Roomba i2 vs. i7 Comparison Review

Roomba i2 is a round-shaped robot vacuum with a low-profile design. The essence of the low-profile design is to allow it to go under low-profile furniture where much of the dirt settles. It can also pass in between most tight spaces unrestricted.

Regarding the dimensions and weight, this robot vacuum is 13.4 x 13.5 x 3.6 inches and weighs 7lbs. As for the appearance and aesthetics, there is the iRobot logo at the top interface, together with 3 buttons while the color is gray.

The Roomba i2 is a robotic cleaner with vacuuming function only. It uses a 3-stage cleaning system to get the job done. The i2 is suitable for all hard floors, including tile, linoleum, laminate, vinyl, hardwood, and marble.

The i2 can also handle low pile carpets, but when it comes to medium pile and high pile carpets, it gets overwhelmed, as we will see in the cleaning test results.

Besides bare floors and carpets, you can rely on the i2 to handle pet messes such as pet hair and kitty litter.

Despite being one of the latest Roombas, the i2 comes with a 2nd Gen motor, the same one included in models released as early as 2018.

This is a single-speed motor that puts up an average of 850-950pa. The i2 delivers 10× the lifting power of the 600 series models.

Roomba i2 does not have a mopping function; it only sweeps and vacuums.

However, it is compatible with the Braava M6, courtesy of Imprint Link Technology. It syncs the two so that they team up to vacuum and mop.

The Roomba i2 might be a new model but remains an entry-level model in terms of navigation. It still uses iAdapt 1.0, a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) system, to find its way around your house. There are obstacle detection sensors and a retractable bumper that absorbs impact when the robot hits obstacles inadvertently.

The i2 will navigate seamlessly in rooms with low to average traffic but in rooms with high-traffic, expect it to get stuck or hit obstacles here and there. But it performs much better than other Roombas with iAdapt 1.0 courtesy of Reactive Sensor Technology, which detects common household obstacles with much precision.

Besides, there are cliff sensors that prevent the robot from toppling over the stairs, and Dirt Detect, which uses optical and acoustic sensors to locate spots with heavy dirt concentration.

The Roomba i2 may be a new robot vacuum, but it is not up to the mark when it comes to floor mapping.

For the record, the Roomba i2 doesn’t have smart mapping; it can’t store maps and doesn’t have extras such as Keep Out Zones and Cleaning Zones.

But then, its performance is a step ahead of the competition as it cleans in a systematic pattern for entire level coverage. In a room with less traffic, expect at least 95% coverage, while in rooms with high traffic, it cleans 90% of the floor area that needs cleaning.

Unfortunately, when it comes to boundary marking, you don’t have an option except to use Virtual Walls, which can be hectic to set up, and the nodes have to be purchased separately.

Roombas don’t just vacuum; they also filter out the bad elements from the atmosphere, for example, allergens and particulates that cause bad odor. The robot uses AeroForce high-efficiency filters that capture 99% of allergens.

For the record, it captures elements as small as 0.6 microns. They are not true-HEPA filters as they don’t capture down to 0.3 microns, but still, they get the job done.

The Roomba i2 relies on a primary brushroll to agitate and lift dirt. This brush is dubbed the AeroForce Dual Multisurface Brush with Anti Tangle Technology.

The main brush, as the name suggests, consists of one brush for agitating dirt and another that lifts dirt from the surface, ready for suctioning.

One thing about this brush is the anti-tangle technology that prevents the robot’s brushes from getting jammed by long human and pet hair like in the earlier models, for example, the Roomba 690, 692, and 694.

Alongside the main brush is the sweeping side brush that spins while sweeping dirt from the wall edges and deep corners where the primary brush can’t reach.

The Roomba i2 comes with a large 0.5L bin, enough to hold a day or two’s dirt in a busy household. However, it should be emptied daily to prevent the buildup of odor.

There is a full bin indicator that alerts you when it’s time to empty the bin. One great thing about the i2 is its compatibility with the iRobot Clean Base Automatic Self Emptying unit. With this addon accessory, you can forget emptying the bin now and then for a whole month.

Please note that the Roomba i2 doesn’t come with the Clean Base unit, but you can purchase it separately.

The new Roomba i2 maintains the same 1800 mAh lithium-ion battery that most Roombas tag along with. It can offer an average of 75 minutes, enough to handle an average-sized apartment.

When it comes to power management, this Roomba will dock to recharge when the power goes down. After the 2-3 hours recharge time, it will leave the docking station to complete the cleaning session from where it left.

Roomba i2 has plenty of automation and smart features. To start, this robot vacuum is compatible with 2.4GHz WiFi that facilitates remote operation via the mobile app or voice assistants. The app allows you to set cleaning schedules and access many other controls.

At the core of this new Roomba is iRobot OS, the company’s proprietary operating system that has been rolled out in several top-of-the-range models. It is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Roomba i2 comes with a 1-year warranty in case your Roomba develops problems. But make sure to abide by the warranty’s terms. As for support, iRobot has plenty of resources. Last, even though this is a new Roomba, there are plenty of affordable supplies such as filters, brushes, and replacement parts.

The Roomba i2’s main brushroll may have anti-tangle technology, but it’s not invincible. Regularly inspect the brushroll to ensure there are no hair tangles and stuck on dirt that could impede its performance.

Also, check whether the side brush is spinning freely and remove any tangles. The primary and secondary brush should be replaced after 6-8 months.

Roomba i2 comes with AeroForce high-efficiency filters that require maintenance at least twice a month or weekly if you deal with lots of dust and fine particles.

Pop out the filter, tap it in the bin, rinse using cold water and let it dry before putting it back. Buy a replacement after 2-3 months.

The Roomba i2 doesn’t come with iRobot’s automatic self-emptying system, so you have to empty the bin manually. Once the bin is full, pop it out, and empty the dirt. Wash if necessary.

For the record, the i2 works with the Roomba Clean Base unit. If you have one, the maintenance requirements are lower as the robot empties itself automatically. Your job will just be changing the disposable bags after a month or so.