Roomba i6+ vs. i7+: Full Comparison and Which is the Better Buy

Electrolux, a Swedish household manufacturer, invented the first robot vacuum in 1996 and released it into the mass market in 2001. This first-generation robot cleaner used ultrasound to detect and bypass obstacles. Even so, there are some obstacles it couldn’t avoid. The second generation saw the introduction of an infrared sensor that significantly improved how it avoided obstacles. The only challenge was that magnetic strips had to be placed at the end of stairs to prevent them from falling. However, over the years, there have been many upgrades in robot vacuum cleaners’ functionality, including smart features like in-built sensors and navigation cameras. Two of the most popular robot vacuum cleaners in the market are the Roomba i6+ and Roomba i7+. This guide explores how these two vacuum cleaners compare.

Roomba i6+ vs. i7+: Side by Side Comparison

Our Pick

iRobot Roomba i6+

$615.00

• Empties itself for up to 60 days
• Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System and 10X the Power-Lifting Suction
•  iAdapt technology with vSLAM navigation
• Learns your cleaning habits to offer up personalized schedules

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12/08/2023 09:33 pm GMT

Roomba i6+ vs. i7+: What’s the Difference?

Design

The Roomba i6+ and i7+ have similar construction, with a slight difference in their dimension. For instance, the Roomba i6+ measures 13.34 (L) x 13.26 (W) x 3.63 (H) inches, while the i7+ measures 13.34 (L) x 13.34 (W) x 3.63 (H) inches. The other notable difference in their design is that the i6+ comes in light silver while the i7 is black. In terms of weight, both the i6+ and i7+ weigh 7.44 pounds. Additionally, both robot vacuum cleaners have differently sized dustbins. The i6+ has a dustbin capacity of 400ml, with the i7+ has a capacity of 500ml. Given that, the i7+’s large-sized dustbin can clean a larger area before returning to self-empty.

Another design feature of these robot cleaners is the large start button and two smaller buttons (home and spot) on the upper side. These buttons have LED lighting that blinks white when cleaning, blue when connected to Wi-Fi, red when charging, and solid white when fully charged. In addition, the underside is fitted with a cliff detection sensor, preventing the cleaner from tumbling over drop-offs. Also included is a dirt-detect sensor that signals the robot to focus on areas of your home that experience high foot traffic. In addition, you’ll see the sweeping edge brush close to the edge of the vacuum cleaner to ensure spotless corners. 

The Cleaning Performance

The Roomba i6+ and i7+ offer exceptional cleaning performance. First, they both feature multi-surface rubber brushes that rotate in different directions. One brush helps to loosen, lift and pull in debris, while the second brush accelerates it into the suction channel. This cleaning process leaves very little dirt or debris caught in the brush. When debris attaches to the brush (particularly human and animal hair), you can remove the brushes with a simple “click mechanism” and pull out the hair with little effort. While this is the case, expect better cleaning performance from the Roomba i6+ than the i7+, primarily due to the suction power. With a suction power of 2200pa, the i6+ does a better job of sucking dirt and debris than the 1800pa offered by the i7+.

Another feature both robot cleaners have in common is their auto-adjusting rollers that help raise the vacuums high or low, depending on the surface you wish to clean. They’re also integrated with the Imprint Link Technology, which allows the Braava Jet M series robot mop to mop the floor area that the iRobot Roomba has vacuumed automatically. Combining these two robot vacuum cleaners will ensure your house is spotlessly clean.

Smart Features

The automatic self-emptying technology is a noteworthy smart feature of the Roomba i6+ and i7+. This means that when the robot vacuum cleaner’s dustbin is full, it will return to the clean base and dock to empty all its contents. Remember that these two Roomba robot vacuum cleaners have a disposal bag within the Clean Base that stores the dirt, dust and debris they collect. 

Whenever the bags are full, the base unit LED will light up red, and you’ll also receive a notification on the iRobot mobile application. Additionally, using the iRobot App, you can customize when you want the vacuum to clean your house. For instance, the vacuums can clean when you leave and stop when you’re back, so you’ll return to a spotless house and never notice the cleaning happening.

Filters

The Roomba i6+ and i7+ include high-efficiency filters that trap dust, dirt, and allergens, particularly those from dogs and cats. So, these two vacuum cleaners are worth considering if you suffer from allergies. Remember that you’ll get an extra filter and side brush with the i7+, but you’ll have to purchase these accessories separately for the i6+. 

Roomba recommends changing your filter at least every two to three months, but this will depend on how frequently you use your vacuum cleaner. This is the only way to ensure you’re not exposed to allergens while cleaning.

Mapping and Navigation

The iRobot Roomba i6+ and i7+ vacuum cleaners feature iAdapt 3.0 VSLAM navigation, which uses a camera and sensors to keep track of the areas it has cleaned. These robot cleaners also utilize Imprint Smart Mapping Technology to learn your floor plan and room names. After a few cleaning cycles, they’ll send the information to the iRobot Home App, where you can create Keep Out Zones. 

These could be areas where the robot vacuum cleaner has difficulty navigating or where you have items on your floor that you want to protect from damage, like pet bowls. Note that the mapping technology included in the Roomba i6+ and i7+ is Alexa enabled, so you can use your voice to command the robot vacuums on where to clean.

Battery and Loudness

The Roomba i6+ and i7+ have a good battery life. You’ll run your Roomba i7+ for about 75 minutes before it needs to recharge, while the i6+ lasts up to 100 minutes. During charging, it will take 120 minutes for the Roomba i6+ to charge fully, and the i7+ can take about 180 minutes. 

A remarkable feature of these robot vacuum cleaners is their recharge and resume function. This means that whenever it detects that the battery is running low, it will return to the Clean Base for a recharge. After it’s completely charged, it will resume cleaning where it last stopped. Moreover, the Roomba i6+ and i7+ are remarkably quiet, with a noise level of 68dBA. This means you can hold conversations in a room while the vacuum runs. However, the noise level can increase up to 76dBA during the automatic waste disposal process.

Smart Technology

iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal

$486.50

• The Clean Base automatically disposes of dirt and allows the i7 to empty itself.
• 75 minutes runtime
• 3-Stage cleaning system with powerful suction
• vSLAM navigation lets the i7 learn your home's layout to build personalized Smart Maps (accessible on the iRobot App)
• Alexa and App enabled.

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12/07/2023 08:36 am GMT

Roomba i6+ vs. i7+: Must-Know Facts

• The Roomba i6+ and i7+ have high-efficiency filters that trap over 99% of allergens and dust mites.
• The Roomba i6+ and i7+ feature a circular design, making it easier for them to maneuver around furniture and corners.
• The Roomba i6+ has one dirt disposal bag, while the i7+ has 5 Allergen Lock dirt disposal bags.
• These vacuums come with a mobile application (iRobot Home) that lets you control which sections of your home to clean.
• These robot vacuums feature a Clean Base that can hold debris for up to 60 days. However, this depends on the size of your home and the frequency of cleaning.  
• Through the integration of Alexa, the Roomba i6+ and i7+ can start cleaning your home with the sound of your voice.

Roomba i6+ vs. i7+: Which One Should You Choose?

These robot vacuums use cutting-edge technology to clean your home efficiently. For instance, they use floor trackers and a camera to map the room they’re cleaning. In terms of design, they have the same construction but with minimal differences. For instance, the Roomba i6+ comes in light silver, while the Roomba i7+ is black. Another useful feature is that you can direct both cleaners on where to clean using voice command or the iRobot mobile application. Additionally, the App has a “Keep Out Zone” feature, which helps you set restrictions on areas they can and can’t clean.

If you’re undecided whether the Roomba i6+ or i7+ is the right robot cleaner for your home, one thing to consider is the price. If you’re on a budget, the Roomba i6+ is the right pick as it’s less costly than the i7+. However, when you need a vacuum cleaner that performs exceptionally well on different surfaces, the i7+ would be a perfect choice over the i6+.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock.com.