Roomba j7+ Review: The Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum You Can Count On

After using the Roomba j7+ for a few weeks, I’ve formed a solid opinion on its capabilities and quirks. This vacuum is designed to make cleaning easier by handling the dirty work without much intervention. But does it really perform as expected? Let me walk you through my experience.

The first thing that caught my attention was its self-emptying feature. In theory, not having to empty the vacuum for up to 60 days sounds fantastic. This is a significant advantage for those who dislike the constant chore of emptying vacuum bins, especially in a busy household.

Another selling point is its ability to dodge obstacles like pet waste and cords. This means you don’t have to tidy up before it gets going, which is a huge time-saver. As someone with pets, the feature is appreciated; however, I found it to be hit-or-miss in practical use.

Overall, the Roomba j7+ offers several conveniences worth considering if you're in the market for a smart vacuum. Now, let’s dive into the specifics of its design, performance, and more.

Priced on the higher end for robot vacuums, the Roomba j7+ offers a collection of features that justify the cost to some extent, particularly if you have pets or a busy household. The convenience of self-emptying and smart mapping is hard to overlook, especially if you value your time.

Compared to cheaper models, you’re paying for the avoidance technology and personalized cleaning routines. If these features are important to you, it’s worth considering. But if you’re just looking for basic cleaning capabilities, there are more affordable options that could suffice.

I found that while the Roomba j7+ brings convenience, it’s not without its hiccups, like occasional navigation issues with smaller objects. In terms of value for money, it’s not bad, but it’s essential to weigh whether its benefits align with your needs.

In conclusion, if budget is not a constraint and you’re in for the tech-savvy features, the Roomba j7+ might be a fit. Otherwise, you might want to explore alternatives that offer core functionality without the premium price tag.

The Roomba j7+ boasts a runtime of up to 2 hours on a full charge, which seems pretty standard for robot vacuums in this category. During my testing, it generally hit that mark, though the time can vary depending on the cleaning mode and floor type.

Charging it back to full takes a few hours, so if you plan to run it multiple times a day, you might want to strategize when to schedule cleanings. The self-emptying feature draws extra power, but it didn’t drastically affect the overall battery life.

One thing I appreciated is that if the battery runs low mid-cleaning, it automatically returns to its base to recharge and picks up where it left off once it’s ready. This is convenient and ensures that it finishes the job it started without any manual intervention.

In terms of battery performance, it’s solid but not revolutionary. It holds up well for daily use but might not be suitable for larger homes that require extended cleaning sessions.

When it comes to cleaning performance, the Roomba j7+ generally delivers when dealing with everyday dirt and pet hair. I noticed that it handles carpets and hardwood floors with ease, thanks to its 10x power-lifting suction compared to the older Roomba 600 series. It's effective, but not mind-blowing in terms of picking up smaller debris.

Its smart mapping feature lets you control which rooms get cleaned and when, which is quite handy. It even learns your cleaning habits to suggest personalized cleaning routines. In practice, it took a couple of tries for the mapping to be accurate in my multi-level home, but once it learned the layout, it worked smoothly.

The obstacle avoidance technology is innovative. It managed to avoid most cords and larger obstacles like shoes. However, smaller items like stray socks sometimes tripped it up. This feature feels more refined than some competitors but isn't foolproof.

Overall, its performance is decent but might not replace a manual vacuum for deep-cleaning tasks. If you're looking for something that handles daily maintenance well, it gets the job done.