Roomba i7 Compatible Parts After 3 Months: Cheap Replacements vs Genuine iRobot

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

Genuine replacement parts for my Roomba i7 cost about ¥9,000 in Japan (a parts kit at around ¥7,000 plus dirt disposal bags), while a third-party compatible set was about ¥2,000 at the time of recording. I swapped in the compatible side brush and filter and ran them for more than three months. The Roomba worked normally the whole time, with no errors. Up close, though, the genuine parts are clearly better made, and the filter is the one I would keep genuine.

Compatible and genuine Roomba i7 side brushes — Compatible side brush (left) and my worn genuine one (right)

What I tested

Roomba i7 with the Clean Base automatic dirt disposal station
A third-party compatible parts set (bought on Rakuten in Japan; similar sets are on Amazon)
Swapped: side brush and dust-cut filter. The main rubber rollers were still fine, so I only compared them by hand
Compared against the genuine iRobot parts I had been using

Comparing compatible and genuine Roomba side brushes — The genuine brush had torn bristles, which is why I replaced it

What I found

No error messages and no malfunction. The Roomba did not reject the non-genuine parts.
Side brush: the genuine one is more supple and springy; the compatible one is a little floppy, and the bristle shapes differ. After three months it had not worn noticeably and pickup felt the same.
Dust-cut filter: the biggest difference. The genuine filter is far better made; the compatible one seems to have small gaps at the edges, and the materials feel different. Still no odour or problems in three months.
Main rollers: they look almost identical and fit fine. The compatible rollers are a bit harder with bigger ridges. I doubt they would mark a normal floor, but on soft wood such as pine I would stay genuine.
Dirt disposal bags: compatible bags seemed fine too. Even genuine bags start to smell a little if left in the base for a long time.

Comparing compatible and genuine Roomba filters — The filters look similar but feel different

Comparing compatible and genuine Roomba rubber rollers — The compatible rollers are slightly stiffer

Who it’s for

Compatible parts make sense if you don’t want to spend much on consumables, if your Roomba is getting old and you just want to keep it going until you replace it, or if you have been putting off a replacement because of the price. If your Roomba is new, you have soft wooden floors, or you care about keeping filtration at its best, buy genuine — or mix, with a genuine filter and cheap brushes.

【物価高対策！】ルンバi7互換消耗品を3カ月使ってみた結果…純正品と徹底比較！【部屋はちゃんと綺麗になります】

The video is in Japanese. The side brush comparison starts around 04:00, the filter around 06:45 and the main rollers around 09:20.

Limitations

This is about three months of use on one Roomba i7, not a multi-year test. The compatible set I used came from Rakuten in Japan, so I can’t link the exact product; quality of third-party sets may vary by seller. Prices are Amazon Japan prices at the time of recording.

Products

Genuine iRobot replacement parts kit (Roomba i7 / j7 / i3 / i2 / e5): on Amazon Japan

Genuine iRobot dirt disposal bags: on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English