## iRobot Roomba j7+ vs. Dreame X40 Ultra: Detailed Comparison
Choosing the right robot vacuum cleaner can seem like a daunting task, especially with so many options available. Today, we’re going to compare two popular models in detail: the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Dreame X40 Ultra. Both promise to make your floors perfectly clean, but each has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the differences.
Roomba j7+ and Dreame X40 Ultra boast excellent performance on both hard floors and carpets. The Roomba j7+ has a patented dual brush roll design that is particularly effective at sucking up pet hair and preventing it from getting tangled. In my testing, I was convinced that it picks up 100% of pet hair. However, on hard floors, it pulverized coffee grounds rather than sweeping them up.
The Dreame X40 Ultra, on the other hand, has a powerful suction system that can easily handle a variety of debris. The vacuum also features retractable side brushes and attachments for more efficient cleaning of edges and corners. The X40 Ultra also has a unique feature that automatically raises the side and main brushes when they hit wet carpets, helping to prevent cross-contamination.
Obstacle Avoidance
Roomba j7+ uses its front-facing camera and artificial intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. It avoids wires and shoes well, but it can bump into furniture and snag on odd objects. It’s definitely better than average, but still needs a basic cleanup before every cleaning.
The Dreame X40 Ultra also has an effective obstacle avoidance system that gets around objects with minimal problems. However, very low objects can be a problem. The X40 Ultra is particularly good at detecting the degree of soiling and correcting the cleaning process, paying particular attention to dark spots.
Mop Capabilities
Roomba j7+ features an innovative mop system with a metal lever and electric pump. The mop head rises when it senses the carpet, making it ideal for cleaning wet carpets. It effectively tackles dry coffee and grape juice stains, but it can’t tackle stale stains.
The Dreame X40 Ultra has a self-cleaning dock that automatically washes and dries the mop head and fills the water tank. This makes the vacuum cleaner much easier to maintain. However, the X40 Ultra may not be suitable for delicate wood floors as the water volume is not adjustable.
Automatic Waste Container and Maintenance
Roomba j7+ comes with an automatic waste container (Clean Base) that can hold up to 60 days of waste. The new design is much more compact and aesthetically pleasing than the previous version, and has the added benefit of storing a spare dust bag. However, the process of emptying the dustbin is efficient but as loud as a jet engine.
The Dreame X40 Ultra has a self-cleaning docking station that automatically empties the dust bag, washes and dries the mop head and fills the water tank. This makes vacuuming very easy. The X40 Ultra’s self-cleaning washboard base station is truly a marvel of engineering, so you don’t have to worry about getting dirty.
Roomba j7+ Navigation and Apps
The Roomba j7+ app allows you to set schedules, create no-go zones, and customize your cleaning preferences. It’s great that you can use voice commands. However, it’s not perfect and we noticed that it’s not entirely reliable, sometimes getting stuck for no reason and not returning to the dock. Also, it would be great if the app allowed you to view live camera footage.
The Dreame app is easy to use and has plenty of customization options. However, it could be improved by adding more customization options such as saving cleaning zones.
Noise level
Roomba j7+ is quieter than many of its competitors, making it suitable for home use. On the other hand, the Dreame X40 Ultra can be a bit noisy, especially during mop cleaning and when cleaning carpets on high power.
Roomba j7+ price and value
The Roomba j7+ costs $399.0 USD. The Dreame X40 Ultra model with advanced features is more expensive at $1,899.0 USD. The X40 Ultra is certainly an expensive model, but its functionality and performance justify the cost.
The Roomba j7+ Advantages:
- The Roomba j7+ benefits primarily from its patented dual brush roll design, which delivers superior vacuuming performance on both hard floors and carpets.
- The automatically emptying dust collector (clean base) is well designed and can hold up to 60 days of waste, reducing the need for maintenance.
- Advanced collision avoidance system with front camera and headlights, continuously updated software.
- Innovative cleaning system with metal lever to lift the mat to avoid carpeting, and electric pump for cleaning fluid.
- Convenient navigation features such as unauthorized cleaning zones, cleaning schedules by room and room zone options.
- Quieter operation compared to many competing products.
Minuses of Roomba j7+:
- The cleaner is less efficient in navigation, resulting in longer cleaning times than competitors.
- Moisture can get trapped in the brush roll housing during cleaning, leading to debris buildup and more frequent maintenance.
- Mapping of the robot is clumsy and less satisfactory compared to other options.
- Despite improved obstacle avoidance, the robot can still get stuck on some strange objects.
- Sometimes the robot will not return to the base or cannot complete the cleaning.
Dreame X40 Ultra Advantages:
- Excellent performance when cleaning both hard floors and carpets.
- Powerful suction system effectively sucks up dust, pet hair and debris.
- The self-cleaning docking station automatically empties the dust bag, washes and dries the mop head and fills the water tank, making vacuuming easy.
- Textured side brushes and pads provide thorough cleaning around edges and corners.
- Effective collision avoidance system avoids obstacles with minimal hassle.
- Convenient app with extensive customization options.
Dreame X40 Ultra Disadvantages:
- The docking station is large and bulky.
- Price is higher than other robot vacuums with similar features.
- Noisy cleaning with the mop.
- The collision avoidance system may not be able to handle very low objects.
- The app could be improved by adding more customization options, such as saving cleaning zones.
- Not suitable for delicate wooden floors as the water level is not adjustable.