iRobot unveils two new robot vacuums that clean better than ever
Roomba j9+ and Roomba Combo j9+ hit the market today
Credit:
iRobot
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Exciting news for fans of floor care, robot vacuum industry overlord iRobot today announced the release of the new Roomba j9+ robot vacuum and the new Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop, as well as a major upgrade to its smart platform, now iRobot OS 7.0.
Consumers can preorder the Roomba j9+ for $899 and the Roomba Combo j9+ for $1,399 today, September 11, and preorder it at select retailers beginning September 12.
It looks to us that iRobot hopes to capitalize on and improve upon the success of the Roomba j7+ and Roomba j7+ Combo, which debuted exactly two years and one year ago, respectively. iRobot states that the Roomba j9+ and Roomba Combo j9+ will be more intelligent, more autonomous, and better cleaners than any models to have come before. Not only this, but they solve problems faced by competing robot vacuum brands.
- New operating system iRobot OS 7.0 features Dirt Detective and Smart Scrub, which learns where to clean and how hard to clean based on its history
- Roomba j9+ and Roomba Combo j9+ have a unique, 4-stage cleaning system
- New Clean Base Auto-Fill Dock in the Roomba Combo j9+ self-empties dirt and self-fills with water
Based on our experience testing many iRobot Roombas over the years, it is clear that the brand wants owners to interact with these robot vacuums through the accompanying app. As with previous iterations, consumers can still do things like assign rooms to clean within iRobot OS 7.0.
However, iRobot wants its strategies to align more with homeowners’ preferences and habits—the experience can and will be personalized using software called Dirt Detective and Smart Scrub. Owners create a map, indicate cleaning preferences, and prioritize tasks, which Dirt Detective then uses to build a customized cleaning plan. Smart Scrub does just what its name indicates: it allows for deeper scrubbing in targeted areas, much like a person would.
Both the Roomba j9+ and the Roomba Combo j9+ iRobot feature the new iRobot OS 7.0 software, including Dirt Detective.
Finally, iRobot has unveiled a brand new charging station, the Clean Base Auto-Fill Dock, specifically for the Roomba Combo j9+. This base automatically empties dirt and debris, and it automatically fills with liquid for the mop function. This may sound like others you’ve seen around the market, but these docks will have additional internal storage space for mop pads and disposable dirt bags, making it the most convenient design we've seen.
What’s more: In a nod to integration, iRobot has incorporated a design element into this base, a wood-like tray that consumers can use to store TV remotes or a candy dish. We think this goes a long way to making this new Roomba feel like part of the home rather than a novelty item.
We can’t wait to bring both the iRobot Roomba j9+ and the Roomba Combo j9+ into the Reviewed lab and put them through our robot vacuum test regimen.
Preorder the Roomba j9+ for $899 and the Roomba Combo j9+ for $1,399 starting today, September 11.
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