Roomba i3 vs. i7 (Which vacuum is better?)
Do you find it difficult to choose between Roomba i3 and i7, and you want to know which one is better for you?
Roomba vacuums are the best robotic vacuums because they are very handy for people with busy routines. In busy schedules, they make their homes clean and fresh.
Modern intelligence technology makes them memorize each part of your floor so they don’t get stuck anywhere and know which part should be cleaned.
I3 and i7 are the most popular brands of Roomba; both are from the i-series. But there is a misconception that i3 was upgraded to i7. In reality, i7 was released first, and after two years, i3 was released.
In this article, we will compare Roomba i3 vs. i7 and discuss their similarities and differences.
IRobot Roomba i3 Reviews
Powerful Suction
The cleaning system of the Roomba 600 series is great because its high-quality suction power can pull out all the dirt effectively. But by comparing it with i3, we observed that i3 works more efficiently. The premium three-stage cleaning system and ten times stronger powerful suction system of Roomba i3 make it outstanding.
Extra Cleaning Tools
When you look at its construction, you will find an edge-sweeping brush and dual multi-surface rubber brushes for cleaning the house’s corners and walls. So, the accessible parts of the house get easily cleaned by it.
Smart Straight Line Navigation System
There is a smart straight-line navigation system that has sensors to track the floors; this way, they clean the floor in straight lines.
Automatic Charging System
They return to the charging dock when their charging is near to finish. When its battery becomes full, it automatically continues its cleaning process, where it was stopped due to low charging.
Compatible with Alexa and Google Home
You can also set your voice in its system and give it a command to start cleaning in your voice because it is compatible with Alexa and Google Home. Also, depending on your commands and cleaning habits, it offers a cleaning schedule according to your needs.
Extra Cleaning Sessions
When your region has a high pollen count or your pets are shedding in some seasons, Roomba i3 can handle this situation by giving extra cleaning sessions.
Imprint Technology
With imprint technology built in Roomba i3, you can connect any iRobot brand mopping devices and conveniently achieve more cleaning sessions.
IRobot Roomba i7 Reviews
Power Suction with Improved Pick-up Performance
The three-stage cleaning system is also built in Roomba i7, so its suction system becomes powerful with enhanced pick-up performance. Therefore, your floor becomes super clean.
Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes
With these extra cleaning tools, Roomba i7 can clean the smallest particles from your floor and make it extra clean, no matter if the dirt is big or small.
iAdapt 3.0 Navigation Technology
With this technology, it easily goes to every place on your floor and makes visual landmarks, so it helps in remembering which areas have been cleaned. This way, the robot easily guesses which areas are to be cleaned.
Imprint SmartMapping Feature
This feature makes i7 intelligent by remembering every location of your home. So you easily send your Roomba to the area that needs cleaning. Through smart maps, you can easily give a command to your Roomba by your voice using apps like Alexa or Google Home.
You give them a command by saying it aloud, and your Roomba cleans the specific area accordingly.
High-Efficiency Filter
Almost 99 percent of pet dander allergens can be caught by the high-efficiency filter of this device. So it makes your home cleaner and fresher than before without doing any cleaning tasks. This device does everything for you.
Imprint Link Technology
Roomba i7 has imprint Link technology, so you can easily connect the Braava Jet Series robot mop with your device. In this way, first, your device vacuumes the floor and sucks every dirt and debris from the surface. After this step, the mop is automatically applied to the floor and makes the floor germ-free and shiny.
Smart Charge Technology
While doing a cleaning job, if the device’s charging becomes low, it automatically goes to the charging station with smart charge technology. When the battery is charged enough to complete the left task, it automatically continues its job. It completes its cleaning job quickly.
Specific Zone Cleaning System
You can create a system in your Roomba i7, so the device does not go near the zones you don’t want to clean. It automatically cleans a particular zone that you have set in it.
This feature is useful when you have placed something for your pets or kids, like food or toys, etc., and you don’t want your Roomba to go near them.
Roomba i7 vs. i3 Comparison
Appearance and Quality
When we compare their designs, the i7 is completely made of plastic, while i3 has a ring made of fabric on the top of the device.
Three buttons are similar on both robots, which are made on their fronts:
1. Home Button: This button allows the device to return to its base.
2. ON Button: It tells the Roomba to get ready for cleaning.
3. Spot Clean Button: With this button, you can move your device three feet away from its base.
By appearance, i7 looks more durable and high-quality than i3 because its design is sleeker and darker.
If you move it upside down and observe it, you can easily see that they both are similar because their filter and wheels are almost at the same places.
Size and Weight
The Roomba i3 is 7.44 lbs and its dimensions are 13.26 x 3.63 inches, while the weight of the i7 robot is 7.28 lbs, which is slightly lower, and its size is 13.31 x 3.62 inches.
This is not a big difference and may not be visible to anyone until both are compared with each other.
The cleaning capabilities are not influenced by the dimensions and weight of these devices.
Battery Capacity
Rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are used in both i3 and i7 models. Recharge and resume features are the same in both these robots. They both go to their charging stations when their battery is getting low. When they fully charge, they automatically start the task, which was left incomplete.
The main difference in the batteries of both these devices is that; the i7 battery has a smart charge + resume feature. It charges to the level which is needed to resume the incomplete task. In this way, it completes its job quickly.
On the other hand, when an i3 device’s battery is low, it first goes to its charging station to fully charge its battery and then continues its task. So it takes a lot of time to charge the battery.
The battery of the i3 can work for 75 minutes; after this time, it notifies of a low battery and needs to be charged. While i7 can also work after 75 minutes, its battery life is more than the i3 device’s battery.
Both i3 and i7 take 1.5–2 hours of charging duration to charge their battery fully.
Cleaning Power and Capabilities
The three-stage cleaning system in both i7 and i3 devices makes them a powerful cleaning system that can clean your whole house.
According to your needs, they can perform regular or spot cleaning, whatever command you give them.
Edge sweeping brushes and dual brush rollers are available with these robots, which clean every accessible corner or surface, including rugs and carpets.
Comparing the i3 and i7 models of the Roomba with its S series, it is observed that i3 and i7 are not performing well on high-pile carpets, which is its downfall.
Filtration System
Due to their high-quality filtration system, you can keep your home fresh by using i3 and i7 Roomba devices, which can trap allergens and pet dander.
There is only one difference in their filtration system; the i7 device comes with an extra filter, so when one filter is not working, you can easily install another one, saving you money. On the other hand, for the i3 robot, you will buy another one.
Navigation
Since the i7 model has more advanced iAdapt 3.0 Smart Technology, it is more accurate in navigation. In contrast, the i3 model does not have so much advanced technology. It uses iAdapt 2.0 Smart Technology.
However, this difference is minor, and no one can notice it as they both work efficiently through your rooms.
Another vSLAM (smart mapping) technology makes Roomba i7 outstanding because it learns the map of your home and memorizes everything. So in the future, it automatically cleans the areas you want to clean.
This shows that you can ask this device to clean a particular zone through your voice command or an app, which will automatically clean the place.
Another feature that makes the i7 device more useful is programming it to stay away from a specific zone while cleaning. So this feature makes the cleaning work faster.
For example, you can program your children’s playing area or the place where you have kept food for your pets as Keep Out Zone. This feature also protects your Roomba; in this way, it won’t get broken.
Both i3 and i7 have the same reactive sensor technology. So, it gets alert when it reaches a particular area where it can get stuck such as under furniture or other tight places.
Smart Features
iRobot apps are available on Apple and Android devices compatible with both i3 and i7 models. You can easily personalize your cleaning schedules through these apps, and according to your cleaning habits, they also give you suggestions for your cleaning times.
Both these models recognize your voice, so it becomes very easy to activate Roomba. This feature is due to its compatibility with Alexa and Google Home devices.
i7 has more smart features than i3; for example, you can program it to clean specific area of your home if you ask it to clean the area under the table. Roomba will automatically go to the place as you directed.
Both these devices have Imprint Link Technology which links iRobot brands Braava mops. So you don’t even need to touch a finger during the cleaning task. It automatically cleans the floor by first vacuuming and then mopping it.
Main Difference between the Roomba i3 and i7
The major difference is in the design of these two devices. The i3 model has a fabric ring on top of it, whereas the i7 is completely made of high-quality plastic. So i7 looks more durable and smoother than the i3 model.
The second main difference is the built-in camera in the i7 model, so it remembers the map of your house. It automatically cleans the location that you ask it to clean. This feature is due to Smart Mapping Technology.
Unlike the i3 model, you can program your i7 device to Keep Out Zone. This way, it doesn’t enter the place you don’t want to clean.
Both have charge and resume features, but the charging technology of the i7 is smarter. It does not take much time to clean when its battery gets low because it charges the battery to the level needed to complete the specific task.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQs
Which model of Roomba is better, the i3 or the i7?
Roomba i3 is less costly and has a fabric ring on its top. On the other hand, the i7 model has some advanced features. For example, it has a built-in camera that remembers your house’s map and doesn’t go near the places marked as Keep Out Zone. However, both are efficient in cleaning your house.
Is Roomba i7+ better than i3?
Roomba i7+ performs perfectly on both low and high-pile carpets and removes more pet hair from different floors. These features are not present in the i3 model, so the i7+ device has a more powerful vacuum.
Is the room mapping feature available in i3?
The room mapping feature is not present in the i3 models of Roomba. In other words, you can not ask an i3 device to clean a specific zone of the house. This feature is present in i7, s9, or other higher-tier models.
The I3 model has the Clean Map feature, which tells us the areas this device cleaned. You can easily check it in the app of iRobot Home’s history section.
Does the i3 model of Roomba remember the areas in your house?
Roomba i3 model navigates through the room in straight lines with floor tracking sensors. It can vacuum carpets and hardwood floors.
When was the Roomba i3 model made?
The Roomba i3 model was released by iRobot in September 2020. It is similar to the i7 model but has a reasonable price.
Our Verdict
By comparing Roomba i3 vs. i7, we observed that they are more similar and have only a few differences. Both can perform the cleaning tasks of the house effectively.
The i7 model has some advanced features but is a bit pricey than the i3 model. However, the cleaning capabilities and power of both devices are outstanding. So, it is a perfect choice for busy homeowners who don’t have time to clean their houses.
