removing the hair, capturing it all in one pass. 

We placed a handful of Cap n’ Crunch cereal on the carpet for our next test. Like some of the other Roombas we tested, including the i3+, the j7+ picked up most of the cereal but crushed one of the pieces under its wheel, creating crumbs. When it moved over the spot for its next pass, though, it removed all the remaining pieces. 

We also tested the j7+’s ability to pick up kosher salt from the corner of a carpeted room. Unlike the s9+, which cleaned corners extremely well (due to its unique D-shape design), the j7+ struggled a bit. It picked up about three-quarters of the salt but left a noticeable line of particles behind. 

Overall, we found that the j7+ had solid suction on carpeting. In fact, only the s9+ was more powerful on carpeting during our testing. 

Hardwood performance

Testing team using Roomba j7+ on hardwood flooring to determine its performance.

Like most robot vacuums, the Roomba j7+ was even more effective on hardwood and other hard flooring. The only issue it ran into was occasionally blowing larger particles out of its path, depending on how it approached them. However, even the premium s9+, which offers 40 times the suction power as Roomba’s 600 series, would sometimes blow particles out of its way — and, in most cases, the j7+ eventually picked up the displaced debris on subsequent passes. 
 

When we placed kosher salt on hardwood, the j7+ captured all but a stray particle or two and performed similarly with kitty litter, leaving just one small piece behind. It was mostly successful with cereal, though it blew two pieces out of its path that it had to capture on a second pass. Pet owners will be glad to hear that it was impressive with pet hair, removing an entire clump in a single pass. 

Because the j7+ relies on light to help it navigate, it doesn’t work as well in low-light situations. Open your blinds and curtains, or turn some lights on before you send it out to clean. 

Next, we tested its performance in corners. We sprinkled kosher salt in the corner of a room with hardwood. The j7+ picked up nearly all of the salt but blew a few particles away from the corner and never returned for them. 

Ultimately, we were pleased with the j7+’s performance on hardwood. It had better control than models like the i1+, i3+ and i8+, so it didn’t blow as many large particles out of its path as those Roombas did. Its performance was still slightly behind the s9+ but not necessarily enough to be noticeable in everyday cleaning. 

Battery life and ease of use

Testing team tests how long the j7+ can run before needing to recharge.

During our testing, the Roomba j7+ ran for 97 minutes before its battery needed to recharge, which was about the middle of the pack for the models we tested. It was more than enough time to clean our testing area, as the robot took 53 minutes to clean 320 square feet. However, the s9+ and j7+ Combo offered better battery life, with the s9+ going for 107 minutes and the  j7+ Combo going for just over two hours before needing to recharge. 

We noticed that the j7+ lost its charge a bit more quickly when cleaning carpeting, which makes sense since all robots use increased suction power to pull dirt from the carpet fibers. When the battery was completely depleted, the j7+ took an hour and 58 minutes to recharge. 

All the Roombas we tested were easy to set up, but the j7+ and j7+ Combo were the two easiest. Once we took the j7+ out of the box, we only had to plug in the base, place the robot on it with the charging contacts properly lined up and wait for the light to turn on to indicate the vacuum was charging. It took only a couple of minutes to connect the j7+ to Wi-Fi, and the iRobot app automatically recognized the robot without a code or any information about its series. After we entered our Wi-Fi network password, the robot was ready to clean. 

Navigation and obstacle avoidance

Testing team using Roomba j7+ on hardwood flooring to determine navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities.

Like the Roomba s9+, the j7+ uses smart mapping to learn a home’s layout and floor plan. We sent the robot out on a mapping run before cleaning. During a mapping run, it doesn’t clean but instead focuses on efficiently learning the space. We were impressed with how quickly and smoothly the mapping process went. The j7+ mapped a 330-square-foot area in just 32 minutes and correctly identified all but one of the rooms without our assistance. It was also highly accurate in dividing the rooms, even in areas with an open floor plan. Through the iRobot app, we could correct and change the map, too, so we could label the unidentified room before it vacuumed. 

Additionally, the j7+ took photos of possible obstacles it encountered during its run for us to review. We could label them as temporary obstacles or non-obstacles and create Keep-Out Zones around permanent obstacles. Once the map was established, we sent the j7+ to vacuum specific rooms and around certain furniture. For example, we had the robot clean beneath a dining table.

The j7+’s navigation and obstacle avoidance are so strong because it has both a front-facing camera and a front-mounted navigation sensor that allow it to better identify and avoid obstacles. In fact, iRobot touts the j7+’s ability to avoid your pet’s accident, backing up the claim with P.O.O.P., or Pet Owner Official Promise. The brand guarantees that your robot will never run into your pet’s waste, or it will replace your j7+ for free.  

To test the j7+’s obstacle avoidance, we placed a handbag, a shoe and a stuffed pet toy in its path. In every case, the robot sensed the item was there and swerved away from it. It performed similarly when we stood in front of it, pivoting away before it came into contact with us. 

The obstacle-avoidance feature isn’t just handy for pet owners, either. It helps the j7+ avoid cables, wires, children’s toys and more, so it doesn’t get stuck in the middle of cleaning. 

Our testing revealed that the j7+ didn’t have any trouble navigating between different types of flooring. It moved from carpeting to a rug easily and went over the metal and wooden molding between hardwood and carpeting without a problem in either direction. However, during testing, it did have trouble going from hardwood to a runner with a thick, banded edge once or twice. The runner’s edge flipped up and got caught beneath it, so the robot had to back up and transition over it again. However, nearly all of the Roombas we tested, including the i3+, i8+, j7+ Combo and s9+, had the same issue.

iRobot Roomba j7+ smartphone application

Testing team setting up iRobot Roomba j7+ smartphone application.

Like all Wi-Fi-connected Roombas, the j7+ works with the iRobot Home app. The app provides easy access to many of the robot’s features and makes operating the j7+ very simple. 

We had no trouble setting up the iRobot app, which is available for Android and iOS. During testing, it took less than five minutes to download, create an account and recognize the j7+ without any code. Easy to navigate, it kept track of all the robot’s mapping and cleaning runs, providing a map of the path after each.

In addition, the iRobot app offers other features that help you get the most out of your robot, such as adjusting how many passes it makes while cleaning and clearing error messages.  

Scheduling

With the iRobot app, it’s simple to create cleaning schedules that ensure your floors are vacuumed regularly. You can select the days and times you want the robot to go out, as well as set cleaning preferences for the sessions, such as the number of passes it does and the suction power it uses. During testing, we used the app to schedule the robot for cleaning, and like clockwork, the j7+ went out at our chosen time to vacuum. You don’t need the app to schedule cleaning, though — giving it voice commands through a home assistant like Alexa also works to schedule the robot. 

With the Recharge and Resume feature, the j7+ returns to its base if it runs out of power. Once fully recharged, it picks up its cleaning right where it left off. 

Cleaning preferences

In the iRobot app, you can customize the j7+’s cleaning preferences. The default setting is for the robot to do one cleaning pass over an area, but we adjusted it to two passes. After making this change, we found that the robot provided a more thorough cleaning. You can also adjust its cleaning behavior when its bin is full and turn off the robot’s automatic obstacle detection if you want it to solely focus on cleaning instead. These features are only available in the app and can’t be accessed via voice commands. 

Reboot 

Like any high-tech home appliance, your robot vacuum may occasionally run into errors or problems that require a little help to clear. Rebooting your j7+ clears error messages, helps with charging issues and more. While it’s simple enough to reboot the robot by pressing its Clean button for 10 seconds, we found the process even easier through the app. Under the Product Settings tab, you’ll find the option to reboot your j7+, which only requires tapping a button. The robot takes care of the rest and powers back on when it’s done. 

j7+ Clean Base

The j7+ Clean Base allows the robot to empty itself as needed.

One of the Roomba j7+’s most convenient features is its Clean Base. This base allows the robot to empty itself when its bin is full, so its vacuuming is never interrupted. During our testing, the j7+ emptied itself four times during an hour and 57 minutes of cleaning. We never had to intervene, and the robot continued vacuuming as soon as it was done. When we checked the dustbin after it had emptied itself, we found a few pieces of debris still inside. However, the Clean Base removed nearly all of the dirt.

Like the other self-emptying Roombas we tested, including the i1+, i3+, i8+, j7+ Combo and s9+, the j7+ is very loud when using the Clean Base. We didn’t find it any louder than a standard vacuum, though, and the process took less than 20 seconds.

The j7+’s Clean Base differs slightly from the base for other self-emptying models we tested. The j7+ and j7+ Combo both have a base that’s approximately 4 inches shorter than the standard Clean Base. So while its width is the same, it doesn’t take up as much space as the other Clean Bases. If you live in a home with limited space, you may prefer the more compact self-emptying base. 

Roomba j7+ benefits

The Roomba j7+ created a highly accurate map of our testing area right after its first mapping run. Its navigation was excellent, so it correctly identified most rooms and divided the floor plan. It also lived up to iRobot’s claims about avoiding obstacles, as we saw it swerve away from small to medium objects like shoes and pet toys. It also didn’t run into us when we stood directly in its path. 

After it mapped the testing area, the j7+ requested feedback from us regarding obstacles. It showed us photos in the app that allowed us to identify whether the items in question were non-obstacles or temporary obstacles. We could also create Keep-Out Zones for permanent obstacles in its path, such as pet bowls. 

While the j7+’s suction power isn’t as strong as the s9+’s, it performed well on both hardwood and carpeting. It sometimes required a second pass to remove all the debris on medium-pile carpeting, but we were left without noticeable dirt. We were also pleased with how it handled pet hair on both hard flooring such as vinyl plank and carpeting. 

The self-emptying Clean Base also makes using the j7+ more convenient. But what made it even better than other self-emptying models, like the i8+ and s9+, is its shorter, more compact base. We could fit the base under an end table in our testing area, so it was hidden out of the way but still had easy access to the space. 

Finally, we appreciated how easy and user-friendly the j7+ is to operate. We used both voice commands and the iRobot app to control the vacuum, and it was highly responsive no matter which method we used. 

Roomba j7+ drawbacks

While it boasts excellent performance and advanced features like obstacle avoidance, the j7+’s $800 price may put it out of range for many budgets. It is, however, $200 cheaper than the s9+, but we found it doesn’t offer the same suction power. Additionally, the j7+ retails for $200 less than the j7+ Combo, but its battery life is shorter and it doesn’t mop in addition to vacuuming. 

Should you get the Roomba j7+?

Testing team evaluates the underside of Roomba j7+.

After testing the Roomba j7+, we believe it’s an ideal robot vacuum for those looking for more advanced features. Pet owners will likely be most pleased with the j7+. Not only does it handle pet hair well on all surfaces, but its obstacle-avoidance feature means you never have to worry about it smearing your pet’s accidents across your floors. Its ability to move around obstacles will also come in handy in a cluttered home, where little ones might leave toys and other items lying around.