iRobot Roomba j7+ vs iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo
3 questions both answer, side by side. Every answer is backed by the dated sources at the bottom.
Side by side
Can a robot vacuum avoid pet poop?
iRobot will replace a Roomba j7+ that runs over solid dog or cat waste within a year of purchase.
Good to know: US offer. Solid waste only; replacement is the only remedy.
iRobot says the Roomba Max 705 Combo recognizes objects including cords, socks and pet waste and navigates around them.
Good to know: Maker's claim; iRobot's replacement promise is written for the j7+.
Can a robot vacuum pick up pet hair without tangling?
iRobot says the Roomba j7+'s dual rubber brushes avoid getting tangled with pet hair.
Good to know: Maker's claim, not a lab result. $799.99 list price when read.
Consumer Reports lists the Roomba Max 705 among its top picks for picking up embedded pet hair; iRobot says its dual rubber brushes resist tangling.
Good to know: Consumer Reports' lab test (March 2026); tangle resistance is iRobot's claim.
Can a robot vacuum work without Wi-Fi?
iRobot says a Wi-Fi or app connection isn't required for a Roomba to clean: Clean, Dock and Spot Clean work without the app.
Good to know: iRobot's general support answer for its Wi-Fi Roombas, which covers the j7+. Scheduling, notifications and updates come through the app.
iRobot says a Wi-Fi or app connection isn't required for a Roomba to clean: Clean, Dock and Spot Clean work without the app.
Good to know: iRobot's general support answer for Wi-Fi Roombas; the Max 705 uses the newer Roomba Home app.
Only checked for one of them
Does a Roomba still work now that iRobot was sold?
After Picea's takeover closed on Jan 23, 2026, iRobot released two updates to the classic iRobot HOME app that runs the j7+: 7.17.6 on Jan 28 and 7.18.0 on Jun 16, 2026.
Good to know: App updates show the service is maintained, not how long it will be. Newer models use the separate Roomba Home app.
Who controls your Roomba's data after iRobot's sale?
In its Jan 23, 2026 sale announcement, iRobot says it created iRobot Safe, a separate US subsidiary responsible for protecting US consumer data, governed by an independent board of US citizens with an independent US-based Data Security Officer.
Good to know: Company commitment, not an independent audit. iRobot says the structure keeps its non-US ownership separate from consumer data.
How we know (8 sources)
iRobot press release (read Oct 24, 2026): Picea, its main contract manufacturer and lender, now owns all of iRobot, which ends the pre-packaged Chapter 11 case. iRobot is now private and stays headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. The release talks about continuity for customers but says nothing specific about the app, cloud service or warranties. It also sets up a separate US subsidiary, iRobot Safe, for US consumer data.
Read the sourceiRobot's release notes for the classic iRobot HOME app (read Oct 24, 2026). After the sale to Picea it lists version 7.17.6 on Jan 28, 2026 (including an Android connectivity fix) and version 7.18.0 on Jun 16, 2026 (bug fixes and stability). Older entries mention j7 and Combo j7+ features.
Read the sourceiRobot's Pet Owner Official Promise: if a Roomba j7+ runs over solid dog or cat waste in its first year, iRobot replaces the robot. US offer.
Read the sourceiRobot's product page for the Roomba j7+, read Oct 23, 2026: dual multi-surface rubber brushes that iRobot says avoid tangling with pet hair, a Clean Base that holds up to 60 days of debris, and no built-in mop (it pairs with a separate Braava jet m6). Listed at $799.99 when read.
Read the sourceApp Store listing for iRobot's newer Roomba Home app (read Oct 24, 2026): it supports the 100, 200, 400, 500, 700, 800 and Mini series sold after March 2025; other models, such as the j7+, are told to use the iRobot Home (Classic) app.
Read the sourceiRobot support, "Can I use my Wi-Fi connected robot without the iRobot HOME app?" (read Oct 24, 2026): a Wi-Fi or app connection is not required for Roomba to clean; Clean, Dock and Spot Clean work without the app.
Read the sourceLab test of robot vacuums on pet hair (1 g of cat fur embedded in carpet). Some robots drag hair around or tangle it in the brush; the best pick up almost all of it. Top picks: Dreame L40 Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav, Eufy C10, Eureka NERE10SW, iRobot Roomba Max 705, Samsung Jet Bot. Many vacuum-mop combos struggled with dried stains. Notes iRobot filed for bankruptcy the previous December and said app and support would continue.
Read the sourceiRobot's Roomba Max 705 Combo page (read Oct 24, 2026): $1,299.99 with AutoWash dock. Anti-tangle dual rubber brushes for dirt and pet fur; heated mopping with a PowerSpin roller mop. iRobot says the robots recognize objects including cords, socks and pet waste and navigate around them. Works with the Roomba Home app and home assistants.
Read the source