This review will cover the i7 as well as another top contender I tried, the Deebot N8+. If you just want to read about the i7 please skip to that part.
If you've done your homework, watched Vacuum Wars videos on YouTube and compared all available options right now, you may have landed on these 2 as your top contenders. The S9 looks nice but it's way too expensive and the reviews just aren't good enough. Roborock looks promising but their top end model is relatively expensive and doesn't have an auto-empty bin as of the date of this review. There is no "perfect" robot in existence right now, in my view. I'm a 5 year owner of a Roomba 960 that had to be returned 3 times initially and repaired once out of warranty before it reached a stable state for me. I figured it was time for an upgrade. I was not optimistic about the i7 at all due to previous 960 issues and for that reason purchased the Deebot first as an extremely impressive option full of advanced tech. I'll give you my experience with both and why, much to my surprise, I landed on the i7 as the robot I will keep.
First up, the N8 Pro+ which boasts variable suction levels that auto-switch depending on the floor type, low noise levels, laser 3D LiDAR tech for navigation, object avoidance camera, dual rotating brushes, built in mopping capability and a physically thinner footprint so it can get under my kitchen cabinets where my 960 gets stuck, daily. The functionality of the Ecovacs app is all there but my gripes are mainly around the layout, button naming and settings menus. I didn't find it very intuitive at all but all the key features are there: house mapping and virtual keep out zones being my top priorities. I did have some trouble with the initial configuration of the keep-out zones but got there eventually. The robot functions very well in general and is a very good vacuum, all told.
The downsides that I experienced, however, were enough for me to return it. The key cons here are battery life, recharge time, the auto-empty base and getting stuck. Your first step with the N8 is the initial mapping of your floorplan which must be completed fully before you can do anything, I mean anything. It runs the vacuum during this mapping so battery consumption will be high. The i7 by comparison can do mapping runs with the vacuum turned off making it a much more streamlined process. I found the battery life to be much lower than the advertised 110 minutes netting a maximum of 75 minutes. The bigger problem is that it takes HOURS to recharge, so depending on when you start your cleaning run, this thing could quite literally run all day. For example in my situation, 635 square feet cleaned took 110 minutes of total run time with a required charge in the middle. This netted a total of nearly 6 hours to complete! Unacceptable. Also important to note is that the N8 will want to recharge at 15% battery, so the most you ever really get out of this thing is 85%.
The next big problem for me was the design of the auto-empty base. They opted to use a dual port discharge method that sucks from 2 doors in the dust bin simultaneously. If you have pet hair to deal with, like I do, it was unable to suck out any of it, just leaving stranded clumps hanging from each port in the dust bin.
The final nail in the coffin was that despite all the advanced tech in the N8, cameras, lasers, etc, it STILL got stuck under the dining room table/ chairs just like my 960 does. Too many concessions so I sent it back and tried my luck with the i7+.
N8 Pros:
-Competitive price (usually on sale)
-Premium look and feel
-Advanced tech (cameras, lasers...)
-Powerful variable suction
-Systematic cleaning pattern
-Free in-box extras (bags, mop pads)
-Awesome low noise levels
-Lower physical profile so glides under kitchen cabinets
N8 Cons:
-Initial mapping will take a VERY long time and must be fully completed
-Even with Lidar, mapping, sensing etc it still gets stuck
-Battery life is terrible (more like 75 minutes at best) vs 110, charging time is worse (1 cleaning + charge cycle = 5 hours!)
-85% max usable battery is abysmal, Roomba will drain itself to nothing
-Dual port self-empty in the base creates problems, especially for pet hair
With the N8 returned I found the i7 on sale for the same price and pulled the trigger to give iRobot yet another chance. Much less advanced overall tech here, the same "crash into everything" sensor mode as the old Roomba models, no fancy lasers here but the camera does use iAdapt to map out objects. This camera needs light, mind you. Out of the box is a very simple setup just plug in the base, set the robot in it, add the robot to the app. I was prompted with a firmware update right away so let that run and waited until the next day to do the initial mapping run. Being able to just wander around without the vacuum running is such a simple but meaningful feature here. One battery charge and you should have a map of your floorplan, vs 2 runs + 1 charge on my N8. The completed map was excellent and they even attempt to add room dividers so you can partition areas of your house for more granularity. This is really cool and allows you to choose certain areas to clean on certain days or times if you want. No-go zones and room labels are also easily applied here. VERY intuitive app layout, button naming scheme, settings menus. You can tell iRobot put a lot of effort into this. So I did the mapping run then followed with a "vacuum everywhere" run, no virtual barriers yet. Not only was the robot able to navigate my entire floor cleaning everything, it didn't get stuck once, even under the kitchen cabinets or dining room chairs, truly impressive. It did need a charge in the middle but at an hour or so to top up, the cleaning process completes in a much more reasonable time period. The rubber brush rolls are great for hair of all kinds and manage to pass it to the dust bin without tangles. i7 triggers the auto-empty base which is LOUD like a jet taking off but wow is it effective, nothing left in the dust bin after, not a strand of long cat hair. iRobot used a single port suction method for the base which works much better than the dual port design the N8 uses, so no problem with stuck pet hair. For comparison, the i7 cleaned 658 sq ft in 133 mins of cleaning plus a 75 minute charge. Half the total time of the N8. Cool!
As for the downsides, there are a few but minor considering the system actually works well. First is the bump sensor design. I know the i7 first came out 3 years ago and once the robot learns your house it should be more gentle, as they claim, but this just feels like ancient tech at this point. Not only that, the RCON sensor, which is the protruding eye in the middle above the bumper, takes plenty of direct hits as it activates the bumper it sits on. This is the part I needed repaired on my 960 as one day it actually broke off due to years of repeated impact. iRobot should do like the others in this space and move it somewhere else safer! The unit itself is thicker than the N8 so doesn't glide under my cabinets but so far has managed to avoid getting stuck. The single rotating brush isn't as effective as the dual brushes on the N8 and you would need to buy a separate mopping robot, if you care about that. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Roomba can't see well in the dark, it needs light to do its thing.
Overall I'm very pleased with the i7 and intend to keep it. All the areas the N8 falls short work as intended or better on the i7, despite being lower tech. And this is after I was almost positive I wouldn't buy another Roomba!
i7 Pros:
-Competitive price
-Premium look and feel
-Systematic cleaning pattern
-Free in-box extras (1 bag, filter, rotating brush)
-Excellent battery and charging performance
-Excellent auto-empty base
-ZERO issue with long pet hair
-Intuitive and granular control via the app (clean zones, no go zones, defined rooms that can be scheduled)
-Smart Maps works really well
i7 Cons:
-Old school vSLAM bump sensor tech that will mar the more stuff it bumps into
-RCON sensor sits in harms way atop the bumper
-Single rotating brush could be improved
-Room lighting is required, this thing doesn't do well in the dark
-No variable speed motor = higher noise, about the same as my 960
Add to your order
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
24/7 support when you need it.
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
3 Year Floorcare Protection Plan $65.99
2 Year Floorcare Protection Plan $48.99
Select a plan
There is a newer model of this item:
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
From the manufacturer
iRobot Roomba i7+ Features
Cleans up after you, & itself
Forget about vacuuming for months at a time with the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal that allows the i7+ to empty itself for up to 60 days.
Powerful performance
10x the Power-Lifting Suction & Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes that pull in dirt, debris, & pet hair from wherever it hides.
Guided by serious smarts
Intelligently maps & cleans an entire level of your home. With vSLAM navigation, i7+ maps your home to navigate in neat, efficient rows.
New App, New level of clean
From customizable routines to customizable maps, complete control is in your hands. Personalized cleaning suggestions help you stay ahead of messes.
Vacuums messes in the moment
Cereal on the floor? Cat knock over a potted plant? The i7+ can target specific areas within your rooms, like in front of the couch or under a table.
A clean unique to you
Learns from your cleaning habits to offer up customized schedules. Suggests extra cleanings when pollen count is high or during pet shedding season.
Complete control of your clean
With Imprint Smart Mapping, your robot knows your kitchen from your living room, so you can decide where it cleans & when.
Steer clear of objects
You can tell your robot to stay away from certain areas or objects with customizable Keep Out Zones.
Ideal for homes with pets
Unique Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes don't get tangled with pet hair. High-Efficiency Filter traps 99% of cat & dog dander allergens.
The dream team of clean
With Imprint Link Technology, the Roomba i7+ robot vacuum & Braava jet m6 robot mop team up to vacuum then mop automatically in perfect sequence.
Clean without lifting a finger
Through the iRobot Home app or your Google or Alexa voice assistant, simply tell your robot when & where you want it to clean – & consider it done.
Take out the dirty work
Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal holds 60 days of dirt, dust, & debris
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
5:46
Click to play video
Roomba i7+ Review — Objective Tests & Data
Modern Castle
Videos for this product
1:56
Click to play video
iRobot i6 vs i7: What's the Difference? I explain
The French Glow
Videos for this product
3:33
Click to play video
Roomba i7+ Unboxing
iRobot
Videos for related products
7:25
Click to play video
Deebot Ozmo 950 vs Roborock S6 vs Roomba i7
Vacuum Wars Recommendations
Videos for related products
18:11
Click to play video
Roomba vs Roborock: Which Brand is Better?
Cordless Vacuum Guide
Videos for related products
10:56
Click to play video
Roborock S7 vs. Roomba S9+ In-Depth Comparison
Cordless Vacuum Guide
Videos for related products
5:24
Click to play video
QUICK COMPARISON Roomba 692 vs Roomba i4+ Robot Vacuum
Digital David
Videos for related products
9:43
Click to play video
Roomba j7+ Tested - 6 Cleaning, Obstacle, & Hair Tests
Modern Castle
Compare with similar items
Very impressive - best robot vacuum I've had so far!
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021
I got this robot a few weeks ago, and I must say I am pretty darn impressed already!I have previously had multiple other robot vacuums (Samsung & Neato), but this is my first wifi-connected one, and just the fact that you have the app interface to monitor and control it makes a world of difference.First time you use it, you will want to let it run a couple of times to figure out the layout of your home, but then after 3-4 times, it actually ends up with a super accurate map of your floorplan - even with detailed markers for obstacles etc.Once you have the floorplan mapped, you can customize to make sure all room dividers are placed exactly where they should be, and you can label each room (which is great if you have Alexa, because then you can just say “Alexa, clean the kitchen” once that’s set up). If you like me have a pet, you can also mark intensive zones where it should be more diligent (like around the food and cat toilet).As for scheduling, you can either set it to run at set times every day (each day can alternate), or you can connect it to the location of your phone, so that if you leave your home within a certain timeslot, it automatically stats, and when you get home again it automatically stops.As it runs through your home, it will automatically identify “dirt events” and clean those more intensely. Or you can override the automation and define on your own whether it should run through your home just a single time or twice for every schedule.When it’s done cleaning you get a map in your phone that shows exactly where it was, how much area it covered and where it found dirt. If it got stuck somewhere it will also tell you exactly where that was, so you can consider improving your home layout to prevent it next time.It’s cleaning pattern seems very well thought-through and systematic. No randomness and crazy decisions. It will cover the big open areas first and then cover all edges after. If yoy have obstacles (like chairs around a table), it will automatically find the optimal way of covering as much as possible, running in and out through legs etc. On your map you can also see if some parts were inaccessible due to your obstacles.The i7+ has the advantage over the regular i7 that it’s homebase also has a dirt compartment, which is awesome because every time the robot has finished, it will suck all it’s dirt over to a regular vacuum bag in the homebase, leaving the robot empty and ready for next run. This was the main reason my old robots broke down - that I didn’t empty them often enough. With the homebase, you don’t need to empty more than once every 2 weeks, and you actually get a notification whenever it’s time, so you don’t forget.As I said in the introduction, I am thoroughly impressed. Perhaps after a few more months, I will start seeing more cracks in the paint, but as of now, this is a solid 5/5 rating.
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
James A.
Used units being sent out
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 10, 2021
James A.
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 10, 2021
Images in this review
Yulia Shaposhnikova
Great products for ppl with animals
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 5, 2018Dragon lady
Was skeptical...fantastic purchase! No regrets
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 5, 2019