Here's a five-word horror story: Robot vacuum meets dog poop. I've never experienced this disaster firsthand, but imagine it would be traumatizing enough to swear off floor-cleaning robots for life. The $849.99 iRobot Roomba j7+ promises to solve this problem by using a built-in camera and machine learning technology to detect and automatically avoid common obstacles, namely pet waste and cords. It’s smart in other ways, too. For example, it can detect (and then bypass) potential obstacles based on your feedback. When it docks after a cleaning run, the robot automatically empties its dustbin into an allergen-sealed bag. And while its battery life doesn't blow us away, the robot will navigate back to its base to recharge and then pick up where it left off when it runs low on power. So despite its premium price, the j7+ earns our Editors' Choice award for high-end robotic vacuums, especially if you have a cluttered home or accident-prone pets.iRobot's Lineup The Roomba j7+ costs $84...
While pricey, iRobot's Roomba j7+ robot vacuum has smarts to spare, with a guarantee to avoid pet waste and a self-emptying base that means you rarely have to lift a finger.
Pet waste-avoidance guarantee; Auto-empty base; Intelligently suggests Keep-Out Zones; Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands; Allows for scheduled area cleanings; Rarely gets stuck; User-friendly companion app
Expensive; Unimpressive battery life