iRobot's Mop-Refilling Roomba Combo j9+ Looks Impressive, But Isn't Revolutionary

pcmag.com:

iRobot is following up its Roomba Combo j7+ 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop with an even higher-end model that can refill its own water tank, a feature several competitors already offer. 

Announced today, the Roomba Combo j9+ features the same innovative retractable mop as its predecessor, with a new Clean Base Auto-fill Dock that should make the robot a lot more self sufficient. The Roomba Combo j9+ is available for preorder today for $1,399, or $400 more than the Roomba Combo j7+.

The new Auto-fill Dock features a large reservoir inside that can hold up to 30 days' worth of mopping liquid, with support for either plain water or Bona brand floor cleaning solution. When the robot's internal mopping tank runs dry, the Auto-fill Dock will—as its name suggests—automatically fill it back up. That's a big upgrade from the Roomba Combo j7+, which requires manual tank refilling each time. 

This is a welcome feature for the Roomba line, but far from a first for the larger robot vacuum market. iRobot competitors Ecovacs and Roborock first launched automatic mop refilling capabilities on their high-end hybrids, the Deebot X1 Omni and the S7 MaxV Ultra, in early 2022. Moreover, premium models from Ecovacs and Roborock can also wash and dry their own mopping cloths, features that are not available on any Roomba. 

iRobot CEO Colin Angle tells me he's not ruling out future models with automatic mop-washing abilities, but says the company isn't ready to bring one to market at this time. He points out that competing robots with this feature only rinse the mopping pad with water, and still require periodic manual mop washing with soap for a deeper clean. 

"The [automatic mop washing] docks get messy quickly and start to smell," Angle says.