In this article, we will talk about two very popular robotic vacuums – Roomba 7150 vs 7550.

Nowadays, robotic vacuums are getting more and more popular, thanks to constant technological advancements. The manufacturers continually improve their products to achieve the best possible performance and beat the competition in the long run.

This has created a new problem, many people struggle with picking the right robotic vacuum for their household. One of the most popular brands, that specializes in creating robotic vacuums is iRobot, with their series of Roomba’s.

Since the choice is so wide, it can be hard to pick the right robotic vacuum, especially, for people who didn’t own this type of product before. However, don’t worry, we are here to help.

Today, we will talk about two very popular models – Roomba 7150 vs Roomba 7550. Based on different opinions online, as well as our own experience, we will give you a thorough review of both products below. At the end of the article, you can also find a winner of this comparison.

Without further ado, let’s get into the proper part of the comparison.

Roomba 7150 vs Roomba 7550

Main differences

NAME:	Roomba 7150	Roomba 7550
MAXIMUM SUCTION:	1800 Pa	1800 Pa
SIZE:	13.34 x 13.26 x 3.63 in.	13.34 x 13.34 x 3.63 in.
WEIGHT:	7.44 lb.	7.44 lb.
CAPACITY:	17 oz.	10 oz. + 30 vacuum bins in the cleaning base
UNIQUE FEATURES:	More capacity in Roomba’s dustbin	Comes with cleaning base
BATTERY LIFE:	75 minutes	75 minutes
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	Amazon.com	Amazon.com

In the beginning, we would like to address, that both products are actually very efficient robotic vacuums. What’s more, we are convinced, that either one of those should satisfy most of the consumers. However, there is one big difference, that you should keep in mind before you make the final decision.

The main and only difference between the vacuums is the cleaning base. The Roomba 7150 and Roomba 7550 are actually the same units, however, the 7550 model comes with a cleaning base included. The base collects all the dust from the vacuum, allowing you to forget about this chore for up to 60 days.

The combination of the charging base with the cleaning base makes the whole vacuuming process automated. If you add scheduled cleaning times on top of that, you really don’t have to worry about this awful chore anymore. Everything will be taken care of, for you.

The Roomba 7150 doesn’t have the base included, however, from what we know, it can be purchased separately.

NOTE: The dust box in the Roomba 7150 is replaceable, therefore if you decide to purchase the cleaning base separately, the cleaning base will come with a compatible dust box included.

There are no other differences between the products, and you can make the final decision based on the factor listed above. Although, we highly recommend reading the rest of the article, in order to learn all the essential details.

Cleaning performance

The cleaning performance is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the best robotic vacuum for your household. By this, we mean how well a particular unit does, compared to other products from a similar price range.

In all honesty, both iRobot Roomba i7 (7150) and iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) are very efficient in terms of cleaning performance. There are no problems whatsoever with removing dirt, dust, or debris from your floors.

What’s more, both products were prepared for removing all kinds of pet hair with special “Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes”. Both of those don’t get tangled with pet hair, as they easily adjust and flex to stay in constant contact with carpets and hard floors.

The whole cleaning system is based on 3-stages, that offer 10x the Power-Lifting Suction, compared to the Roomba 600 series. The edge-sweeping brush is designed at a 27-degree angle to sweep debris away from all the edges and corners.

The auto-adjusting cleaning head adapts its height to stay in constant contact with the cleaned surface. Then Dirt-Detector Sensors come into play, recognizing concentrated areas of dirt and adjust the suction power. The whole process is accompanied by the high-efficiency filter, that captures 90% of mold, pollen, dust, and dog or cat allergens.

This combination is present in both Roomba 7150 and Roomba 7550, allowing for high efficiency and great cleaning performance overall.

Each of the vacuums is also equipped with special sensors, that prevent units from dropping down the stairs and hitting walls or furniture. Although, the whole navigation is based on the vSLAM system, which allows the Roomba’s to learn the layout of your home and build personal smart maps.

Thanks to this solution, the units can navigate in neat, efficient rows offering quick clean-up time. There are also multiple features connected to the mapping system. One of the most important functions are the Keep Out Zones. This idea allows you to select the area, that won’t be cleaned by the units.

Another useful function are the customized schedules. Not only the vacuum allows you to schedule your cleanups but also learns from your cleaning habits, and suggests extra cleanings when needed. 

The Imprint Smart Mapping also allows you to choose a particular room to clean, instead of taking care of the whole house. 

Just like most of the robotic vacuums, the Roomba 7150 and Roomba 7550 have the auto-return function, which allows them to recharge when halfway through cleaning. The units go back to the cleaning process, after reaching at least 80% battery capacity.

As we mentioned earlier, the only difference between the vacuums is the cleaning base. This station allows the vacuum to empty itself without your help. All the dirt is stored in a special dust box in a cleaning station, which usually can accumulate debris for up to 60 days of cleaning.

The cleaning base comes only with the iRobot Roomba 7550, however, from what we know, the cleaning base can be purchased separately for the Roomba 7150.

The combination of the cleaning base and cleaning station, allows you to fully automate the whole cleaning process. All you’ll have to do is regularly take the dust bag out of the unit, and take proper maintenance steps in terms of the Roomba.

Those are pretty much all the crucial aspects in terms of the overall cleaning performance. Of course, there are some indirect factors, that can alter the performance, however, we will talk about those in the latter part of the article.

Capacity

In most robotic vacuums, the capacity may be quite important, as it’s the main factor limiting maximum cleaning time, right next to the battery life. However, in the case of the Roomba 7550, you have nothing to worry about.

Since this model uses a cleaning base, all the dirt will be stored inside a separate dust box. This allows the vacuum to clean for much longer periods of time, without your assistance. The manufacturer claims, that you don’t have to care about the dust box for up to 60 days.

There is a slight difference in terms of the capacity, as the Roomba 7150 doesn’t include special doors used for emptying the dust box in the cleaning base. Therefore, the manufacturer could add a little more capacity to this model, compared to the 7550 model. 

NOTE: The dust box in the Roomba 7150 is replaceable if you decide to purchase the cleaning base separately. The cleaning base comes with a compatible dust box included.

The Roomba 7150 has approximately 17 oz. of dustbin capacity, while the Roomba 7550 has only 10 oz. of capacity. This may seem like a lot, however, most of the time, the difference won’t be too noticeable.

Noise level

The noise level is a factor, that’s often overlooked when choosing the new cleaning device. While in upright vacuums, people usually don’t care how loud are particular models, the situation looks different in robotic vacuums.

After all, you want to use the robotic vacuums while doing something else, therefore, we think it’s best to keep your new unit as quiet as possible.

Fortunately, both Roomba 7150 and Roomba 7550 are a little below average when it comes to the produced noise level. They produce approximately 60-68 dB, which is quieter than an operating microwave. In comparison, most of the robotic vacuums produce around 75 dB, so it’s a great score.

Remote control features

For extra convenience, many manufacturers add plenty of remote control features. Those can be pretty handy, especially if there are so many functions available. Both vacuums can be operated using multiple remote control features.

There is full compatibility with Google Assistant, as well as Amazon Alexa, so you can give a voice command to your new unit. However, if you would like to get a little more specific, we highly recommend the special iRobot app, that works on smartphones.

In there, you can schedule the cleaning time, draw Keep Out Zones, choose a particular room or area to clean, and more. Plenty of functions make the whole cleaning process more adjustable and convenient.

Battery life

The battery life is quite important, as it determines how big the area can be cleaned in one go. Therefore, it’s definitely something you want to keep your eye on when making the final purchase. In both models, the battery life is very similar, if not the same.

The Roomba’s can last up to 75 minutes, obviously, depending on the surface type this can quite fluctuate. Thankfully, there is an auto-return function that allows the vacuum to recharge itself when needed, and then continue cleaning from where it stopped.

The expected charging time is approximately 3 hours.

Design

Robotic vacuums need to have a low-profile and slim design, in order to fit under and around most of the furniture. The iRobot managed to keep both of the products from this article in this style. There is little to no difference in terms of the overall design.

On top of the cover, you can find an on and off button, home button, and Spot Clean button. The last one can be used if you want to focus on a particular location. The Roomba will focus on cleaning the current area, doing circles around a particular spot.

Necessary maintenance

Necessary maintenance is another crucial aspect, that is often overlooked. In order to keep your new cleaning device operating at the desired level, and to prevent permanent damage, you need to take proper maintenance steps.

We won’t be getting into details here, as it would simply make the whole article too long. However, we will try to give you few basic tips, that should work for most of the robotic vacuums.

• Regularly clean/rinse all the brushes
• Regularly check the brush roll and side brushes for any stuck dirt and/or debris
• At least once a week clean the cover of the vacuum/wheels
• Replace any used or damaged elements as fast as possible
• Regularly empty the cleaning base dustbin
• Check the Roomba’s dustbin for any stuck dirt or debris

Those are only a few ideas, that should work for most of the robotic vacuums. However, in order to keep your new Roomba safe, we highly recommend thoroughly read the user’s guide. All the necessary information can be found there.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Roomba 7150 and Roomba 7550 are very efficient robotic vacuums. What’s more, we are convinced, that most of the consumers would be satisfied with either one of them. There are, however, few things to keep in mind before you make the final decision.

The one major difference between those two products is the cleaning base. This station is only included in the Roomba 7550, although it can be purchased separately for the 7150. In this case, you will have to replace the dustbin, which will come included with the cleaning base.

We would say, that the Roomba 7550 is a winner of this comparison, as the cleaning base is one of the most appealing features of this series. Thanks to this station, you won’t have to worry about emptying the dustbin for up to 60 days.

We hope, that after reading this article you will be satisfied with your final choice.