iRobot Roomba i7+ Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying Base: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is iRobot's most advanced robot vacuum cleaner to date. It is part of the i7 series which also includes the i7 and i7+. The i7+ stands out with its ability to empty itself into its included Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit. This self-emptying base allows the i7+ to autonomously empty its bin after each cleaning.

The Roomba i7+ combines powerful suction and intelligent mapping with the convenience of automatic dirt disposal. Beyond the self-emptying base, the i7+ has features like smart mapping, app control, selective room cleaning, and customizable cleaning schedules. The high-end i7+ sits at the top of iRobot's robot vacuum lineup with its advanced navigation and self-emptying capabilities.

Design and Features

The Roomba i7+ has a sleek, modern design with a matte finish and rounded edges. It has a low profile, measuring 3.6 inches tall, allowing it to clean under furniture.

The vacuum is offered in a silver/grey color scheme with black accents on the bumper and top cover. There is an illuminated clean button on top along with status indicator lights.

At 13.3 inches in diameter, the Roomba i7+ is compact but still fits in a 0.5 gallon dust bin. It has rubber wheels and treads designed to grip various floor types including carpets and hard floors.

The top cover lifts up to reveal the dust bin, filter, and accessories compartment. The dust bin itself is easy to remove and empty.

The Roomba i7+ connects to the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit via a docking system. The base unit empties the Roomba's dustbin after each cleaning job, allowing the vacuum to hold up to 30 bins worth of debris before needing manual emptying.

Some key features of the i7+ include vSLAM navigation which allows the robot to learn the layout of your home and clean in neat rows. It also has an edge-sweeping brush to get into corners, and 10x the suction power of a standard Roomba.

For controlling and scheduling the device, the i7+ pairs with the iRobot HOME app. You can use the app to start, stop, and monitor cleaning sessions. It also allows you to target specific rooms or zones.

With Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, you can control the i7+ with voice commands. It also supports IFTTT applets for customizing automations.

Overall, the i7+ combines powerful cleaning performance with handy features like automatic dirt disposal. However, the steep price tag makes it most appealing for busy households or those with pets. For a similar robotic vacuum at a lower cost, consider the roborock Q5+.

The Roborock Q5+ is an alternative to the Roomba i7+ that also includes a self-emptying dock. It has a sleek design and many of the key features of the i7+ like app control, smart mapping, and Alexa support.

While it may not have the brand recognition of the Roomba, Roborock vacuums consistently earn high marks for navigation, cleaning ability, and convenience features.

The Roborock Q5+ uses LiDAR navigation and vSLAM algorithm allowing it to efficiently map and clean homes. The Roborock app gives you control over cleaning schedules and no-go zones.

A major perk of the Q5+ is the large 0.7L dust bag in the auto-empty dock. This holds up to 7 weeks of debris so you don't have to think about emptying it often.

The Roborock Q5+ costs considerably less than the i7+ while offering much of the same self-emptying functionality. While the i7+ remains the top-of-the-line option, the Q5+ is great for the price-conscious buyer.

Cleaning Performance

The Roomba i7+ delivers excellent cleaning performance thanks to its powerful 3-stage cleaning system. It features 10 times the suction power of the Roomba 600 series, enabling it to pick up large debris, fine dust and pet hair with ease.

The counter-rotating brushes are specially designed to not get tangled with pet hair. The extractors lift and loosen dirt while the rubber brushes sweep debris into the vacuum path. The brushes do a great job cleaning edges and getting into corners.

There are 3 cleaning modes - quiet, balanced and powerful. Quiet mode reduces noise while providing thorough cleaning for hard floors. Balanced mode is suitable for most floors while powerful mode provides maximum suction for carpets and rugs. The cleaning head automatically adjusts its height to keep the brushes in optimal contact with floors.

The vacuum intelligently increases suction when it moves onto carpets to provide deeper cleaning performance. Overall, the powerful suction system combined with its thoughtful brush design makes the i7+ excel at cleaning all floor types and surfaces. The Verefa V60M Pro is another great robot vacuum option with a self-emptying base. It has strong 2000Pa suction power and a large 5200mAh battery for up to 150 minutes of runtime. The V60M Pro can map multiple floors of your home for efficient cleaning coverage. It has an auto-empty station that holds 30 days of dirt and debris so you don't have to manually empty it often.

When comparing the iRobot Roomba i7+ vs the Verefa V60M Pro, both are high-end robot vacuums with self-emptying bases. The i7+ has more advanced navigation and mapping capabilities with vSLAM technology while the V60M Pro relies on gyroscope navigation. The i7+ has a bagless base that needs the bag replaced every 60 days while the V60M Pro base uses disposable bags for mess-free emptying.

The V60M Pro has a lower profile design at just 3.15” tall to clean under more furniture. It can mop floors in addition to vacuuming. The i7+ focuses solely on dry vacuuming. Both models have strong suction power but the i7+ is the winner with 10x the power of a Roomba 600 series. The i7+ has dual multi-surface rubber brushes while the V60M Pro has a single bristle brush roll.

When it comes to smart features, the i7+ works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls. The V60M Pro can be controlled via the EufyHome app or Alexa. The i7+ has intelligent room mapping and custom cleaning zones. The V60M Pro relies on manual room dividers for cleaning specific areas. Both vacuums will automatically recharge and resume cleaning until the job is complete.

In terms of pricing, the iRobot Roomba i7+ is more expensive at around $800-900 versus the Verefa V60M Pro at around $500. The i7+ is the better option for larger homes that need multi-level mapping and smart navigation. The V60M Pro is a solid mid-range alternative with strong suction at a lower price point.

Navigation and Mapping

The Roomba i7+ uses a new navigation system called vSLAM that allows the robot to learn the layout of your home and build personal Smart Maps. It uses an array of sensors including a camera, floor tracking sensor, dual multi-surface brushes, cliff detect sensors and a dirt detect sensor to navigate and map your home.

The vSLAM technology is advanced, using visual landmarks in your home to build efficient cleaning paths room-by-room. The robot can recognize rooms, hallways and doorways and remember where it has been. You can even label rooms in the app for a more customized experience.

One of the biggest benefits of the i7+ is that you can control and steer the robot via the iRobot app. The Smart Map visualization shows you where the robot has cleaned and allows you to target specific rooms or areas. You can even schedule whole home cleanings or just focus on high traffic rooms.

Overall the advanced navigation and mapping capabilities make cleaning more efficient. The robot wastes less time revisiting areas and provides more customization for whole home coverage.

Convenience Features

The Roomba i7+ comes with several useful convenience features that make it easy to keep your floors clean without having to constantly monitor the robot.

Self-Emptying Base

One of the i7+'s standout features is its self-emptying base. When the Roomba is finished cleaning, it will return to this base station to empty its bin. The enclosed bag inside the base can hold up to 30 full bins of debris before it needs to be replaced, allowing you to go weeks without having to empty the robot manually. This takes a lot of the effort out of maintaining the Roomba.

Scheduling and App Control

You can schedule and monitor cleanings remotely using the iRobot mobile app. Set up daily or weekly cleaning schedules to run automatically. The app also allows you to start and stop cleanings as needed, steer the robot to certain rooms or areas, and receive notifications when your floors need attention.

Keep Out Zones

Designate areas you want the i7+ to avoid, like pet bowls or cords, directly through the app. The robot will remember to steer clear of these zones in future cleanings.

Maintenance

The Roomba i7+ requires minimal maintenance thanks to its automatic dirt disposal and high-efficiency filter. The Clean Base automatically empties the robot's dustbin after each cleaning job, eliminating the need to manually empty it yourself.

The dustbin itself is easy to remove and wash if needed. The high-efficiency filter only needs to be cleaned every couple of months. iRobot recommends rinsing the filter with water to remove debris and leaving it to air dry completely before reinstalling.

The brushes are another part that may require periodic cleaning. Hair and fibers can sometimes get wound around the brushes, affecting cleaning performance. iRobot provides a small cleaning tool that makes it easy to cut and remove this debris. The brushes themselves can also be removed for a deeper clean.

Overall, the self-emptying feature drastically reduces the effort required to maintain the i7+. With infrequent brush cleaning and filter rinsing, you can enjoy months of hassle-free cleaning before basic maintenance is required.

Battery Life

The iRobot Roomba i7+ has an impressive battery life, allowing it to clean large spaces in one go.

It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that offers up to 75 minutes of continuous cleaning per charge. This is enough time to thoroughly clean even large homes of 3,000+ square feet in a single cleaning cycle.

When the battery gets low, the Roomba will automatically return to its charging base to recharge before resuming cleaning where it left off.

It takes around 3 hours to fully recharge the battery from empty to full. But the advantage is that the robot can still be scheduled to clean throughout the week without having to wait for a full recharge each time. A partial recharge is often enough to top up the battery before the next job.

The battery is designed to last for over 1,000 cleaning cycles. While it may degrade slightly over time, as with all rechargeable batteries, it provides over 8 years of battery life with regular use. This ensures excellent value for money over the lifetime of the robot.

Overall, the long battery life and fast recharge time makes the i7+ convenient to use daily without any interruptions to cleaning.

Accessories

The Roomba i7+ comes with one dual multi-surface rubber brush, an edge-sweeping brush, and one filter. Extra accessories can be purchased separately:

• Filters: Each filter should be replaced every 1-2 months depending on usage. Extra High-Efficiency filters can be purchased in packs of 3 for $29.99.

• Brushes: Replacement multi-surface rubber brushes are available for $24.99 each when needed. The edge-sweeping brush may need replacing every 6-12 months.

• Bags: The Clean Base automatic dirt disposal unit takes custom bags that seal dust and debris away. A 3-pack of AllergenLock bags costs $19.99 for 3 months supply depending on usage.

• Virtual Wall Barriers: These devices can create an invisible boundary to block off rooms or areas you want the Roomba to avoid. A pack of 2 Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barriers is available for $59.99.

Price

The Roomba i7+ retails anywhere between $800 - $900. This price tag may seem expensive at first glance, but when you consider the advanced technology and convenience features packed into this robot vacuum, it becomes more understandable.

For the price, you're getting a self-emptying, self-charging robot vacuum with smart mapping capabilities via vSLAM navigation, personalized cleaning schedules through the iRobot HOME app, plus Alexa and Google Assistant voice control compatibility. The Clean Base dock automates debris disposal for up to 30 bin emptyings before needing user intervention. This not only maximizes convenience, but also helps control dust and dander exposure for households with allergies. When accounting for all of the premium features and long-term labor savings from reduced vacuuming duties, the high price starts to seem more reasonable.

Of course, $800+ still puts this robot vacuum out of reach for many budgets. The Roomba i7+ is likely best suited for busy professionals who are willing to pay a premium for maximum convenience. For shoppers on tighter budgets, iRobot offers more affordable models like the Roomba e5 and Roomba 675 that still deliver excellent cleaning performance without the advanced navigation and self-emptying capabilities. So while expensive compared to basic models, the i7+ provides next-level automation to justify the cost for the right consumer.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Powerful suction and efficient cleaning on all surfaces
• Self-emptying base eliminates need to empty dustbin manually for 60 days
• Smart mapping and navigation with vSLAM technology
• Customizable cleaning with app and voice control
• Automatic recharging and resumption of cleaning
• Long battery life of up to 75 minutes

Cons

• Expensive price point
• Self-emptying base takes up more space
• App connectivity can be spotty at times
• Doesn’t avoid wires/cables on floor as well as some other models
• Louder noise level while operating

Overall, the iRobot Roomba i7+ has excellent cleaning capabilities and advanced smart features like self-emptying and mapping. The high price and occasional issues with app connectivity are potential downsides to consider. But for those seeking a convenient, high-end robotic vacuum the i7+ is one of the top choices available.