iRobot Roomba j7+ vs. Eureka J20: A Detailed Comparison

## iRobot Roomba j7+ vs. Eureka J20: 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 the iRobot Roomba j7+ and the Eureka J20. Both promise to make your life easier, but approach cleaning in different ways. Explore the pros and cons of each to decide which is best for your home.

Vacuuming Performance

The Roomba j7+ boasts superior performance, especially on carpets. The patented dual rubber brush system is an outstanding feature, effectively preventing tangling and sucking up pet hair with impressive efficiency. I’ve seen it do a great job with pet hair, which is a big plus for those of us with furry friends. However, it doesn’t handle coffee grounds on hard floors very well and tends to crush them rather than sweep them up.

The Eureka J20, on the other hand, has a powerful 8000PA suction and an auto carpet boost feature. It also features a single-sided brush with a small squeegee that directs debris to the main brush to leave no residue. Versatile for both carpet and hard floors.

Cleaning Capabilities

When it comes to cleaning, the Roomba j7+ features an innovative system with a metal lever that lifts the mop to avoid carpets and an electric pump for cleaning fluid. It does a great job on tiles and can tackle some dirt, but it’s not a magic wand.

The Eureka J20 takes a different approach with the RollRenew system. This system uses a roller brush that continuously scrubs the floor with fresh water and separates the dirty water so it doesn’t spread dirt all over the floor. It also scrubs the floor effectively thanks to its strong downward pressure of 17 Newtons. The dual-sided cleaning capability allows you to use the carpet sweeper and hard floor mop at the same time without wetting the carpet.

Obstacle Avoidance and Navigation

The Roomba j7+ uses its front camera and artificial intelligence to detect and avoid obstacles. It handles cables 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 cleaning before every cleaning.

The Eureka J20 uses AI dual vision, structured lighting, and 3D recognition for smooth navigation. It avoids obstacles in dark rooms and moves smoothly between different floor types. However, mapping can be inaccurate at the initial stage, and multiple runs are required to fully map a home.

Base Station and Maintenance

The Roomba j7+ comes with an automatically emptied garbage can (clean base) that holds up to 60 days of waste - an innovative element that reduces the need for maintenance. The base is compact and aesthetically pleasing, even accommodating a spare dust bag. However, it is quite noisy when emptied.

The Eureka J20 has an all-in-one base station that automatically cleans the mop, fills it with water, empties the dust bag and dries it with warm air. This is a great advantage as it minimizes the need for manual labor. The base station is a bit bulky, but it offers a whole host of amenities.

User Experience and Apps

The Roomba j7+ app is generally user-friendly and allows you to set schedules, create no-go zones, and customize cleaning settings. It also supports voice commands. However, it’s not perfect and sometimes the robot gets stuck for no reason and won’t return to the dock.

The Eureka J20 app has similar functionality but is slow and unstable. It’s particularly difficult to connect to a Wi-Fi network. The instructions are not always clear, especially regarding the mop pad and how to use it.

Pros and Cons of Roomba j7+

Pros:

• The patented dual brush roller design provides excellent vacuuming performance on both hard floors and carpets.
• Automatic container emptying (clean base) is well designed and holds up to 60 days of waste, saving you time and effort on cleaning.
• Advanced collision avoidance system with front camera and headlights, and continuously updated software.
• Innovative cleaning system with a metal lever that raises the mop head to avoid carpets and an electric mop fluid pump.
• Comfortable navigation features such as no-go zones, room-specific cleaning schedules and room-by-room zone selection.
• The robot is quieter than many competitors, making it suitable for home use.

Disadvantages:

• Cleaning equipment reduces navigation efficiency and increases cleaning time compared to competitors.
• Water can get into the brush roll housing during cleaning, causing debris buildup and requiring more frequent maintenance.
• Mapping this robot can be clumsy and unsatisfying compared to other options, and the movement when first mapping is awkward.
• The front camera does a good job of obstacle avoidance, but sometimes does not allow the robot to move reasonably during mapping.
• Despite the improved obstacle avoidance, the robot can still get stuck on some strange objects.
• Sometimes the robot does not return to base or fails to complete cleaning tasks.

Pros and Cons of Eureka J20

Pros:

• The innovative RollRenew mop system features a roller brush that continuously cleans the floor with fresh water and separates dirty water.
• Powerful downward pressure of 17 Newtons for efficient mopping and cleaning.
• High suction power of 8000 PA, with auto boost function for carpets.
• Simultaneous cleaning of carpets and hard floors without wetting carpets.
• Advanced Collision Avoidance System with AI Dual Vision, structured lighting and 3D recognition for seamless navigation.
• Universal Base Station automatically cleans the mop, fills with water, removes dust and dries with warm air.

Disadvantages:

• The app can be slow and laggy.
• Mapping can be inaccurate initially, requiring multiple runs to fully map a home.
• The robot’s water tank capacity may not be sufficient for large areas, requiring a fill of water after each cleaning.
• The cleaning product for the robot is designed to mop, not mop the floor.
• The instructions are not always clear, especially regarding the mop pad and how to use it.
• It’s especially difficult to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Final Thoughts

The iRobot Roomba j7+ and Eureka J20 are impressive robot vacuums with their own strengths. The Roomba j7+ is particularly good at cleaning pet hair and has a handy app. However, its cleaning function and navigation is a bit clunky. The Eureka J20, on the other hand, shines with its innovative cleaning system and all-in-one base station, but may have some initial setup and app issues.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and priorities. If vacuuming and an easy-to-use app are important to you, the Roomba j7+ may be the right choice. If, however, you want the convenience of a more advanced cleaning system and an all-in-one base station, the Eureka J20 may be a better option.