Frequently Asked Questions

Which Roomba model is best for homes with kids and pets?

The j7+ is the best choice for families with kids and pets because its PrecisionVision camera avoids obstacles like cords, pet accidents, and spilled food.

What is the main difference between the Roomba i7 and j7?

The j7 adds a PrecisionVision camera that identifies and avoids obstacles, while the i7 has smart mapping but cannot avoid cords, pet accidents, or socks.

Should I buy the Roomba i3 without the self-emptying dock?

No, because you will hate emptying the bin daily. The article recommends buying the i3 with the self-emptying dock or choosing another model.

Which Roomba model avoids dog poop and charging cables?

The Roomba j7+ uses its camera and AI to avoid obstacles like dog poop, charging cables, and headphones, as mentioned in the article.

Which Roomba model has the best edge cleaning?

The s9+ has a D-shaped design that cleans edges better than other models, plus superior suction and smarter pathing.

Which Roomba Model Should You Buy? A Dad’s No-Nonsense Guide

I’ve owned more Roombas than I care to admit. My name is Dave, and my daughter Sparkles (she’s seven, and she names every vacuum that comes through the door) thinks we should open a Roomba museum. She’s probably right. The reason I keep buying them is exactly the reason you’re reading this: the lineup is confusing. i3, i7, j7, s9 – it looks like a math problem. After living with six different models over three years, I can tell you which ones are worth it and which ones will just frustrate you. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.

What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)

Before I get into specific models, you need to know the real differences that affect your daily life. Every Roomba vacuums – that part is table stakes. What separates the models is navigation, dirt detection, and intelligence. The cheaper ones bump around blindly. The mid-range ones use cameras to map your home. The expensive ones use a combination of cameras, LIDAR, and artificial intelligence to avoid dog poop and charging cables. That last part is not a joke. Sparkles once left a pair of headphones on the floor, and our old Roomba dragged them halfway across the living room before I could stop it. The newer j7 has a camera that literally avoids obstacles like that. For parents, that’s gold.

Key Specs and Features Across Roomba Models

  • Roomba i3 EVO: Basic model with dirt detect, no mapping, runs in rows (sort of), self-emptying dock available. Good for small apartments with open layouts.
  • Roomba i7+: Adds smart mapping, can clean specific rooms on command, remembers floor plans, stores up to 10 maps. Self-emptying dock included in + versions.
  • Roomba j7+: Same mapping as i7 plus PrecisionVision camera that identifies and avoids obstacles (cords, pet accidents, socks). Also has better dirt detection and can tell you what it avoided.
  • Roomba s9+: Top-tier, D-shaped (cleans edges better), has PowerBoost for carpets, same obstacle avoidance as j7, plus better suction and smarter pathing. Also the most expensive.

Who Each Model Is For (Be Honest With Yourself)

If you have no kids, no pets, and mostly hard floors: Honestly, just get the Roomba i3. It doesn’t need to be smart because there’s nothing to dodge. Sparkles calls it “the bumper car.” It works, it empties itself if you buy the dock, and you won’t cry if it gets stuck under the sofa. But please don’t buy the i3 without the self-emptying base. You will hate emptying the bin daily. Trust me on this.

If you have kids and pets (the sweet spot): This is the j7+. No question. I’ve owned the i7 and the j7 side by side for two months, and the j7 saved me from cleaning up disaster twice. Once when Sparkles spilled a cup of dry cereal and the j7 just nosed around it. Another time when our dog Rex had an “accident” on the rug – the j7 stopped before making it worse. The i7 would have painted the whole floor. The j7 is smart enough to know the difference between a baby sock and a real obstacle. It also has a camera that lets me check on things when I’m at work. Creepy but useful.

If you have deep carpets and want the best edge cleaning: The s9+ is your vacuum. It’s shaped like a D so the brush gets into corners and along baseboards better than any other Roomba. The suction is noticeably stronger on carpets. But – and this is important – the s9 has the same obstacle avoidance as the j7, so you pay a premium mainly for the shape and power. If you have mostly rugs or mixed flooring, the j7 is almost as good for hundreds less. Sparkles insists the s9 looks like a slice of pizza, which I suppose is accurate.

Pros and Cons – My Honest Take

Roomba i3 (or i3+ with self-emptying base)

Pros:

  • Cheapest entry point
  • Self-emptying dock option is great
  • Dirt detect actually works decently on bare floors
  • Easy to set up

Cons:

  • Bumps into everything noisily
  • No mapping, so it can’t clean a specific room
  • Gets stuck on rug tassels and cords often
  • You’ll hear Sparkles say “is that thing drunk?” every time it runs

Roomba i7+

Pros:

  • Smart mapping is a game-changer for cleaning bedrooms while you’re out
  • Self-emptying base (included) – you go weeks without touching dirt
  • Stores multiple floor plans
  • Cleans in rows, not random bumps

Cons:

  • Still runs over cables and small objects
  • Doesn’t avoid pet accidents (ask me how I know)
  • Not great on high-pile carpets
  • More expensive than i3 but misses the big innovation (obstacle avoidance)

Roomba j7+

Pros:

  • Avoids cords, socks, pet waste, even kid art projects on the floor
  • Can tell you what it avoided (helpful for finding lost items)
  • Same mapping as i7, plus better dirt detection
  • Quieter than i7 when running
  • Best for homes with kids and pets – by far

Cons:

  • Still not perfect – it can miss small objects like earrings
  • Camera requires some trust (but it’s encrypted)
  • Premium price, but worth it for the sanity
  • The app sometimes thinks a shadow is an object

Roomba s9+

Pros:

  • Best suction of any Roomba – really digs into carpets
  • D-shape cleans edges and corners like no other
  • Same obstacle avoidance as j7
  • Self-emptying base included
  • Faster cleaning due to smarter pathing

Cons:

  • Very expensive – you could buy a j7 and a stick vac for less
  • Battery life is decent but not great for large homes (you’ll need the recharge-and-resume feature)
  • The D-shape means it doesn’t fit under some low furniture as well as round models
  • Overkill for mostly hard floors

Verdict – Which One Should You Actually Buy?

I’ve lived with all of them. My wife says I have a problem. Sparkles just wants to know which one gets a cool name. Here’s my honest recommendation based on real-world use with a messy family and a Golden Retriever who sheds like he’s paid for it.

Buy the Roomba j7+ if you have kids, pets, or both. The obstacle avoidance alone saves you from stepping on a Lego and from cleaning up the aftermath of a robot that didn’t know better. It’s not perfect, but it’s the first Roomba I actually trust to run when nobody’s home. The self-emptying base means you think about it once a month. For 95% of families, this is the right answer. Sparkles calls it “The Swervy One” because it swerves around her toys.

If you have no pets and older kids (or no kids), the i7+ is fine. You lose the obstacle avoidance but gain the same mapping and self-emptying for less money. I used the i7 for a year before the j7 came out. It was good. But once I tried the j7, I couldn’t go back.

Only buy the s9+ if you have wall-to-wall carpet and a budget that doesn’t flinch. It’s the best cleaner, but the j7 is 80% as good for 60% of the price. It’s also louder. Sparkles says the s9 sounds like “a grumpy teacher” when it vacuums.

Avoid the i3 unless you are on the tightest budget and don’t mind the bumping. It’s fine for a studio apartment with one room and no furniture obstacles. But for a family home? You’ll be frustrated within a week. I was. That’s how I ended up with multiple Roombas.

One last thing: don’t try to save by buying refurbished or older models. The technology jumps every year, and the obstacle avoidance on the j7 is a genuine parenting tool. I’ve had neighbors ask me which Roomba to buy, and after seeing mine dodge a granola bar wrapper, they all got the j7+. You should too.

Now if you’ll excuse me, Sparkles wants me to name the next Roomba “The Silencer” because it’s quiet. We’ll see.