Roomba i3 vs i7 Comparison Review
Roomba i3
Roomba i7
Roomba i3
- Dimensions 13.34 x 13.26 x 3.63 inches
- Weight 5 pounds
- Сleaning Area 1830 ft2 / 170 m2
- HEPA Filter yes
- Run time 75 min
- Wi-Fi / Smartphone App yes
- Suction Power 10X power
- Carpet Boost yes
- Navigation iAdapt 2.0
- Mapping yes
- Multi-Floor Mapping no
- Dustbin 400-500 ml
- Auto Dirt Disposal yes
- Dirt Detection yes
- WiFi Connectivity yes
- Imprint Link yes
Roomba i7
- Dimensions 13.34 x 13.34 x 3.63 inches
- Weight 7.44 pounds
- Сleaning Area 1991 ft2 / 185 m2
- HEPA Filter yes
- Run time 75 min
- Wi-Fi / Smartphone App yes
- Suction Power 10X power
- Carpet Boost yes
- Navigation iAdapt 3.0 and vSLAM
- Mapping yes (Imprint Smart Mapping)
- Multi-Floor Mapping yes
- Dustbin 400-500 ml
- Auto Dirt Disposal yes
- Dirt Detection yes
- WiFi Connectivity yes
- Imprint Link yes
iRobot Roomba is the best vacuum brand and the industry’s pioneer.
Among the reasons for the success of this brand is the huge investment in R&D. One of their best innovations is the iRobot® Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal. This is a new technology that enables the robot vacuum to empty itself automatically.
This new technology is available in the new Roomba models, including Roomba i3 and i7.
There you have it, folks, an overview of the two models. Now, let’s get into the finer details.
In this comparison review, find out how the new Roomba i3 and i3+ compare to the Roomba i7 and i7+, the first robot vacuum with automatic self-emptying.
- Here again, the difference is that the base model, Roomba 7150, doesn’t come with the iRobot Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit though it works with the technology.
- On the other hand, Roomba 7550 comes with the iRobot Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit.
Which one to choose Roomba i3+ or Roomba i7+?
4 reasons to choose Roomba i7+
- Significant cleaning area: The 75 min runtime allows cleaning up to 1991 ft2 of hard floor and low-pile carpets.
- Room accurate mapping: Imprint Accurate Mapping allows Roomba i7+ to memorize all rooms in your house on all floors and clean each one separately per request.
- Unique brushes: Dual multi-surface rubber brushes clean all messes and adjust to all floor surfaces.
- Keep-out zones: In the intelligent smartphone application, you can set Keep Out Zones to avoid sensitive areas with special cleaning requirements.
Face to face model comparison
Design and Aesthetics
Despite being a newer model, the Roomba i3 and i3+ maintain the original round shape design.
In terms of dimensions, the i3/i3+ are slightly smaller with a 13.26-inches diameter and stand at 3.63-inches high.
As for the weight, the robots without the Clean Base unit weigh 7.44lbs. As for the finish, the Roomba 3150 and 3550 are black and grey with a woven-textured top interface.
The Roomba i7 and i7+ come with a round-shaped design; unlike their successors, the Roomba S9 and S9+ that come with a D-shaped design.
When it comes to dimensions, the i7 series models have a 13.44-inches diameter and are 3.63-inches high. Without the Clean Base unit, the weight is 7.44lbs.
The i7 is available in two colors. The US model is black, while the Chinese version is black and silver.
Cleaning Performance
The Roomba i3 and i3+ are quite similar to the i7, and i7+ save for a few differences.
The two care best suited for bare floors, pet hair, and low pile carpets. Just like the i7 series, the i3 series models feature a 2nd Gen single-speed motor that delivers a maximum of 900 pa.
This is average suction and the sole reason why the two are not ideal for medium and high pile carpets. When it comes to the brush system, we still have the AeroForce dual multi-surface brush and a side sweeping brush for agitation and dirt pickup.
The only difference is that the i3 and i3+ come with a larger 0.5L bin. The full bin indicator function is intact.
The Roomba i7 and i7+ were a downgrade compared to the predecessor, the Roomba 980. While the 980 was designed for bare floors, pet hair, and low to high pile carpets, the i7 and i7+ are for bare floors, pet hair, and low pile carpets only.
The two come with a 2nd Gen single-speed motor that puts up just 900pa.
This suction power is not enough to handle medium and high pile carpets. The brush system is still the new AeroForce dual multi-surface brush.
When it comes to filtration, the Roomba 7150 and 7550 come with high-efficiency filters and a 0.3 L bin with a full bin indicator.
Automatic Self Emptying
The Roomba i3 and i3+ are also self-emptying Roombas. They can empty themselves automatically and can hold up to 60 days of dirt.
Just like the i7 series, these two Roombas also use AllergenLock ™ bags making them best for homes with allergy sufferers.
All the captured allergens remain tightly sealed in the bags.
The Roomba i7 and i7+ are both compatible with the automatic self-emptying technology. With the unit, the robot can empty up to 60 days of dirt courtesy of the two dust disposal bags that can hold 30 days of dirt each.
Interestingly, this technology uses AllergenLock ™ bags, so all the captured allergens can’t find their way back to the atmosphere.
Battery and Runtime
The Roomba 3150 and 3550, on the other hand, maintain the same 1,800mAh lithium-ion battery that lasts the robot for 75 minutes.
Here again, we have an intelligent robot vacuum that resumes cleaning after recharging. The recharge time is 3 hours on average.
The Roomba 7150 and 7550 come with a 1,800mAh battery that runs for an average of 75 minutes. For the record, this is a lithium-ion battery whose advantages include higher energy density, and voltage capacity, and lower self-discharge rate.
The recharge time is around 3 hours. The Roomba i7 will recharge automatically, just like all other robot vacuums, and besides, it resumes cleaning automatically.
Navigation and Mapping
On the other hand, the new Roomba i3 and i3+ come with the old Roomba navigation and mapping technology called iAdapt 1.0.
This technology is based on a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm. It relies on sensors only for localization; there are no real-time cameras as in the high-end models.
One shortcoming with this navigation system is that the robot gets stuck in high traffic rooms, and besides, the coverage is compromised as the robots clean in a random pattern. When it comes to boundary marking, the Roomba i3 and i3+ don’t have digital boundary marking.
One of the new features that the Roomba i7 and i7+ debuted is the new iAdapt 3.0 navigation which improved on a few things iAdapt 2.0 lacked. This navigation technology is based on a VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm. There are sensors and a real-time camera that make navigation more accurate.
The mapping is also intelligent. The striking feature here is the Imprint Smart Mapping technology which gives the robot the ability to differentiate the different rooms in your house. This way, you can tell the robot which rooms to clean and which ones to skip.
Besides, there is Keep Out Zones, a feature that allows users to create digital boundaries.
Smart Features and Convenience
The Roomba 3150 and 3550 are also smart robot vacuums courtesy of 2.4GHz WiFi. You can tell the robot to start vacuuming while at the office, straight from the mobile app.
The two Roombas also support voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant. Interestingly, the Roomba i3 and i3+ come with iRobot Genius Home Intelligence, a new technology that offers homeowners to unlock a whole new cleaning experience tailored around their daily habits.
The Roomba i7 and i7+ are smart home robot vacuums powered by 2.4GHz WiFi. Homeowners can control the robots remotely from the iRobot Home app.
Besides smartphone app operation, the Roomba 7150 and 7550 are both compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Interestingly, the app has been updated to offer users more control over their cleaning. You can now get personalized cleaning suggestions, scheduling suggestions, and more.
Our tests Roomba i3 and i7
Carpet Floor (Low Pile Carpet)
we tested carpet floor
Carpet Floor (Low Pile Carpet)
- Sugar
- 85%
- 85%
- Rice
- 90%
- 90%
- Flour
- 70%
- 80%
- Kitty Litter
- 95%
- 95%
- Pet Hair
- 80%
- 85%
Roomba i3 vs i7: What’s the Best Choice?
There you have it, folks, a face-to-face comparison of the Roomba i3 series vs the i7 series. So, what’s the best choice?
Well, the Roomba i7 is the best model in this comparison because of the advanced navigation and mapping system. With the i7 series, you get the latest iRobot navigation system dubbed iAdapt 3.0, while the i3 series uses the old iAdapt 1.0 navigation. You also get extra smart features with the Roomba i7, for example, Imprint Smart Mapping.
While the i7 and i7+ are the clear winners here, the i3 and i3+ are still great deals for homes with less traffic. The two vacuums offer the same level of cleaning as the i7, and more so, they are cheaper.
In a nutshell, the Roomba i7 and i7+ are the best if you are not on a budget, but if you want a self-emptying Roomba on a budget, the i3 and i3+ are the best options.
Customer reviews
Roomba i3
Roomba i7
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