iRobot Combo Essential Cleaner Review

While iRobot has rolled out plenty of new features over the last few years, the Combo Essential is the first robot in its lineup that focuses on cleaning basics. It features a sleek design, clever features, and a high-performing mop.

iRobot OS allows you to start, stop and schedule cleanings directly through the app. It also provides customized suggestions, maps/obstacle-avoidance pictures and provides suggestions based on your preferences (opt-in). The Clean Base auto-fill dock charges the battery, automatically emptying the dust bin and refills the water tank.

What is the Roomba Combo essential?

Filled with cleaning supplies and powered by iRobot OS, this 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop helps customers take two chores off their list using one convenient device. It comes with smart navigation, 3 levels of powerful suction and up to 120 minutes of battery life. With its sleek, low-profile design and Edge-Sweeping Brush design, dirt cannot hide around corners or beneath furniture.

The 4-Stage System uses a multi-surface V-shaped brush a microfiber pad fed by a pump, and adjustable liquid settings that allow you to clean multiple floors with just one stroke. It also has 18x more suction power2 and a smart Edge-Sweeping Brush that helps eliminate dirt and dust around the edges of rooms as well as under furniture. It also has an easy-to-use iRobot Home App controls, suggested cleaning schedules, as well as thorough Clean Map reports.

With the free iRobot application, users can select from a variety of cleaning modes including automatic, spot clean and mop only. The app allows customers to determine the time of start and stop, as well as stop the cleaning. The Combo Essential also supports voice control integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant which means you can start cleaning with a simple voice command.

When the Combo Essential is done cleaning it will return to the docking station automatically and empty the dustbin into the dirt bin. Based on the amount of dust that Combo has collected, it may be necessary to empty it frequently. The app allows users to keep track of and manage the cleaner's battery status, a mop pad change reminder, and other information.

GearBrain will be testing the new Roomba Combo Essential over the coming weeks, but for now we can tell you that it's a fantastic upgrade to the 600 Series. We're thrilled that it's loaded with advanced features and offers a strong clean even with the reduced price.

We look forward to trying the Combo Essential in our homes If you're looking to take your cleaning routine to the next level, it's available today for $275. Visit the iRobot site for more information and a full list of specifications.

What is the Roomba Combo j9+?

iRobot is the leading brand in the market for smart vacuums and mopping, and the Combo J9+ is built on this tradition. It is rated as having the best dirt and dust pick-up and comes with a mopping solution powered by the iRobot OS. The new software offers the robot "smart cleaning preferences" and lets it automatically clean your rooms according to their requirements. For instance it might give the kitchen floors more focus, apply more pressure to the floor scrubber in entranceways or boost suction power in carpeted areas.

The j9+ is an excellent choice for homes with a mix of floor surfaces because it provides a high level of dirt and debris removal on both unfinished and carpeted floors. Its navigation system is robust and it did a decent job of avoiding obstacles during our tests. It also comes with the ability to see pictures of objects it encounters during an exercise, which helps it better build maps and avoid hazards in the future.

The mops are easy to replace and it has an enormous water tank that should keep it running for around 1 month between refills. The dustbin onboard is large and has a lid that swings that makes it easy for you to empty. It's worth noting that while it is capable of self-emptying, it will still have to manually empty the filter from time to time to prevent blocking.

Another great feature is its Clean Base Auto-Fill dock, which can automatically empty the robot's trash bin and fill up its water tank. This is a feature many of its rivals lack, and it's an excellent way to cut down on the amount of maintenance that you have to complete.

The iRobot app is easy to use and intuitive, but it does have some shortcomings. It is frustrating to use because it doesn't come with live coverage view maps or remote control feature. It's also prone to dropping connections and often shuts you down and doesn't provide the best experience. Also, it doesn't allow you to set a specific time when the robot will complete the cleaning task.

What is the Roomba Combo j7+?

The Combo j7+ is a real 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop. It has an impressive 3.8 star rating on Amazon and is one of the most sophisticated mopping robots available (though it is not the only option, as the Ecovacs X1 Omni or the Roborock Q5+ are better for cleaning up messes). Its strengths are its dependable obstacle avoidance, home navigation and ability to maintain a baseline of cleanliness between more thorough cleaning sessions.

It also excels in keeping floors tidy even when carpeting is high-pile. PrecisionVision Navigation allows the robot vacuum mops to avoid obstacles such as shoes and cords. It also keeps away toys and pet waste. In addition its Dirt Detect Technology recognizes dirtier areas and then begins cleaning them more thoroughly. Place the pad on top of the mops and the machine will begin cleaning.

The Combo j7+ has the option of sweeping the floor by itself, without using the mops. You can also schedule a cleaning time in advance, though we found it was best to stick with the default auto-cleaning settings.

Another bonus feature is the automatic updates that allow you to keep your Roomba running smoothly. You can also manually update it if you're willing to connect it to Wi-Fi, download the latest software and wait for a few minutes.

The Combo j7+, just like other iRobot Robots, requires some maintenance. The dust bin of the Combo j7+ is required to be cleaned at least every two weeks. The liquid chamber can also be filled with Revolutionize Cleaning with iRobot Roomba i3+ solutions. It arrives with a sample bottle of iRobot's own cleaning solution, however the help section suggests that Bona's Hardwood/Hard Surface Cleaner is excellent alternative that doesn't harm the device. The caster wheel on the front is able to be removed for cleaning and its socket must be cleared of hair tangles and debris once per week.

The Combo J7+ can be used to clean up to 60 floors. However, the number of floors that you can clean on one charge will depend on the type of floor and the frequency of cleaning. Battery life is up to 90 minutes, and you can charge it with the included AC adapter. The docking base's sensors and charging contacts need to be cleaned clean of dust and debris every two weeks.

What is the Roomba Combo J6+?

The Combo J9+ robot cleaner is the newest model from iRobot. It might not have all the bells and whistles that iRobot’s newer (and more expensive -- they start at $1,800) models. Robot floor cleaners are still capable of delivering a thorough clean on hard floors and carpets. Its strengths are its reliability in obstacle avoidance and navigation system, and its impressive mopsweeping and vacuuming performance.

The j9+ mops feature self-retracting technology that helps keep messes from getting on your carpets and rug. SmartScrub mops are part of its cleaning system. They move back and forth with constant pressure to scrub thoroughly even on stains that are difficult to remove like coffee. It also features a powerful suction system that can be used to pull dirt from carpets and rug.

The navigation system comes with two precision cameras that assist the j9+ in getting around your home without getting stuck or smashing into objects, which is often the situation with other Roomba models. The cameras are based on iRobot's PrecisionVision technology, which can help your j9+ to recognize and avoid things like cords. It can also remember certain areas and areas with carpet so that it knows to avoid mopping those spaces. This feature is called Imprint smart map and it is exclusive to Roomba i7 models.

The robot has a huge capacity for debris, which is crucial because it can do both jobs at once. Its external dirt canister is able to hold 2.4L it's slightly smaller than iRobot's top-rated robot the Roomba i8+. However, it's still enough to wash the majority of homes.

The mops are easily cleaned and recharged so you don't have to worry about when you're ready to refill or change them. This model also comes with a brand new attractive, visually appealing and functional dock that features indicators to notify you when the Combo j9+ is charging or in need of a refill, or if it needs to be cleaned. It has plenty of storage space to store additional mops or dust bags. This is a major upgrade over the previous version of the j9+, which was outdated and ugly design.