Roomba Combo j9+ Robot Vacuum & Mop

Pros

• Mop lifting system 4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7
  The retracting mop mechanism is a defining strength, reliably keeping carpets dry by fully lifting/stowing the pad on top of the robot. It enables true vacuum-and-mop-in-one-run behavior without worrying about damp rugs.
• Pet-Ready Features 4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.7
  Pet households benefit from strong poop/pet-waste avoidance, plus reliable hair pickup on hard floors and rugs. Multiple reviews highlight the pet waste guarantee as a key confidence booster in cluttered homes.
• Assembly and Setup 4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.7
  Setup is typically quick and well-guided through the app, with packaging and quick-start materials helping. Initial mapping can take multiple runs, and a few users report early hiccups aligning the robot on the dock or connecting to Wi-Fi.
• Crevice / Groove Pickup (Hard Floors) 4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.7
  Crevice and groove pickup is repeatedly called out as improved versus older Roombas, aided by stronger suction and the dual rubber rollers. It performs well on seams and along transitions in testing.
• Docking & Auto-Empty Reliability (Robot) 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 11 reviews 4.6
  Auto-empty docking is consistently reliable, with the robot returning to empty and resume without much user intervention. Bagged disposal keeps the process clean, and many users report weeks of hands-free vacuuming before needing to swap the bag.
• Bin & Bag 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.6
  The bagged dock system is praised for cleanliness and low-touch disposal, typically lasting weeks to around two months depending on shedding and home size. Internal bin is small but rarely needs manual emptying thanks to frequent auto-empty cycles.
• Ease of use 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.6
  Day-to-day use is strongly praised once maps are set: scheduling, recharge-and-resume, hands-free emptying, and reliable obstacle avoidance reduce babysitting. Early learning runs can require a bit of attention, but it becomes largely set-and-forget.
• Obstacle Avoidance (Robot) 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10 reviews 4.6
  Obstacle avoidance is a defining strength: the camera-based system reliably dodges cords, toys, shoes, and pet waste in most tests, and often outperforms rival bots in clutter. It’s not flawless, but it dramatically reduces stuck events and accidental messes versus non-vision robots.
• Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.6
  Fine dust pickup on hard floors is consistently reported as excellent, including flour/sand-style tests in some reviews. Multiple passes can further improve results, especially on carpet fine-particle stress tests.
• Filter-change indicator 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.6
  App-based maintenance reminders for filters help keep performance consistent, with clear prompts on when to replace. Filters still require planned replenishment since they aren’t washable.
• Innovation compared to competitors 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.6
  The combo design is seen as meaningfully innovative: the fully retracting mop arm reduces carpet-wetting risk, and the auto-fill dock adds true hands-free mopping convenience. It’s less novel on pad washing, where competitors often do more.
• Water tank 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.5
  Auto-fill dock is a major convenience, with many citing weeks of mopping before refills in average use. A few find the reservoir awkward to handle/refill, but the concept and day-to-day automation score highly.
• Battery & Charging 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.5
  Battery performance is generally strong for large-area runs, often finishing typical floors without intervention and returning to recharge as needed. Charging can feel slow for some users, but recharge-and-resume behavior is reliable in most accounts.
• Automatic shutoff for obstructions 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  The robot is described as responsive to obstructions, stopping or rerouting around people/pets and common objects. It’s not perfect in every edge case, but it tends to avoid creating bigger messes when something blocks its path.
• Filtration / Dust Containment 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  Dust containment is generally solid, helped by a sealed, bagged dock and replaceable filters. Filters are not washable and need periodic replacement, but most reviewers report clean handling with minimal dust mess.
• Suction & Airflow 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.5
  Across reviews, suction is a standout: strong pickup on hard floors and carpet, with smart boost behavior and fewer repeat passes than older Roombas. A few testers still rate raw power a step behind the most aggressive premium competitors, but most call it top-tier for daily debris.
• AI, Smart & App / Automation 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 8 reviews 4.5
  App and automation are feature-rich: schedules, zones, room-specific routines, dirt-prioritization, and voice assistant support are widely praised. Common nitpicks include occasional connectivity hiccups, confusing menu choices, and missing real-time map progress in some experiences.
• Hair Pickup — Hard Floors 4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Hard-floor hair pickup is a consistent strength, especially for pets and long human hair. A few mention the occasional hair clump, but overall results are strong with minimal leftover hairballs.
• Under-Furniture Pickup 4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.4
  Under-furniture reach is good thanks to the low profile and persistent navigation, with multiple reviewers noting it cleans under beds, desks, and tables. Very low clearances still depend on your furniture height.
• Aesthetic design & finish 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  Design is frequently praised: the dock’s wood-look top and furniture-like footprint blend into living spaces better than many rivals. A minority dislike the faux-wood finish or find the dock less attractive in person.
• Carpet — Low-Pile Pickup 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  Low-pile carpet pickup is generally very good, handling daily hair and debris well. Some users still notice occasional leftover strands on rugs and may choose extra passes for a more thorough finish.
• Controls & UI 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  Controls are straightforward: the app handles most functions, with a simple on-robot button for start/pause and basic status lights. Some reviewers wish for richer in-app live tracking and clearer guidance in the manual/owner docs.
• Runtime (Measured, Default) 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.3
  Runtime is generally strong for a premium robot, commonly around two hours in everyday use, with recharge-and-resume covering larger spaces. Expect longer total job times when both vacuuming and mopping, or when using max power/two-pass settings.
• Hair‑Wrap / Tangle Resistance 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Dual rubber rollers reduce tangling compared with bristle rollers, and several reviewers report noticeably less hair wrap. Some periodic hair removal is still needed, especially in heavy-shedding homes.
• Low-profile design 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.3
  The low-profile body helps it fit under more furniture than bulkier rivals, improving coverage in real homes. Dock size is still substantial, but the robot’s height is generally a plus.
• Comparative performance 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Comparisons usually place the j9+/Combo j9+ among the best for vacuuming and obstacle avoidance, with advantages over older Roombas. Several reviewers note that top hybrid competitors can outperform it in deep scrubbing or self-maintenance features.
• Map & Path Efficiency (Robot Vacuums) 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 10 reviews 4.2
  Mapping and pathing are generally systematic and thorough, with efficient row cleaning once the home is learned. Initial mapping is sometimes slow or clumsy compared to LiDAR bots, and a few tests note slightly longer overall run times than some competitors.
• Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.2
  Large debris pickup is strong overall, though a few note the side brush can flick bigger bits around before they’re captured. In most homes it handles cereal, kibble, and tracked-in debris well, with occasional stragglers in corners.
• Hair Pickup — Carpets 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.2
  Carpet hair pickup is strong in many reports, though a few users still see stray hairs on low-pile rugs and may prefer an extra pass for perfection. Overall it’s above average for daily maintenance.
• Area Rug Handling 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.2
  Rug handling is usually good, especially because the retracting mop prevents wet pads from dragging onto carpets. Still, the mop arm can occasionally catch on rug edges/corners, and very thick or tricky rugs may need keep-out or no-mop zoning.
• Mopping performance 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 4.2
  Mopping is generally effective for routine upkeep, with smart back-and-forth scrubbing helping on stains. It can struggle with sticky messes and heavy grime compared with spinning/vibrating pad competitors, and edges/corners remain challenging.
• Dried-On Stain Removal 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2
  For dried-on stains, SmartScrub/back-and-forth motions improve results and can remove many common spots like dried juice, litter prints, and tracked-in dirt. Very sticky food or heavy buildup may still require manual spot work or a pad change afterward.
• Airflow blowback 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.1
  Blowback and scattering are usually controlled, with some reviewers noting it avoids flinging small particles. However, the side brush can flick larger debris around, and a few tests report scattered grains on hard floors.
• Privacy controls 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.1
  Privacy controls are a recurring discussion point because the robot uses a camera for navigation and obstacle recognition. Reviews note opt-in options and iRobot’s stated controls/encryption, but some users may still prefer a non-camera approach depending on comfort.
• Build quality & durability 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
  Build quality is generally described as solid with removable, serviceable parts. Some mention cosmetic scuffing during early mapping runs from gentle bumping, but no widespread structural issues are reported in these reviews.
• Streaking / Residue 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.0
  Residue and streaking are usually minor, but some reviewers notice occasional streaks or sticky patches after messy tests like jam/jelly. Regular pad washing and appropriate water/solution settings help reduce visible streaking.
• Stuck resistance 3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.9
  Stuck events are infrequent once maps and keep-out zones are tuned, but the robot can still snag on bath mats, high-pile rugs, tight gaps, or situations where the mop arm can’t retract cleanly. Overall, it improves after the first few runs.
• Noise level 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.8
  Noise is a mixed bag: in-room vacuuming is often described as noticeable but tolerable, while auto-emptying can be loud for some. A few reviewers found the empty cycle quieter than other robots, but others measured/mentioned it as disruptive.
• Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries) 3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.7
  Ongoing costs are a real factor: bags, filters, brushes, and occasional pads add recurring spend. The upside is the bagged system is clean and parts are widely available, but budget-minded buyers should plan for replenishment.
• Maintenance requirements 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 3.6
  Maintenance is moderate: the bagged dock reduces daily hassle, but mop pads still require manual washing/swapping and parts like filters/brushes need periodic attention. Several reviewers call the pad-care step the main ongoing chore.
• Dock noise 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.6
  Dock emptying volume is inconsistent across reviewers: some describe it as very loud, while others find it comparatively quieter and less high-pitched than older Roombas. Either way, the empty cycle is brief and can be scheduled around quiet hours.
• Carpet — Medium-Pile Pickup 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.6
• Support & Reliability 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.6
  Reliability feedback is mostly positive over weeks of use, but a few reviews mention glitches (unfinished jobs, mode misbehavior) and at least one report of a defective unit that required replacement. Keeping receipts for early runs is commonly advised.
• Price & Value 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9 reviews 3.5
  Value is polarizing: most agree performance and automation are premium, but the MSRP feels steep and many recommend waiting for sales. Those upgrading from older Roombas or prioritizing obstacle avoidance are more likely to feel it’s worth the spend.