iRobot enters a brand new period with a Roomba that lastly auto-washes and dries its mop

PRE-ORDER NOW: On July 23, iRobot introduced a brand new flagship robotic vacuum and mop that lastly comes with a self-cleaning station: the Roomba Combo 10 Max robotic and AutoWash dock. It’s accessible to pre-order now for $1,399.99 and can begin transport in early August.

We hope the likes of Roborock, Ecovacs, and Narwal totally loved the peace of getting a leg up on iRobot for the previous yr. As a result of the brand new Roomba rectifies the one evident blind spot that held it again in opposition to rivals, and “greatest robotic vacuums” lists throughout the web are in for a shake-up.

Introduced on July 23, the 2024 Roomba Combo 10 Max Robotic + AutoWash Dock lastly fills the key hole within the Roomba lineup: self-washing and drying mopping pads.

iRobot skipped this characteristic with the Roomba Combo j9+ that got here out final September — an odd alternative for the reason that Combo j9+ did improve to a dock that robotically refilled the bot’s water tank, which I discovered to be a little bit of a futile glow-up for those who’re nonetheless having to manually wash soggy mopping pads after every mopping run.

However after the full-fledged self-cleaning station emerged because the clear robotic vacuum development at CES 2024 in January, even essentially the most superior Roomba was left within the mud with a price ticket that was simply too excessive for the shortage of all-encompassing mopping upkeep.

So after all, iRobot’s official commencement to the self-washing and self-drying mopping pad system is the massive headline of the day. However the underlying tea is the uncharacteristically cheap price ticket. Previously, I’ve discovered that Roombas are typically costlier than related counterparts with out essentially providing extra to again that price up (till these Roombas begin occurring sale often, at the least.) This was most lately exemplified with the 2 price range Roombas that got here out in April 2024.

So whereas the $1,399.99 price ticket on the Roomba Combo 10 Max Robotic + AutoWash Dock nonetheless could seem steep, it’s very consistent with the opposite robotic vacuum and mop hybrids with the self-cleaning mopping pad stations. Doubtlessly extra noteworthy is that $1,399.99 is the very same value that the Combo j9+ debuted finally yr. iRobot actually redesigned its dock to match the self-sufficiency customers had been asking for and left the value as is.

Total, the brand new AutoWash dock will maintain particles for as much as 60 days at a time and might provide as much as every week of fresh water. The mud bin and water tank may be accessed from the entrance of the dock, which means the highest can be utilized as a full-time finish desk.

Just like the Combo j9+, the Roomba Combo 10 Max’s dock can mix in as furnishings.
Credit score: iRobot

What does the “Max” nomenclature imply for Roomba?

Armed with the identical suction energy and scrubbing strain that the Combo j9+ dishes out, the Roomba Combo 10 Max technically would not clear more durable — but it surely does clear smarter. That is what iRobot means by “Max,” which is able to turn into a very new tier of Roombas.

The front-facing digicam initially seen on Roombas to keep away from working over small obstacles like pet waste and cords (creating what I believe is essentially the most dependable small impediment avoidance available on the market) is now additionally used to visually detect particles on the ground, triggering further passes in that space. iRobot says that this visible pinpointing of soiled areas plus an enhanced model of the Filth Detect sensors Roombas had been already utilizing will result in soiled areas being tended to as much as eight instances extra often.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max completes good mapping sooner than earlier Roombas.
Credit score: iRobot

This consideration to element additionally applies to SmartScrub (the mopping mechanism of iRobot’s retractable mop when it is in use). In comparison with the Combo j9+, the Combo 10 Max’s SmartScrub wipes backwards and forwards extra vigorously when grime is sensed, extra intently mimicking the backwards and forwards elbow grease a human administers when manually mopping.

Each vacuuming and mopping may be accomplished in the identical cleansing run, with the retractable mop robotically avoiding getting carpet or rugs moist. And FWIW, the cleansing efficiency on each Combo j9+ and Combo 10 Max remains to be iRobot’s strongest ever. We’re speaking suction that is 100 instances extra highly effective than the i Collection Roombas, and two instances deeper scrubbing than the opposite mopping Roombas.