iRobot Roomba Combo j9+
The original smart robot — now with a retractable mop
What we love
- Best-in-class camera-based obstacle avoidance (PrecisionVision)
- Retractable mop lifts completely off carpet — no soggy rugs
- iRobot Home app is the most user-friendly in the category
- Exceptionally quiet — best for bedrooms
- Huge brand reputation and proven reliability
What could be better
- Lower suction (6,500 Pa) vs newer Chinese competitors
- No auto-wash mop — requires manual cleaning
- Smaller water tank (210ml) — limited mopping range
- Camera navigation struggles in very dark rooms
The Roomba Combo j9+ is the easiest robot vacuum to own. The app is unmatched, the obstacle avoidance is the most reliable we've tested, and the retractable mop is genuinely clever. It's not the most powerful cleaner, but for families who want something that just works without fuss, it's the best choice.
Cleaning Performance
The Combo j9+'s 6,500 Pa suction trails the Chinese competition but is more than adequate for typical homes. Its dual multi-surface rubber brushes are particularly effective on pet hair — they don't tangle. On carpet, Carpet Boost mode activates automatically and handles medium-pile with aplomb.
Mopping Performance
The retractable SmartScrub mop is iRobot's best idea. It stows completely when the robot detects carpet, eliminating the soggy-rug problem that plagues non-lifting robots. Mopping performance is light-duty — maintenance cleaning rather than deep scrubbing. Sufficient for daily upkeep.
Base Station & Autonomy
The Clean Base auto-empty station uses a strong suction to pull debris into an AllergenLock bag (holds 60 days of debris). The base is compact and fits in tight spaces. There's no mop washing — you remove and hand-wash the pad yourself, which is a notable step back from Dreame and Roborock.
App & Smart Home
The iRobot Home app is simply the best in the robot vacuum space. Clean maps, smart suggestions ("You might want to clean the kitchen after cooking"), and a beautiful UI. Alexa and Google integration is rock-solid. No Home Assistant support officially, but the community has a solid integration.
Full specifications
Score breakdown
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