When the j7+ is done cleaning, it returns to the base and empties itself into a bag in the larger dustbin at the back of the base. You need to change that bag every two months or so, but other than that, you likely won’t have to interact with it very much at all. After setting up a keep-out shark cordless zone with the iRobot app, the robot will steer clear of these rectangular areas no matter what cleaning cycle is chosen. The brand’s additional device can also create virtual barriers to fence in a Roomba. The self-charging feature makes it easy to recharge the battery once it gets low.
It features a runtime of up to 120 minutes, is 3.3 inches tall, has a 300 ML dustbin, and is fairly quiet when operating. Then there are the top-of-the-line Roomba s9 and self-emptying Roomba s9+, which we do not recommend. Instead of the classic puck shape, it has a D-shaped body and extra-wide brushes to improve its edge-cleaning irobot vacuum cleaner and corner-cleaning abilities. It also has four times more raw suction than the already-strong Roomba i3 EVO, i7, or j7. That helps it consistently pick up larger debris like cat litter or yard waste better than most robots, though it still doesn’t come close to deep-cleaning dust from a rug like a traditional vacuum.
The Roomba i3+ EVO is usually the most affordable way to get a great self-emptying robot vacuum system. The only Roborock model that works with an auto-empty dock is the high-end Roborock S7+, which is quite expensive. The Roomba j7+, which has a lot of the same advanced dyson robot vacuum navigation features as the Roborock, actually costs less than the S7 and dock combo. The Eufy RoboVac X8 seems to be a fine laser-nav robot vacuum based on our testing, but it’s relatively expensive and doesn’t offer meaningful improvements over the cheaper models.
Again like the Eufy, it returns to the charging base if it runs out of battery before the house is finished and then resumes the job once fully charged. Infrared sensors keep it off the stairs, though like other bump bots, it can’t avoid obstacles like lamp cords. The 694 is ideal for smaller areas and will work best in rooms without clutter. An auto-adjust cleaning head helps the unit transition easily between low-pile carpet, medium-pile carpet, hardwood, and bare floors. It can run for up to 90 minutes before automatically recharging, but it will need to be reset before its next run. Through the company’s Imprint Link technology, the iRobot Roomba i3 coordinates with the Braava Jet M6 robot mop so users can vacuum and then mop in sequence.
This makes it a great robot vacuum for cleaning carpets and hard floors, and it even has an edge sweeping brush to take care of corners and edges. When it’s done at the end of a cleaning cycle, the Roomba 692 is smart enough to automatically dock itself and get back to charging. This robot features the company’s smart mapping technology and sensors that are made to scan ahead at a rate of 25 times per second to detect obstacles in its path. This bundle comes with an extra edge-sweeping brush and a filter to keep up in homes with the most pet hair. Avoid letting the Roomba jostle the water bowls in the corner by designating a “keep-out zone” for areas that don’t need to be tackled. Or tell it to make sure to do extra cleaning with a bonus cycle to grab tracked-in grass and dirt in the foyer using a voice-activated cycle via the app.
That’s the lowest score we’ve seen compared with similar models; the Roomba j7+ is the closest at 72.5%, but even that’s a sizable gap. And considering the jaw-dropping price tag of $1,399, we expected better here. That being said, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra offers a quality performance otherwise and the technology is very impressive. It would suit households without pets who value convenience above all, and don’t mind paying top dollar for it. As a vacuum, the S7 was pretty good — it’s not the best with pet hair — but it was fast and thorough, scoring a pick up average of 93. It works better on hard floors compared to carpets, but even on carpets the performance was decent, scoring an average of just over 90.