Roomba i3+ vs. i6+ vs. i7+ – Robot Vacuum Comparison

The Roomba series from iRobot is one of the most popular robotic vacuum cleaner models on the market. We have tested many of these units here at HouseholdMe and they consistently score well on our best robot vacuum lists.

There are over a dozen units called Roomba, so it can be difficult for consumers to see the models’ differences and nuances.

Here we focus on breaking down the latest stack of iRobot: The Roomba i3+, i6+, and i7+. What you learn may surprise you.

What does the + sign behind the number mean?

The + means you get a Clean Base, aka Automatic Dirt Disposal, that empties your Roomba for you. It’s much larger than the average charging station.

When you visit the iRobot website, you’ll notice that the iRobot brand offers both the Roomba i3 and Roomba i3+ for sale. The big difference between the Plus and Non-Plus versions is the charging dock that comes with both models.

The Plus versions have a self-charging feature. The charging station includes a built-in vacuum cleaner that vacuums the robot’s dust container and fills the waste into a closed bag. This means you never have to get your hands dirty or smell anything dirty. Each bag can hold dust and dirt for up to 30 days.

iRobot Roomba i3+ (3550)

One of the best innovations in robotic vacuuming in recent years has been models that can empty their waste garbage cans. Not only do they offer more comfort than traditional models, but they also reduce dust pollution considerably, a great advantage if you suffer from allergies. However, vacuum cleaners with this feature usually cost around $1,000, much more than most people can or want to spend.

That’s what makes the Roomba i3+ especially attractive, because for the price it’s the most affordable model of the iRobot with self-draining trash can yet. It lacks the intelligent mapping capabilities of its more expensive counterparts, so you can’t send it to certain rooms for cleaning. But depending on your needs, it might be worth trading in for the simple hands-free cleaning.

The best feature of the i3+ is that it’s the most affordable Roomba Bot that can be used with a Clean Base. So you don’t have to spend $1,000 to keep your hands clean.

The Clean Base is a charging station with a trash can on top of it – so it takes up a little more space than the regular base.

When the vacuum cleaner is full, it floats over it, absorbs all the dirt, and stores it in a small disposable bag that can hold dirt for up to two months. Removal is easy, and a red LED light on the base warns you when it’s time, and the bag closes by itself on the way out, so you never have to worry about dust.

Although there are no stored maps, the Roomba i3+ has intelligent mapping that shows you where it has been and gives you visual confirmation that it has done its job.

iRobot uses a different cleaning system for the i3, probably to keep costs down. Instead of using a camera for visual localization, it uses floor sensors to use a systematic cleaning system, relying on physical landmarks such as walls to help it orient itself and work in logical lines. And in our tests, we avoided getting stuck in ordinary robot vacuum traps (like dining room chairs and tassels).

You can’t ask the i3 to clean just the living room and kitchen, but you can set it twice to clean everywhere, and since it recharges and continues working, you won’t have to come home to a halfway clean house.

Another advantage of belonging to the higher ranks of the iRobot world is that the i3 can work in conjunction with the m6 Braava Jet Robot Mop, using a feature known as Imprint Link. This allows you to schedule the cleaning of the i3 and then have the m6 start a mop when the vacuum cleaner is ready.

This is an excellent feature because the Braava Jet is a good mop, not just a wet mop like most mops built into bots. The m6 has intelligent room allocation features, so you can say you only need to mop certain areas – for example, those with hard floors (although it will skillfully avoid carpets).

The i3 doesn’t have the same room-matching feature, but if you need to keep your i3 out of areas or away from specific locations (e.g., the TV console – a tangle of cables waiting to be chewed up), you can take a virtual wall ($59.99 or $99.99 for two) that can emit a 10-foot barrier or a 4-foot circle.

pros: More affordable, is not planned.
cons: Weaker intelligent functions
Ideal buyer: People who live in small houses or apartments

iRobot Roomba i6+ (6550)

The iRobot Roomba i6+ is a model that comes exclusively from Amazon. We had imagined that it would have features between the Roomba i3+ and Roomba i7+. However, after testing the i6+, we found that it was similar to the i7+, with the same great cleaning performance, a self-draining tank, and an excellent app.

The Roomba i6+ is an amazing robot vacuum, but it lacks an extra dust bag, spare side brushes, and a spare filter that the i7+ comes with. We don’t like this because the i6+ and the i7+ are available at retail for the same price. If you can find the Amazon-exclusive i6+ model on sale – which is often available for less than $600 – then you have a lot of things ahead of you.

The i6+ is based on a 2nd generation motor that provides ten times the airflow of the 600 Series Roombas. The average suction power is also 900pa, which for carpets is n

Pros: More affordable, is not planned.
Cons: Weaker intelligent functions
Ideal Buyer: People who live in small houses or apartments

iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550)

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is dressed to impress. It is upholstered in high-quality black plastic with an anthracite top and a wide black bumper at the front. The logo on the top hides a carrying handle and sits over an eye-catching “Clean” button in the middle. To the left and right, there are smaller symbols for applying and cleaning stains.

The buttons are integrated into the Roomba i7+ itself and register the effects with minimal feedback. That is clever, as it prevents dust from entering the button mechanism and causing a problem on the road.

Robotic vacuum cleaners usually have a small dust collector. We have now tested several robotic vacuum cleaners, but we were swamped emptying and cleaning them. After about an hour, we send the robot back to its base station. A sound follows, but after 10 seconds, the robot is silent again. We look inside the vacuum cleaner to see how clean it is. Wow! we are impressed. We can just rinse the dust collector under the tap.

iRobot itself claims that “Imprint Smart Mapping” is a revolutionary part of the i7 series. This means that the robot vacuum cleaner will recognize spaces over time. Do you have voice control at home like Alexa or Google Home? If so, you can simply ask the robot to vacuum the bedroom.

Another common complaint from owners of vacuum cleaners is that the extracted air blows the dust from the floor through the room. Since this robot vacuum cleaner has ten times higher suction power than the 600 series, we also expected a strong exhaust air. But nothing could be further from the truth. When we squatted behind my robot, we walked through the room to feel the exhaust air, but we felt nothing. The only result was a questioning glance from my friend.

All in all, this is a great robot vacuum. The Clean Base works the way it is advertised, and thanks to the intelligent mapping, you can avoid the rooms you want to clean and others. The vacuum cleaner itself has excellent suction power, so you can be sure that your floors are spotlessly clean.

The most significant disadvantage is the high price. If you can find it in the offer, we recommend the i7+, but you might be more interested in the i3+ or the s6+.

Pros: Big dirt accumulation, excellent smart features, extra pockets and filters
Cons: Expensive
Ideal Buyer: anyone who wants a luxury robot vacuum cleaner

If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!

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Last Update: 2024-04-25 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API