iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

I’ve had my Roomba j7+ vacuum for over a year and use it regularly. Please read on to see why I love it, despite having some room to improve.

PROS:

Once it is set up, this saves so much time and energy. You can use the iRobot app on your phone or tablet to schedule regular cleaning during certain days and times, or send it out to clean up small messes as needed.
Using the app, you can set up your iRobot vacuum and mop to tag-team messes.
I have not used this feature myself, but I understand that the vacuum also works with Google Home, IFTTT, and Alexa.
It cleans well on a variety of surfaces: hardwood, tile, linoleum, carpet, and area rugs (very well on carpets and rugs). Small room thresholds and ramps aren’t hindrances.
Set up your vacuum using wi-fi, and use the app to create a Smart Map of your living space, including rooms to clean, areas to stay out of, and designated zones in need of frequent attention.
It reacts to your living space in real time, avoiding obstacles, such as toys, cords, pet waste, shifted furniture, clutter, and even people and pets. If it encounters any obstacles, it will take a picture of it and present it for you to review after its job is complete, just in case the obstacle is in need of your attention.
This model comes with a Clean Base, so the vacuum can empty the contents of its dustbin automatically whenever it is done cleaning or when it returns to its charging base. The replaceable bag holds approximately two month’s worth of debris.
When you send the vacuum on big jobs, sometimes it needs to stop to recharge its battery. The Roomba recognizes when it’s running low and will automatically find its way back to the charging base before heading out again.
You shouldn’t need to perform maintenance on the vacuum very often. When I do, I find that the rubber rollers are fairly easy for me to detach (with some practice) and wipe off. The rollers are great for pet hair and for those of us with long hair, since they are designed to prevent tangling. The brush does tend to get tangled with hair from time to time, but I usually just cut the hair away with a pair of scissors, and it’s ready to go again.
You can name your vacuum in the app. (Ours is named Frank.)
The vacuum sounds a chime if it gets stuck and needs assistance. If, at any time, you can’t find it, you can use the app to sound the chime on the vacuum.
“MEH”:

The price point…it is on the more expensive side, but I find that what it saves me in time and energy makes it a worthwhile purchase.
It can either provide entertainment for your pets…or scare them. (Our cat has experienced both sides of this coin.)
Some people have said that the vacuum is too loud when it’s running, but I don’t find it to be particularly loud.
It might not be able to clean everywhere if you live in a smaller place, have lots of furniture, or have many spaces that are too tight for it to maneuver. To give your room a more complete clean, I suggest the Bissell cordless handheld vacuum to complete these shorter tasks. (Read my full review on the Bissell)
I really wish that there was a function that would allow me to override the automation and direct the vacuum like a remote-controlled car. As the controls currently exist, you can only watch helplessly if the vacuum struggles in a job and potentially fails.
It takes a bit of time to initially set up your new robot vacuum, but that isn’t always a bad thing, especially if you are a technophile like me.
CONS:

It is indeed very loud when the vacuum empties its dustbin into the Clean Base, but this process generally lasts for less than 30 seconds. Besides, I’m not too torn up about this personally; I just do the courteous thing and make sure that no one in the house is sensitive to loud noises, watching TV, or using the phone before I send the vacuum on a job.
The vacuum sometimes gets stuck if there is clutter on the floor, which can be a pain especially if you are rearranging or packing/unpacking things in your living space.
The vacuum may lose its location if you pick it up or bump it during a job.
If you want to add a room to your Smart Map, you can’t just specify where the addition is. The vacuum needs to explore the entire living space again to create a new map.
Replacement parts can be purchased for the j7+ model. For example, here on Amazon:

Clean Base bags – https://a.co/d/ipJsnvO
Parts kit (rollers, brushes, and filters) – https://a.co/d/9pYlLoL