Robot vacuums are never quite as great as we want them to be. Sure, they'll clean up after us for the most part, and they can be a godsend in homes with pets since they're pretty good at picking up clumps of fur. But they're also often stupid, loud, glitchy and sometimes so bad at cleaning that it can be easier to just do it ourselves with a stick vacuum. But iRobot is looking to change this perception with its latest top-of-the-line Roomba, which was created quite literally to solve all the major issues people have with their current robot vacuums.
-
Roomba Combo j9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Read More
Roomba's best new vacuum is the Combo j9+
Released today, the new Roomba Combo j9+ replaces the Combo j7+ as the new standard-bearer for iRobot's industry-leading line of robot vacuums. Like the Combo j7+, the Comboj9+ is an all-in-one vacuum and mop that comes with its own self-emptying base. It also boasts its predecessor's obstacle avoidance abilities, including Roomba's "P.O.O.P. Promise" which guarantees your robot won't try to pick up any pet accidents. And it uses the same integrated mop system that automatically lifts the mop atop the vacuum when it encounters a rug, ensuring that no dirty mop water is dragged across your rug.
As an owner of the Combo j7+, I can say that all of these features work quite well, and I'm glad to see them return. But there are some other things about the Combo j7+ that annoy me, and it looks like the Combo j9+ has set out to solve all of them.
The Combo j9+ actually scrubs when it mops
While the Combo j7+ does technically mop, it isn't very good at it. Its tank is small, and it travels in straight lines, leaving streaks on my floor. But the Combo j9+ actually scrubs, moving back and forth while applying pressure as it mops. According to Roomba, this method is twice as effective as before.
The Combo j9+ fills its own mop tank
Another con of the Combo j7+ is the fact that I have to manually fill its tank each time I want to mop. Since the vacuum is otherwise completely hands-off, this always felt like an oversight to me — especially since the tank is so small that I sometimes have to fill it in the middle of the robot doing a job. But the charging base of the Combo j9+ can automatically fill the robot's tank with cleaning solution, and it holds enough to keep doing so for 30 days. What's more, the base boasts improved aesthetics and has room to store extra dust bags and mop pads.
The Combo j9+ cleans smarter
I sometimes get annoyed with my robot vacuum as I watch it toil away in clean areas of the home when I know there are dirtier spots that need to be cleaned elsewhere. But that shouldn't be a problem with the Combo j9+, as it boasts a new "Dirt Detective" feature that scans your home and cleans the dirtiest rooms first. It also remembers areas that see a lot of dirt and grime and will prioritize them during future runs, optimizing its cleaning abilities to tackle them.
The Combo j9+ doesn't sound like an airplane taking off when emptying its bin
Technically it's a minor annoyance, but the Combo j7+ is absurdly loud when its base empties its bin after a run. It is, by far, the loudest thing in my home, and I dread every time it goes off. Thankfully, Roomba listened to people's complaints about the noise, and as a result, the Combo j9+ has a much quieter base. In fact, it's the brand's quietest docking base yet.
The Combo j9+ is ... expensive
There's no way to sugarcoat this: $1,399 is a whole lot of money for a robot vacuum, even one as advanced and autonomous as the Combo j9+. It's a $400 premium over the already-pricey Combo j7+, but given the upgrades, seems worth it if you're looking for a robot vacuum and mop that can finally fulfill the promise of fully and effectively cleaning your home.
