iRobot Roomba Combo i5 Robot Vacuum

3.9

(10)

Bottom Line

Choose Roomba Combo i5 if you want dependable row-by-row vacuuming with a simple mop add-on; Skip if you need hands-off auto-emptying and advanced obstacle avoidance/no-go zones.

Best for

Apartment to mid-size homes that want scheduled maintenance vacuuming (including pet hair) and occasionally freshen hard floors with a simple mop pad, without paying for a premium self-washing mop dock.

Not for

Anyone who needs advanced obstacle avoidance for cords/pet accidents, software no-go zones, or a mop pad that lifts itself over rugs; also a poor fit if you want truly hands-free emptying unless you buy the Plus auto-empty base.

Verdict

Across the reviews, the Combo i5 is praised for dependable cleaning on hard floors and carpets, especially pet hair, and for its systematic, map-based navigation that supports room targeting, schedules, and voice assistants. Its low profile helps it reach under furniture, and most reviewers report it reliably returns to the dock to recharge and continue. The tradeoff is that avoidance and customization are more limited than camera-equipped Roombas: no built-in no-go zones, and mopping is a basic damp-pad wipe that can leave streaks and requires bin/pad swaps, particularly in homes with rugs.

Pros

Build quality & durability 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.6

Build quality impressions are strong, including comments about minimal scuffing after a month and solid fit/feel of the bin and modules.
Under-Furniture Pickup 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.6

Multiple reviews highlight its ability to clean under beds and other low-clearance furniture where manual vacuums struggle.
Child lock 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.6

Child lock is called out as a useful feature to prevent accidental button presses and allow app/voice-only control.
Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5

Lab-style commentary and hands-on reviews indicate strong bare-floor pickup, including fine dust, helped by consistent pathing and the rubber rollers.
Low-profile design 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5

Its slim height is repeatedly cited as a benefit for reaching under furniture compared with taller lidar-turret designs.
Hair‑Wrap / Tangle Resistance 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5

Dual rubber rollers are repeatedly praised for resisting tangles and making hair removal easy, though long strands can still occasionally wrap and need checking.
Aesthetic design & finish 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.4

Several reviewers describe the robot and dock as sleek and good-looking, with a finish that stays presentable after weeks of use.
Carpet — Medium-Pile Pickup 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3

Carpet performance is repeatedly described as strong for day-to-day upkeep, including visible straight-line cleaning patterns and effective pickup. Reviews frame it more as maintenance than heavy-duty deep extraction.
Overall opinion 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10 reviews 4.3

Overall sentiment is positive, highlighting dependable navigation and cleaning with a basic mop add-on. Recurring critiques focus on limited avoidance/no-go features and the simple, pad-based mopping.
Edge & Baseboard Cleaning (Hard Floors) 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3

Edge coverage is frequently described as thorough, including tracing along walls and navigating around chair legs during systematic cleaning passes.
Map & Path Efficiency (Robot Vacuums) 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.3

Mapping and pathing are standout strengths: after an initial run, it typically cleans in orderly rows, supports room-by-room jobs, and finishes faster than random-path Roombas according to comparative commentary.
Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3

Reviews describe effective pickup of larger debris such as crumbs and mixed household messes, including positive spot-cleaning results.
Suction & Airflow 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3

Even with reported airflow/CFM metrics below some competitors in one review, reviewers and test commentary describe strong real-world pickup helped by the dual rubber rollers and multi-stage cleaning system.
Versatility 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.2

Works as a vacuum-only robot or as a vacuum+mop once you swap in the combo bin and attach the pad, making it flexible for maintenance cleaning across surfaces.
Docking & Auto-Empty Reliability (Robot) 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.2

Docking behavior is usually reported as reliable, including returning home and resuming after recharging. Auto-emptying is only available with the Plus base, not the standard dock.
Price & Value 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2

Often positioned as a strong value within iRobot's lineup, especially on sale and versus cheaper random-navigation models. Some reviewers still suggest paying more for the Plus auto-empty base or stepping up to a J-series for additional features.
Accessories & Tools 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.1

Comes with the charging base, drip tray, combo mop bin, and a washable microfiber pad. Reviews note virtual wall beacons can be useful, but they are not always included in the box.
Software-update support / feature longevity 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.1

One reviewer emphasizes iRobot's strategy of improving capability via ongoing software updates. Concrete examples of major new features arriving via updates are not consistently documented across the reviews.
Ease of use 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.1

Day-to-day operation is generally seen as easy thanks to straightforward app controls, quick bin removal, and washable pads. The biggest friction points are swapping bins/pads and pre-clearing clutter due to limited avoidance.
AI, Smart & App / Automation 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.0

The app supports scheduling, room targeting, cleaning history, and voice assistants in multiple reviews, with some automation options mentioned. Feature depth is still described as more basic than higher-end iRobot models (limited zone controls and fewer advanced settings).
Assembly and Setup 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.0

Setup is usually described as straightforward (unbox, place dock, app pairing/QR setup). A couple of reviewers note the onboarding can feel slow and that dock placement needs a clear approach path.
Bin & Bag 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.0

The standard dust bin is easy to remove and empty, and a separate combo bin swaps in for mopping. Filters are replaceable, and at least one review mentions an extra filter included.
Pet-Ready Features 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.0

Generally effective for pet households due to strong pet-hair pickup and the rubber roller design, but it lacks advanced pet accident detection and higher-end avoidance found on camera-based models.
Stuck resistance 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0

Several reviews report it avoids common snag points like rug tassels, but users still recommend pre-picking up cords and clutter because object detection is limited compared with camera-based models.
Emptying & Mess Control 3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.9

The standard version requires manual emptying, but reviewers often describe it as quick and easy. For a more hands-off experience, several recommend the Plus auto-empty setup.
Solution / Liquid system 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8

Reviews mention mopping with water or approved cleaning solutions, and one review notes that using unauthorized solutions may risk warranty coverage. Owners manually fill and empty the combo bin.
Controls & UI 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.7

On-robot controls are simple (clean/spot/home), with most features in the app. Some reviews mention limited tuning (for example, cleaning passes instead of granular suction control) and one notes missing battery percentage in the app.

Cons

Area Rug Handling 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.5

Vacuuming on rugs is generally described as solid, including tassel rugs, but the robot can mop rugs unless you remove them or avoid using mopping mode in mixed-floor areas.
Maintenance requirements 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.5

Maintenance commonly includes filter cleaning/replacement, washing the mop pad, and occasional sensor/roller checks. Most reviewers consider upkeep manageable, though one mentions unclear sensor-clean prompts.
Water tank 3.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.4

The combo bin water capacity is described as modest (one measured review cites a low-200 ml range), which suits light maintenance mopping but may require attention for larger areas.
Runtime (Measured, Default) 3.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.4

Reported runtimes often land around 70 to 90 minutes per charge, with noticeably faster drain when running extra passes. Reviews note it can dock, recharge, and resume for larger spaces.
Mopping performance 3.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 3.3

Mopping is mostly described as light maintenance similar to a damp pad/Swiffer, not a deep scrub, and it may leave streaks. It is still viewed as useful for frequent quick refreshes of hard floors.
Noise level 3.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.3

Noise feedback is mixed: some commentary places it around typical robovac loudness, while multiple hands-on reviewers call it very loud on hard floors (roller noise and bumping), leading many to run it when away.
Streaking / Residue 2.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.9

At least one hands-on review reports streaking during mopping, suggesting results depend on pad wetness, floor type, and solution choice.
Obstacle Avoidance (Robot) 2.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 2.8

Obstacle avoidance is repeatedly described as basic due to no front-facing camera/AI in these reviews, often involving bumper contact. Several reviews also note missing software no-go zones, so clutter and cords still need to be managed.
Suitability for heavy-duty use 2.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.8

Multiple reviewers frame it as a maintenance cleaner rather than a solution for heavy messes or deep mopping, especially compared with higher-end systems.
Cord management 2.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.5

One review criticizes dock cable routing because the cord exits from a single side and there is no easy built-in way to tidy the cable.
Mop lifting system 2.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 2.1

The mop pad does not automatically retract or lift, so users frequently swap bins and remove rugs or avoid mopping in mixed-surface areas.

FAQ

Can the Roomba Combo i5 vacuum and mop at the same time?

Several reviews describe it vacuuming while mopping when the combo bin and pad are installed. You still have to swap bins and attach the pad when you want to mop.

Does it support no-go zones or advanced obstacle avoidance?

Multiple reviews say it lacks built-in no-go zones and does not have a front-facing camera/AI detection, so it relies more on bump-based navigation. Some users use physical virtual wall accessories to block off areas.

How is it for pet hair and tangles?

Reviews repeatedly highlight the dual rubber roller system as strong for pet hair and easier to de-tangle than bristle brushes. Long strands can still occasionally wrap, so periodic checks are still needed.

How good is the mopping function in real use?

The consensus is that it is best for light maintenance, more like a damp pad wipe than a deep scrub. At least one review notes streaking, and it does not self-clean or lift the pad over rugs.

Do you have to empty the bin yourself?

Yes for the standard version: several reviews mention manual emptying, though they also say it is quick and easy. For hands-free emptying, reviewers often recommend the Plus version with the auto-empty base.

What is this analysis based on?

It is based only on the supplied reviews.json file containing the full transcripts for this product.