Roomba i7+ vs Botvac D5 – Which is the Best Robot Vac?

Botvac and Roomba are at the top of most lists when it comes to the best robot vacuums on the market. They are reliable, high-quality machines with a lot of high-performance features. They provide a thorough clean for your home, making it easier on you.

The Roomba i7+ is the top-of-the-line offering from iRobot while the D5 is a few models below Neato’s best offering. But that doesn’t mean it’s a slouch. It’s more affordable and still offers some great features for those who don’t want to shell out the big bucks. Let’s see how they compare.

Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Botvac D5

The Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Botvac D5 are:

• Roomba i7+ has a self-emptying dustbin, whereas Botvac D5 is a more budget-friendly option.
• Roomba i7+ comes with a built-in camera for navigation, whereas Botvac D5 has a “D Shape” great for wall edges.
• Roomba i7+ features a HEPA filter, whereas Botvac D5 has the Ultra Performance Filter.
• Roomba i7+ has an Imprint Smart Mapping technology, whereas Botvac D5 comes with a simple navigation system.

Roomba i7+

The most advanced robot vacuum available today comes in the form of the Roomba i7+, with something that no other robot vacuum can offer – a self-emptying dustbin. Not only can it provide a thorough clean, but it can make your job easier when it’s done, too.

This game-changing robot vacuum delivers a truly hands-free and worry-free experience because when it’s done cleaning your home, it will return to its base and empty its own dustbin. You also get powerful suction, advanced navigation, and great usability.

Design

Roomba sticks close to home when it comes to design. The circular shape doesn’t vary much from one model to the next. However, the i7+ does have a few more distinct design features that make it unique. It has a built-in camera for navigation on top, a large Clean button on top in the middle, and two smaller buttons to its side. The small buttons initiate spot clean mode and tell the robot to return home.

The bottom of the i7+ has similar features to other Roomba robot vacuums like two rubberized multi-surface brushes, a spinning brush, the battery, the dustbin, and three wheels. The primary difference is the slot in the dustbin that allows it to empty itself after cleaning.

Other than the built-in camera, the two-tone color scheme, and the slot for the dustbin, it is nearly identical in size and shape to all other Roombas. There is a bumper ring around the perimeter of the unit that protects the vacuum and your furniture from abrupt collisions, and its sensors allow it to map and navigate efficiently to prevent collisions altogether.

Base Design

Because the Roomba i7+ has a self-emptying dustbin, the base unit looks different than other base units. This is the most advanced vacuum on the market, and its technology sets it ahead of all other robot cleaners. iRobot drastically changed the charging base design to accommodate for its most unique feature.

The base is much taller, so the dustbin capacity is about 30x what the unit itself will hold. The ramp-style dock makes it easy for the base to charge the unit while emptying the dustbin at the same time.

Size and Dimensions

The size of the i7+ is roughly the same as all other Roomba models at 13.34” in diameter and 3.63” tall. It weighs 7.44 pounds, which isn’t bad considering all of the technology crammed inside.

Charging Base

While the unit is similar, the charging base, as we’ve already discussed, is not. The charging base for a Roomba is usually slightly bigger than the vacuum itself, but with the i7+, it towers above the vacuum like a dirt boss ready to take action. It’s about five times taller than the device, meaning it’s tough to disguise, even in a corner.

But, as you know by now, the only reason it’s so large is because it houses the most unique feature of this robot vacuum – the capacity to empty its own dustbin. When the unit returns to the dock for charging, the station uses suction to remove the debris from the unit’s dustbin into the tower’s dustbin. It can empty itself up to thirty times before you have to change the bag in the station.

Parts and Accessories

The Roomba i7+ comes with its own charging station and built-in disposal, two extra disposal bags, a virtual wall, an extra spinning brush, and a HEPA filter. These parts come standard with most Roomba models with the exception of the special charging base and disposal bags.

The spinning brush is the same as other models and helps to sweep dirt and debris from the sides into the path of the robot vacuum. It can clean more efficiently in corners and along edges this way and provides a thorough clean of your home. The HEPA filter features the AeroForce filtration system and is improved over other Roombas, providing an even better clean for those with allergies.

The virtual wall included in the i7+ package helps you set up invisible barriers where you don’t want your vacuum to clean. You can restrict certain areas of your home to prevent the vacuum from going there. Linear boundaries stretch up to ten feet, and radial areas can expand up to four feet in diameter.

The charging base and the disposable bags enable your unit to clean up after itself. The charging base sucks up the debris into a disposable bag and stores it there until it needs to be changed. You get two bags with your purchase, but each will last up to thirty cleaning cycles.

Features

There are so many features included in the i7+ that it’s hard to know where to start. Along with the same high-quality performance you can expect from all Roombas, here are some of the other features it offers.

Scheduling

Most of Roomba’s advanced robot vacuums include the ability to schedule your cleanings. The i7+ allows you to create schedules that clean at the frequency you choose, or you can set it up to clean on a specific day and time. All of these cleanings can be set up via iRobot’s mobile application.

Smart Mapping

Imprint Smart Mapping technology is unique to Roomba vacuums and is an improvement over the Smart Mapping navigation that was included in previous Roomba models. Imprint Smart Mapping allows the user to assign specific names to each room, instructing the vacuum to clean only those areas if needed.

Imprint Smart Mapping can help you segment certain areas of your home for more frequent cleaning, especially if high traffic areas need more attention. You can control the device with a Google Home or Amazon Alexa integration as well. Simply tell your vacuum to clean the kitchen, and watch it move in that direction.

Self-Emptying

This feature separates the i7+ from the rest. After it finishes cleaning, it goes back to its charging station where it will charge while it empties. The dock will suck up the debris in the unit and store it in the disposable bag.

Performance

The i7+ cleaning power is impressive. It can clean hardwood, tile, carpet, and so much more. It cleans corners, edges, and crevices with ease. It even transfers from one floor type to the next seamlessly.

The i7+ is diligent, especially on carpeting. It works its way across the carpet, ensuring that it picks up even the most deeply buried debris. After an initial pass, it goes back through and double checks that it picked up everything before it moves on.

While this adds a little bit of time to your cleaning cycle, it’s worth it for the thorough clean, and you don’t have to lift a finger unless you’re opening the app to tell it to start cleaning.

Setup and Usability

The i7+ is as easy to use as all other Roomba models. In fact, we’ve come to expect the most simplicity from the iRobot brand. The top of the unit features three clearly-labeled buttons and a user interface that takes some getting used to, but is super convenient.

Setup

There is very little setup required with most Roomba vacuums. All you have to do is plug it in and let it charge. Plug the base into the wall, remove the unit from the box, and place it on the base. When it’s done charging, you’re ready to get started. And because it comes almost fully charged to begin with, it won’t take long.

While it charges, you can download and set up the app or connect it to your smart home assistant so when it’s ready to go, so are you.

Usability

The i7+ is easy to use. Just press the button on top of the unit to start or stop a clean, tell your smart home assistant, or use your mobile application. Now sit back, relax, and let the i7+ do all the work. If the dustbin on the unit gets full or the battery is low, it will go back to its dock to empty and recharge, then pick up where it left off.

Mobile Application

One of the best features of the i7+ is its mobile application. Connecting your vacuum to Wi-Fi enables you to use your phone or your smart home assistant to control the unit. It’s easy to set up and use, just like the unit. The interface is straightforward and looks a lot like the top of the vacuum. You can set up schedules and perform a variety of other tasks right from the dashboard.

Roomba i7+ Pros:

• Mobile app for both iOS and Android
• Imprint Mapping lets you name each room
• Strong and powerful cleaning performance
• Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home
• Advanced navigation lets you tell the device to clean specific rooms
• Self-emptying dustbin

Roomba i7+ Cons:

• Disposal bags have to be replaced as they wear out
• Very expensive

The Verdict

The Roomba i7+ is the only robot vacuum on the market with a self-emptying dustbin. It’s easy to use with powerful cleaning performance over all floor types. You can use the mobile application, your voice, or the unit to control your cleanings.

If you want a high-quality robot vacuum with all of the bells and whistles, the i7+ is the one for you. It has all of the latest features and is worth the price if you want the easiest, most convenient robot vacuum there is.

Botvac D5

The Botvac D5 is a middle-of-the-road robot vacuum with some great features at a reasonable price. It’s not as technologically advanced as the i7+, but it also doesn’t come with such a hefty price tag.

It won’t have any trouble sucking up your pet hair and other debris, but it may not provide as thorough of a clean or the most powerful suction. While it doesn’t have a camera, extra cleaning modes, or a smart home assistant integration, it’s a solid, reliable machine that makes vacuuming easier for you.

It comes with an automatic floor cleaner, a mobile app, and a reasonable price tag. The rechargeable battery lasts for more than 2.5 hours, which means it can quite possibly clean your entire home at once.

Features and Design

The shape of the D5 looks familiar. It has Botvac’s signature D-shaped design and has a lot in common with other Botvac models. This D shape helps it navigate corners and edges. It has a simple control panel with a start button and LED lights that indicate general alert information as well as the battery status.

The dustbin is in the center of the unit, making it easy to remove and empty while it sits on the charging station. It also has Neato’s Ultra Performance Filter, which is an enhanced filter that improves the overall cleaning performance and provides better airflow.

Once the D5 leaves its dock, it activates the navigation system to create a plan. It rotates back and forth for a few seconds to gather mapping information and prepare for cleaning. It starts out along the edges and then cleans the middle of the room vertically and horizontally.

It can perform multiple passes through each room on a single charge and note any obstacles. When the battery runs low, it returns to its dock for charging. It can clean at least 4,500 square feet and will clean multiple rooms as long as it can find the open doorway.

Mobile Application

The D5 comes with built-in Wi-Fi, like many other robot vacuums. If you connect it with Wi-Fi, it can communicate via the mobile application downloaded on your Android or iOS smartphone.

The layout is clean and user-friendly, offering you a seamless experience controlling your vacuum. You can see vacuum activity and battery status in real time on the mobile app. You can also start, stop, pause, and schedule cleanings. With push notifications, you’ll always be notified of the latest updates.

While it doesn’t integrate with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you can still use the mobile app to schedule your cleaning cycles, check cleaning stats, and check up on your unit’s health.

Performance

The D5 works on all types of flooring, but it doesn’t seem to provide as thorough of a clean as high-priced models. The cleaning performance is about the same as its Botvac predecessors, so it may be hard for some to justify the higher price tag.

However, the D5 can pick up pet hair with efficiency and works well on hardwood, tile, and carpet. It won’t get tangled up, but it doesn’t clean up as much debris as you might expect. The performance is average, and for not having to operate an upright vacuum manually, it may be worth it for you.

Botvac D5 Pros:

• Cleans up to 4,500 square feet
• Long run time
• Advanced filtration system
• Wifi connectivity
• Mobile application for both iOS and Android
• View cleaning history in the app
• Large dustbin

Botvac D5 Cons:

• Does not perform as well as expected
• No virtual boundaries
• Fewer advanced features

The Verdict

While the Botvac D5 doesn’t have some of the advanced features or suction as other higher-priced models, it doesn’t come with the same price tag. It provides average cleaning performance and can clean your entire space as long as the doors are open and accessible.

The Wi-Fi connectivity gives you convenient technology connections making it easy to use, and the battery has a longer life than many other robot vacuums. If you can sacrifice some technology, you’ll pay less for the same clean, or you can shell out some more for extra features and more performance.

Comparison Chart

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I buy the Roomba Maintainance Parts and Accessories?

All the parts that need to be changed regularly, or other parts that may get damaged and need to be replaced, can be found on Roomba’s Official Website. Keep in mind that if you want to keep the guarantee and ensure your robot lasts for a long time, all the parts you change need to be original.

How to Download and Access the Neato App?

You can find the free Neato App available for any iOS 10.2 or superior to that, and for Android 4.1 devices (or superior) in their specific stores.

Which Surfaces Can the Neato Robot deal With?

With the Neato Robots, you can clean almost any kind of surfaces and floorings. From wood to sheet, parquet and carpet. The company recommends that the carpets not be made of long or tall hair, specifically not more than 5 mm/0.6 in. Another important thing to consider is that the robot might have issues with synthetic fibre carpets. 

Conclusionn

The Roomba i7+ and the Botvac D5 both come from quality manufacturers and are solid, reliable vacuums. If you want the longer battery life with only some of the technology, the D5 can give that to you for a lower price. It has just enough to make it worth the price for the Wi-Fi connectivity but doesn’t provide as much cleaning performance.

The i7+ is the best robot vacuum on the market with all of the technology you could want, plus a self-emptying dustbin. The only problem is it’s also the most expensive model. However, it truly gives you a premium experience when it comes to effortless cleaning and performance.

Only you can decide what works best for you, but you won’t go wrong with either option, as long as you understand what you’re getting and you purchase something that has everything you need.

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