Why every pet owner needs this Roomba with a mopping robot arm

advantages and disadvantages

pros

• Reliable self-dumping
• Smartly avoid items and obstacles
• The retractable arm is surprisingly adaptable

Defect

• Mop and liquid tank could be larger
• Some necessary notes in the cleaning process
• $1,099 for the convenience factor

More shopping options

My Roomba journey so far has been a satisfying one. i tested Roomba j7+ And Braava m6 . jet and both have made good on their promise to keep my floors clean. So when Roomba announced a new robot that combines the two, I was thrilled.

Roomba Combo j7+ is basically Roomba j7+ but with the addition of retractable arms to raise and lower the mop head. It has the same matte black design, auto drum base, PrecisionVision Navigation and of course, the smart iRobot OS software.

Also: 5 best robot vacuuming and mopping combos

Difference? The combine part. Thanks to the robot’s hands-free nature, it’s quickly becoming my favorite mopping smart vacuum.

To test Combo j7+, my family has dust and shedding culprits including a German Shepherd, a German Shorthair, and a cat. Then there’s the daily dirt from walking around. This is how the new Roomba works.

specifications

What’s new with this model

Roomba Combo j7+ reflects Roomba j7+ with its vacuuming performance. Right out of the box, you’ll have to set up the Combo j7+ in the iRobot app, then let it collect the layout of your house by performing a few mapping operations. Once that’s done, the fun begins. Here are the new (and important) points about the features.

1. Retractable mop that just works

The new Roomba design is unique in that it now features retractable arms to raise and lower the mop head as needed. When you start a job in the iRobot app, you can choose the type of function(s) you want it to perform, including vacuuming only or both vacuuming and mopping. The default j7+ combo is the latter and in that same menu you can choose the amount of liquid and if you want one or two cleaning passes.

Review: Roomba j7+: Life-changing robot vacuum cleaner

Cleverly, when Roomba is cleaning carpet, it will act like a normal j7+, vacuuming without lowering the retractable arms. But once it encounters hardwood, vinyl or tile, it will stop to roll the mop head and resume cleaning with the cleaning solution now. After many runs around the house, I have had no problems with the retractable arms not lowering or lifting as needed. The technology is really impressive, especially since this is iRobot’s first attempt at a mechanic.

2. Improved object avoidance

Arguably my favorite feature in the Roomba Combo j7+ and the iRobot lineup in general is the PrecisionVision Navigation it uses to avoid common household objects. The sensors that Roomba has equipped with Combo j7+ allow it to work even when you haven’t cleaned up everything around your house. If the shoe or laces are out of place, the robot will automatically detect and avoid the object. At the end of the cleaning process, you can look in the iRobot Home app to see what objects and obstacles Roomba has detected during the cleaning process.

Also: This tool is better than compressed air for cleaning your dirty tech

Equally interesting is how the Combo j7+ will take pictures of the objects it encounters to better understand your home. For example, if it keeps taking pictures of a string of lights, you can mark it as a stationary object and the robot will always avoid it. But if the robot encounters an unusual object on the floor, you can mark it as an object to avoid temporarily.

3. POP is still worth highlighting

Roomba introduces the Official Pet Owner Promise (POOP) for the first time with genuine j7+ model, an object avoidance technology made specifically for pet waste, so it’s great to see it included in the Combo. As a pet owner, I know very well that accidents can happen, and the last thing I want is for my robot vacuum to splatter any pet waste throughout the house. While I’m lucky enough to have never experienced that (typing on wood), there was once during testing Combo j7+ that identified and avoided a pile of pet vomit, this both terrifying and exhilarating. Not every robot vacuum supports such a feature, so I am highlighting this feature for the pet owners out there.

What I want to see in the next model

The Roomba Combo j7+ does a great job, and it clearly did a great job of keeping my floors clean. But if there’s anything the Roomba could do better in the next model, this is what’s on my wish list.

1. Larger liquid tank size

In terms of cleaning performance, Combo j7+ performs quite well. The mop head is much smaller than Braava m6 . jetand cleaning can leave streaks (unless you choose the Super Liquid setting). With its extremely small liquid reservoir, this required a lot of intervention from me. The only way I can use the Combo’s mopping system is when I’m at home, I can manually intervene and refill the liquid reservoir as needed. I like that Combo j7+ uses actual cleaning solution instead of water like most other products. two-in-one robot machinealthough the liquid is stored inside the dust container, so again you only get so much volume out of it.

Also: 5 best mopping robots to wash your floors

Roomba needed to find a way to increase the liquid tank size for this to be a viable option for consumers. In my opinion, the purpose of a robot vacuum is to let it do your dirty work without being out of sight and out of your mind. That’s hard to do as I refill the liquid tank multiple times in each run.

2. Quieter handling will be the next level

No matter where the Combo j7+ is in its journey through my house, as soon as the dirt bin is full, it will return to the Clean Base to clean itself. The only problem I have with this cleaning procedure is how loud it sounds when the base is sucking dirt and debris from the robot. It’s easily one of the loudest clean grounds I’ve tested to date. While the whole process takes no more than 15 seconds, it’s not uncommon for your pet to shed as much hair as mine.

bottom line

The Combo room j7+ is a great first generation 2-in-1 robot that has many promising features. On the surface, the Roomba’s $1,099 price tag seems like a big ask, and it’s a lot, but it’s also a 2-in-1 robot that offers the functionality of a standalone smart vacuum and mop. . On top of that, the Roomba somehow nailed the retractable arm mechanism on the first try.

Should I buy one?

For small and medium sized apartments and houses, Combo j7+ can easily solve your clutter. Thanks to the convenience of a vacuuming and mopping system, footprints, pet hair and other coarse stains will be the least of your worries. However, if you want the most efficient mopping solution available, I would still recommend purchasing a dedicated mopping robot, such as $449 Braava jet m6which I have reviewed and personally recommend to family and friends.

Alternatives to consider

BEST 2 IN 1 ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

On the more expensive side, this 2-in-1 is arguably the best vacuuming and mopping robot on the market.

BEST WASHING ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

iRobot Braava Jet m6

The Jet m6 ensures that every inch of your floor is thoroughly cleaned with the exclusive cleaning solution included in the box and an efficient, automatic mopping motion.