iRobot Roomba j7 Vacuum

Good for schedules, fussier for zones. The app and room map make it easy to set times and send the j7 to one room at a time. Drawing precise zones takes patience, though, and the saved map sometimes needs fixing, so expect to spend some time getting it right at the start.

Mostly. The j7 steers around socks, cords and general clutter and rarely gets stuck. It isn't flawless: it can keep going back to a gap it can't clear, so a tight spot under a low cabinet may need blocking off with a Keep Out Zone.

A steady amount. The bin needs emptying regularly, and the filters, brushes and sensors need cleaning on an ongoing basis. Replacement filters and brushes add to the cost of running the j7 over time, so they're worth budgeting for alongside the robot itself.

It's mixed. In some pet homes the j7 keeps up with fur and litter, but in others it leaves hair on carpet or in small piles where one floor type meets another. If your pets shed heavily, expect to touch up doorways and transitions by hand.

Usually it's fine, but not right beside a bedroom. In most homes the noise is acceptable and quiet enough that pets don't mind, though it has been loud enough to disturb sleep on the same floor. Setting the j7 to clean while you're out avoids the question.

It varies. Some units go nearly a year without trouble, while others hit a broken roller or repeated faults within months. It's a robot with moving parts that wear, so keep the j7's paperwork and check what the warranty covers before something goes wrong.