Roomba i7+ vs. Roomba 675: Make Sure to Get the Best Roomba!

Last Updated on April 17th, 2019 by Natalia Bickell

Roomba is one of the foremost leaders in the robot vacuum space with advanced technology and features like navigation, mapping, smart assistant connections, onboard cameras, self-emptying dustbins, and more.

If you need the best that robot vacuums have to offer to make cleaning your home easier and more efficient, look no further than the many styles iRobot makes. It can be an overwhelming decision because of all of the choices, but we’ll include some information here that might make it easier.

You can learn about the i7+ and the 675 and get armed with the knowledge necessary to make the best decision for you and your home.

Roomba i7+

The Roomba i7+ is the only robot vacuum on the market with a dustbin that empties itself. The charging dock for the i7+ has a large dustbin that holds thirty times what the vacuum unit holds, so every time it docks, it empties, leaving less work for you, less often.

With advanced mapping and app control, along with many other features, the i7+ is a best-in-class robot vacuum that makes your life easier and is without a doubt one of the best robot vacuums on the market.

Vacuum Design

Like most other Roombas, the i7+ comes in a circular shape with three buttons on top. The large Clean button is in the middle, and a home button and spot cleaning cycle button are with it. The onboard camera helps with navigation and mapping.

Despite these similarities, the i7+ contains more advanced technology than any other robot vacuum today, including the self-emptying dustbin.

The bottom of the vacuum contains two rubber brushrolls, a spinning brush, a battery, three wheels, and the dustbin. The only noticeable difference between the bottom of other Roombas and the i7+ is the slot to allow the dustbin to empty itself.

The Roomba i7+ has a bumper ring on the outside to help it avoid obstacles. If it does bump into something, it should do it gently, so it doesn’t damage anything. Its sensors help it map the rooms of your home and avoid stairs.

Charging Station Design

The vacuum unit might be very similar to other Roombas, but the charging station is entirely different. The charging station houses some of the most advanced technology on the market with the self-emptying dustbin.

The back of the charging station is tall to allow room for the canister that holds thirty times more than the dustbin onboard the unit. The ramp-style pad enables the dock to suck dirt out of the dustbin and into the bag at the back of the charging station. It can do all of this and charge the unit at the same time.

Size

The vacuum unit is similar in size to other Roombas, but the charging station is different. If you don’t tuck it into a closet or corner somewhere, it may be visually unappealing. The back of the dock that contains the dustbin canister is nineteen inches tall, twelve inches wide, and fifteen inches deep.

Parts and Accessories

Included in the Roomba i7+ box is the unit, the charging station with its built-in canister, one virtual wall, an extra HEPA filter, two disposal bags, and an extra spinning brush. Aside from the extra disposal bags, these are the standard accessories that come with each Roomba vacuum. The charging station also has a compartment to store the extra disposal bags.

You can use the virtual wall to create restricted areas where you don’t want your vacuum to go. You can create a wall with a linear length of ten feet or block off an entire area in the middle of a room with a radial diameter of four feet.

The HEPA filter included with the i7+ is updated with an AeroForce filtration system. It uses more advanced technology than the AeroVac system included in other Roomba robot vacuums.

Features

You can boost your cleaning performance with the many new features onboard the i7+.

• Self-Emptying

With the ability to empty its own dustbin, you can relax for longer. The canister on the charging station holds up to thirty times more than the dustbin on the unit, so you’ll be changing it out a lot less often. There are no other robot vacuums that do this.

After a cleaning cycle, the i7+ will return to its dock, charge, and empty its dustbin. Once the battery is full, and the dustbin is empty, it will be ready to set out on another cleaning cycle.

• Imprint Smart Mapping

Older Roomba robot vacuums include what’s called Memory Mapping technology. It allowed the vacuum to create Digital Map Reports and remembered certain parts of your floor plan to avoid obstacles.

However, the i7+ includes Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows the user to name their spaces and direct the vacuum to clean those spaces directly. If you have a large house or a lot of high traffic areas that you want to clean more than others, this is a useful tool.

You can even tell Alexa to clean the kitchen, and she’ll set your i7+ in motion to get it done.

The i7+ can memorize ten different floor plans, allowing you to keep track of layouts on many different levels. You can simply take your Roomba i7+ to the second floor and set it in motion there for an effective clean anywhere in your home.

• Scheduling

With the Roomba i7+, you can schedule cleanings at a time that’s convenient for you. Clean at the same time every day, or on the same day every week. It takes just a few moments to set those schedules via the smartphone app, and then you can forget about it.

Cleaning Performance

The Roomba i7+ provides powerful cleaning performance. It works on all types of flooring including hardwood, tile, low-pile carpet, high-pile carpet, rugs, and more. The spinning brush works with such excitement on bare floors, that sometimes it will throw debris out of the path of the vacuum and the unit may double back or work harder to pick everything up.

The i7+ runs much more efficiently on carpet. It works diligently to cover the carpeted area by picking up almost everything it runs over. If it does miss a bit of debris, it doubles back on the second trip and leaves behind virtually no mess.

While robot vacuums, the i7+ included, take a bit longer to complete a thorough clean than traditional vacuums, the strong performance of the i7+ exceeds the performance of all other robot vacuums and is rather impressive.

Usability

The buttons featured on the top of the vacuum unit make it easy to use and the smartphone app enables a very user-friendly experience. Even though there is a large amount of advanced technology included in the i7+, most users won’t experience any problems navigating the app or using the vacuum.

Setup is easy. Just unbox the vacuum, plug in the base, and hook up the unit to let it charge. When it is fully charged, you can start a cleaning cycle immediately. Allowing the i7+ run for its full runtime the first time you use it will break the battery in and encourage a long life.

Press the button on top of the unit or the button on the home screen of the app to start your first clean. Downloading the app will give you instructions on how to connect it, and you can also connect it to your Google Home or Amazon Alexa to control it with voice commands.

When the vacuum’s battery is low, or the dustbin is full, the unit returns to the charging station and will resume the clean when it is ready. You don’t have to intervene in its daily operations at all. You can create schedules from the app for more hands-free operations.

Value

Each person will determine the value of the Roomba i7+ robot vacuum. There aren’t many robot vacuums on the market today that cost nearly as much, so if you think the technology, hands-free operation, and advanced features are worth it, then it definitely provides a lot of value.

You can save time with the self-emptying dustbin, building schedules is convenient, the mapping allows for more versatile use, and other advanced features far surpass those of other robot vacuums.

The improved navigation of the i7+ allows you to label each room and tell your smart home assistant to clean them. Storing different floor plans enables your vacuum to remember where it is or what it needs to do, even in a large house.

The i7+ cleans very efficiently, so you get a thorough clean on less battery, and the suction is more powerful than most other vacuums, so it is much more effective. The i7+ excels in power.

Roomba i7+ Pros:

• A self-emptying dustbin for truly hands-free cleaning
• Advanced navigation with room labeling
• Save up to ten different floor plans
• Smartphone app
• Strong cleaning performance

Roomba i7+ Cons:

• Expensive

The Roomba i7+ Verdict

If you want the best technology money can buy and top-of-the-line features, the Roomba i7+ is the best choice. It is self-navigating, self-emptying, and self-charging. It can map, schedule, and remember your floor plan. It truly does have everything.

Roomba 675

If you’re unfamiliar with the robot vacuum space and you want to get your feet wet with something that offers a few features but won’t break the bank, the Roomba 675 is a relatively new model that fits this description. You can enjoy Wi-Fi connections that enable the use of your vacuum from anywhere, but you won’t have to worry about all of the other fancy technology that can be intimidating for some.

Design

The Roomba 675 is similar to other Roomba robot vacuums in look and feels. It has the same circular shape, but it has a flat black color pattern instead of Roomba’s signature black and silver.

The top of the unit features a single Clean button, giving you access to easy controls that aren’t overwhelming. It also has a handle so you can pick it up and carry it easily in the event it runs out of battery or enters a space you don’t want it to go.

The front of the vacuum has a soft bumper to protect both the vacuum and your furniture when it gently bumps into them. Your 675 will efficiently navigate obstacles but may occasionally bump into something on its way.

The dustbin is on the side of the unit and latches into place so you can quickly and easily dump it out when it’s full. You can also change the filter in this same way when it’s dirty.

The bottom of the unit features most of the same parts as other Roomba vacuums. The bristle-style brush roll is in the center, and it has three rubber wheels for smooth navigation. The spinning brush gathers dirt from edges and corners so the 675 can easily pick it up.

Size and Dimensions

The physical specifications are exactly what we’ve come to expect from Roomba vacuums. The 675 is 3.5 inches tall, 13.4 inches in diameter, and weighs 11.8 pounds. It is slightly heavier than some of the other Roomba models, but it offers sturdy construction and durability.

Parts and Accessories

Roomba includes the replacement parts and accessories you need for seamless operation. You get a charging dock, an extra filter, a line cord, a flat cleaning tool, and an owner’s manual.

The Roomba 675 doesn’t include a virtual wall like many other Roomba vacuums do, so you can create barriers or off-limits areas to restrict your 675.

Cleaning Performance

The Roomba 675 has basic navigation, dirt detection, a brush roll bristle, and an AeroVac filter. The superior suction of the 675 gives you a thorough clean on any floor type. The brush roll is great at picking up hair, dirt, and debris.

Usability

It’s easy to set up and use the Roomba 675 as well as connect it to the smartphone app.

Setup

As with all Roomba vacuums, all you have to do is unbox the unit, plug in the charging station, and let it charge until it’s full. It takes a few hours, but once it’s full, you can push the Clean button on top to start your first clean.

Mobile Application

While you wait for your unit to charge for the first time, you can download and set up the smartphone application. Once you download it from the Apple store or Google Play store, you’ll find instructions on how to connect the unit to Wi-Fi and then connect it to the app. It takes about ten minutes.

The mobile application is easy to use. It lets you control your 675 via your phone from any location. You can also see a cleaning history or schedule your cleanings, so you don’t have to remember to start them manually. With push notifications, you’ll always know the status of your 675.

Scheduling cleanings is easy and versatile. You can set daily or weekly schedules, or you can schedule a one-time cleaning cycle for Saturday afternoon before your friends come over. For a beginner robot vacuum, this wireless capability is a huge plus.

Voice Commands

Using your Google Home or Amazon Alexa with the 675 offers added convenience. Pair your vacuum unit to your smart home device and then control it with voice commands. You can tell it to start or stop a cleaning and return it to its charging station.

Maneuverability

Your vacuum’s ability to easily navigate your home is critical. The Roomba 675 has no problem getting around. Its low profile fits under furniture, and it can make sharp turns when needed to avoid obstacles.

It may not have some of the advanced navigation technology that other robot vacuums have, but it can bump and continue with the best. If it runs along a straight line and then bumps into something, it will merely change directions on the spot and keep going.

For smaller homes and apartments, this type of operation is sufficient. Your vacuum doesn’t need advanced mapping and navigation when there’s very little space to clean. The powerful suction of the 675 is almost as good as the most advanced robot vacuums, so there’s no reason to waste your money.

Maintenance and Battery

Like most beginner robot vacuums, the 675 does not have an onboard camera. But the device is still very high quality, the features it does offer are top of the line, and you will get a better clean than you expect for the money.

Your 675 will run optimally as long as you check the filter regularly and make sure to empty the dustbin after every clean. Regular maintenance is an important aspect of any household appliance, so don’t assume your 675 is immune to this attention.

Roomba includes high-quality batteries in each of their devices so that your unit can run at peak performance all the time. You can expect about ninety minutes of runtime on a single charge, and it takes between two and three hours to charge fully when it’s empty.

Roomba 675 Pros:

• Affordable for most consumers
• Wifi connectivity
• Mobile app available on iOS and Android
• Voice control capability with Amazon Alexa or Google Home
• Easy to set up and use

Roomba 675 Cons:

• Basic dirt detection and filtration
• Performance isn’t as strong as more advanced models

Comparison Chart

Conclusion

The Roomba 675 has an affordable price tag and offers enough technology to get you going on a hands-free vacuum without a lot of extras. It’s perfect for small homes and apartments, delivering a thorough and powerful clean on a budget.

For a robot vacuum at a low cost from a reliable manufacturer, the 675 is worth a try. The Wi-Fi connections, voice commands, and user-friendly smartphone application make it easy to get started.

If you need the latest technology, the most advanced features, and the most hands-free action, the i7+ is the clear choice. It offers reliable operations, advanced technology, powerful suction, and superior mapping, navigating, and scheduling capabilities.

If you aren’t on a budget, have a large home, or like to have the latest and greatest gadgets, there aren’t many robot vacuums on the market that compare to the features and reliability of the Roomba i7+.

Further read,

• Neato Botvac D4 Connected vs. Neato Botvac D6 Connected
• Roomba 675 vs. 690 Compared

Patrick Sinclair

Patrick Sinclair is a geek; make no mistake about that. He runs All Home Robotics in his spare time so he doesn’t have to think about his depressing cubicle and it gives him an excuse to buy expensive gadgets to review!