Roomba i3 vs j7: Which Is The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner?

From a distance, it might look as if there are no major differences between the Roomba i3 vs j7 due to their similar design, navigation, and 3-stage cleaning system.

But in fact, the Roomba i3 EVO is an entry-level model, whereas the Roomba j7 belongs to the higher end of the robot vacuum series with advanced technology.

Let’s dive into the details.

Roomba i3 vs j7 Quick Comparison

iRobot Roomba j7 has obstacle avoidance technology. It uses its in-built front camera with Precision Vision navigation to avoid every object in its path and save maps of the exact floor plan of your home. You can access these maps on the iRobot Home app to schedule cleaning sessions, create cleanse zones, and keep-out zones.

While Roomba i3 EVO also uses smart navigation, it cannot avoid obstacles. As well, it only roughly maps the area it has cleansed, so you cannot create specific cleaning zones. However, the Roomba i3 is quieter and lighter than the Roomba j7.

Keep reading to look at the similarities and differences between the two robot vacuum cleaners to find the one best for your needs.

Comparison Chart

We will start with the comparison chart to better understand the in-depth disparities between the Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7.

Differences Between The Roomba i3 EVO And Roomba j7 Robot Vacuums

Although Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 use the same iRobot Genius software, they highly differ in technological advancements.

Let’s look at the differences between the two robot vacuums in detail.

Difference 1: Obstacle Avoidance Technology

Unlike the Roomba i3, the iRobot Roomba j7 has a front camera with Precision Vision navigation.

• This technology enables it to precisely identify objects cluttering the floor, like cords, toys, shoes, and pet waste, and go around them.
• It does not smash or run over these obstacles.
• If you give permission, the Roomba j7 can click pictures of unknown objects on the floor and alert you about them.
• Roomba i3 uses iAdapt 2.0 navigation. It avoids furniture, walls, and stairs but fails at avoiding smaller objects in its path and crashes into them.

Difference 2: Map Saving

Roomba j7 uses its front camera to save maps of the precise layout of your home. It can save up to 10 maps. You can access these maps on the iRobot app to create clean zones, keep-out zones, and schedule cleaning sessions.

• The Roomba i3 EVO roughly maps the area it has cleaned, but they are not detailed. Hence, you cannot set specific cleaning zones in the room or keep the vacuum cleaner out of certain areas.
• If you have a large home with multiple rooms, Roomba j7 is a better choice as it gives you complete control over when, where, and how the cleaning will take place.

Difference 3: Maximum Threshold Height

Roomba i3 EVO has a threshold height of 2 cm and Roomba j7 of 2.5 cm.

• Undoubtedly, Roomba j7 has a higher threshold height which means it can surpass higher surfaces, like thick carpets, and clean them.
• Check the threshold height of various room surfaces in your house before making a buying decision.

Difference 4: Keep Out Zones

Keep-out zones are the areas you do not want the vacuum cleaner to access.

• You can create these zones in the Roomba j7 with the help of its detailed maps. Roomba i3 does not have this feature.
• You can also create specific clean zones in the room where you want the vacuum cleaner to clean. With Roomba i3 EVO, you only have the option to clean the entire room.

Difference 5: Robot Health

The Robot Health app is present only in Roomba j7. It acts as a maintenance guide alerting you when any components need replacement.

In Roomba i3 EVO, you need to manually check the components to figure out when they need replacement and take the help of the manual for the procedure.

Similarities Between Roomba i3 EVO And Roomba j7 Robot Vacuums

Similarity 1: 3-Stage Cleaning System

Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7, both have a three-stage cleaning process. It includes dual multi-surface brushes, an edge-sweeping brush, and vacuum suction. Here’s what the process looks like:

1. The edge-sweeping side brush sweeps dirt from the corners and brings it into the path of the vacuum cleaner.
2. The multi-surface rubber brushes lift dirt, pet hair, and dust from hard floors and carpets.
3. The vacuum suction sucks the dirt into its dustbin. Both Roomba models work exceptionally well to ensure they keep your home spotless.

Similarity 2: Smart Navigation

Both vacuum cleaners use smart navigation features.

• They go back and forth in logical straight lines to cleanse every surface without overlapping routes.
• They map out the house during cleaning to keep a tab on cleaned areas and those yet to be cleaned.

The previous Roomba models did not have smart navigation and cleaned the house randomly.

Similarity 3: Automatic Recharge And Resume

If the robot vacuum cleaners run low on battery in the middle of the cleaning, they will automatically return to their charging station for recharge.

Once they have enough battery, they resume cleaning where they left off instead of starting all over again. Luckily, you don’t have to fret over their battery dying mid-cleaning.

Similarity 4: Wi-Fi Adaptability

Both vacuum cleaners have Wi-Fi adaptability:

1. You can control them remotely using the iRobot Home app.
2. You can give voice commands, configure settings, and access maps for scheduling cleaning sessions.

For voice control, you can connect them to any virtual assistant, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Siri.

Similarity 5: Self-Emptying Dock Compatibility

The self-emptying dock is the clean base of a vacuum cleaner. It sucks out the robot’s dustbin content and facilitates a self-cleaning feature.

• You don’t have to empty the dustbin after every cleaning session. Instead, you only need to replace the cleaning base bag once it’s filled.
• Both Roomba j7 and i3 have a compatible clean base.
• You can purchase the clean base separately or buy their clean base variants, namely the Roomba j7+ and Roomba i3+.

Who Navigates More Efficiently?

Roomba i3 EVO

Roomba i3 EVO uses iAdapt 2.0 technology for smart navigation. It maps your home while cleaning to create an efficient path. But it does not avoid obstacles and runs right into them. In terms of navigation, it falls far behind the Roomba j7.

Roomba j7

The Roomba j7 uses Precision Vision navigation with a built-in camera. This front-facing camera helps it avoid objects like cords, toys, and pet waste. It navigates effortlessly during the cleaning process due to its advanced technology.

Winner: Roomba j7

Imprint Smart Mapping

Roomba j7 and i3 EVO use imprint smart mapping to create virtual maps of your home. This mapping system helps them create efficient cleaning routes for future sessions.

You can access these maps on the iRobot Home app.

Roomba i3 EVO

iRobot i3 uses its sensors to create rough maps of the areas it has cleaned. They are not precise as Roomba j7’s maps.

Roomba j7

Roomba j7’s mapping system is far more advanced. It uses its front camera to map out the exact floor plan of your home. It can save up to 10 maps which you can access to clean specific rooms and create keep-out zones.

You can also create clean zones within a room. This feature is only available in Roomba j7.

Winner: Roomba j7

Cleaning Comparison

Both the Robot vacuum cleaners have a 3-stage cleaning system for optimal operation. These vacuum cleaners have a HEPA filter that traps 99.97 % of airborne pollutants and allergens.

Let’s look at the differences in the cleaning features in detail.

1. Floor Brushes And Suction Performance

iRobot Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 have a 3-stage cleaning system that features an edge-sweeping brush, dual multi-surface rubber brushes, and powerful suction:

1. Edge-Sweeping Brush – The edge-cleaning brush sweeps dirt and debris from the corners into the vacuum cleaner’s path.
2. Dual Brushes – The dual brushes lift the dirt from multiple surfaces like hard floors, carpets, and rugs.
3. Vacuum Suction – The vacuum suction, a 7-inch slot in the middle, sucks the dirt into the vacuum cleaner’s dustbin. The suction power is ten times that of the baseline Roomba 600 series.

These robot vacuum cleaners clean quickly and efficiently, leaving no dirt particles in their wake.

2. Dirt Detection Technology

Both the robot vacuum cleaners have a dirt sensor. When they pass over an area with dirt, the sensor is triggered. The robot vacuum cleaner will clean that area vigorously until its spotless.

3. Dustbin Capacity

Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 have a bin capacity of 0.4l. Once the dustbins are filled, you need to empty them manually. They have a full bin indicator to make things easier for you.

4. Cleaning Zones

While both robot vacuum cleaners let you set cleaning zones, the Roomba j7 is more advanced.

It allows you to create cleaning zones where the vacuum cleaner must clean and zone where it must keep out. You can also create specific cleaning zones within rooms.

Roomba j7 lets you have complete control over where it operates.

5. Maximum Threshold Height

Both Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 have carpet height adjustment features. If the carpet is in the way of their cleaning, the vacuum cleaner will raise itself onto the carpet to clean it.

Thereby, the height adjustment feature ensures every surface area is cleaned, from hard floors to rugs and carpets, and makes up:

• max 2 cm for Roomba i3,
• max 2.5 cm for Roomba j7.

6. Cleaning modes

Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 have three cleaning modes:

1. Normal
2. Manual
3. Spot cleaning

You can select any of these cleaning modes from the iRobot app for a specific room cleaning session. Once the session is complete, the vacuum cleaner returns to normal cleaning mode.

Winner: Roomba j7

Shape And Design

Both the Roomba vacuum cleaners are circular with black and silver accents.

• Roomba i3 EVO has a diameter of 13.26″ while Roomba j7 of 13.3″.
• The Roomba i3 is lighter at 3.18 kgs than the Roomba j7’s 3.4 kgs.
• Roomba i3 has an average noise level of 58 dB. It is lower than Roomba j7, which operates at 66 dB.

Winner: Both vacuum cleaners are pretty good!

Charging Time And Operating Range On Full Battery Power

Roomba i3 EVO has a battery operating time of 75 minutes and Roomba j7 of 85 minutes. The only difference of 10 minutes isn’t a big deal.

They both have battery sensors that detect when the battery is low and return to their Home Base to recharge. You can check the battery levels on the iRobot app.

There isn’t much difference in their charging times. Both the robot vacuum cleaners need a recharge time of 2 to 2.5 hrs.

Winner: Roomba j7 is slightly ahead of Roomba i3 EVO

Integrated Technology

Roomba i3 EVO and Roomba j7 are Wi-fi compatible.

1. iRobot Home App

You can link them to the iRobot Home app and access progress mapping, schedule cleaning sessions, and cleaning mode through the app. You can control the Roomba from anywhere through this app.

Although they both provide personalized cleaning suggestions based on the changes in the environment, Roomba j7’s suggestions are more advanced.

2. IFTTT Compatibility

They are also IFTTT (If This Then That) compatible. It is an automation tool. “If This” is the trigger, and “Then That” is the resulting action. For example, you can command your vacuum cleaner to clean the house when you leave for work. Using IFTTT, you can automate the process.

3. Voice Control

You can enable voice control by linking them to virtual assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri and give voice commands.

Winner:  Both vacuum cleaners are pretty good!

Choose The Roomba j7 If:

Choose The Roomba i3 EVO If:

Read Also:

Roomba i4 vs i7: Which One is the Best Vacuum Cleaner

Roomba i3 vs i4: Which Robot Vacuum is Better and Why?

Roomba i6+ vs i7+ Robot: Check Out 3 Important Differences!

Roborock S7 vs Q7: Which One is The Best for Your Needs?

FAQ

Conclusion

Although both the iRobots operate on the same software, the Roomba j7 is more advanced and smarter with its higher-end technology.

Obstacle avoidance, specific room cleaning zones, and higher height threshold are its key features. Whereas the Roomba i3 EVO is quieter and lighter, and its battery lasts longer. Not to forget, being an entry model, it’s way cheaper.

We hope this article helped you select the best robot vacuum for your needs. Which one do you have your eyes set on? Please leave your comment below.