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.

The Roomba Combo j9+ can automatically refill its mop tank and empty its dustbin. (Credit: iRobot)

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. "Pad washing isn't necessarily a bad idea, but nobody has figured out how to do it well. The pads are, at best, getting a light rinse. It doesn't clean and disinfect the pad."

(Credit: iRobot)

Meanwhile, as floor-cleaning robots get more advanced, their docks are getting bigger. Similar to competing models, the Combo j9+'s Auto-fill Dock is much larger than a traditional robot vacuum base station, but it features an attractive wood-like top that doubles as a usable surface. The dock also offers storage for extra mop pads and dust bags.

iRobot was a late entrant to the 2-in-1 market, releasing its first model last year, but is now doubling down on hybrids. The company also recently announced two midrange 2-in-1s, the $799 Roomba Combo j5+ and the $549 Roomba Combo i5+, neither of which feature a retractable mop like the more expensive Combo j7+ and the new Combo j9+. The Roomba Combo j5+ supports no-mop zones and has a camera for obstacle recognition and avoidance, while the more affordable Roomba Combo i5+, meant for smaller homes with mostly hard flooring, does not.

@angela_pcmag The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ is the first 2-in-1 robot vacuum with a fully retractable mop. When it detects hard flooring, it lowers the mop. When it detects carpets, it raises the mop to the top of the robot and goes on vacuuming. Excited to share my review on PCMag.com. #CapCut #robotvaccuum #robotmop #irobot #roomba #comboj7 #cleaninghacks #smarthome #techtok #cleantok #fyp ♬ Originalton - CENKGO

Alongside the new Combo models, iRobot is launching the $899 non-mopping Roomba j9+ as a premium standalone robot vacuum. The j9+ series offers the strongest suction power of any Roomba, with double the pickup of the i series, and longer battery life than the j7 series. As the plus-sign indicates, both the Combo and standard j9+ series models support automatic bin emptying, and iRobot says you should only have to change the dust bag every two months.

On the software side, iRobot OS 7.0, rolling out now, includes a new SmartScrub feature for the Combo j7+ that promises to deliver twice the scrubbing power as the standard mopping mode, addressing one of our primary complaints about the robot. With SmartScrub enabled, the robot will "scrub back-and-forth with consistent downward pressure to eradicate messes," iRobot says. SmartScrub is also available on the Combo j9+.

The Roomba j9+ series promises to clean the bathoom last for hygiene reasons (Credit: iRobot)

iRobot OS 7.0 also includes a new feature for the j9+ series called Dirt Detective, which automatically prioritizes the robot's route to have it tackle the most soiled rooms first, based on past jobs and dirt events, and finish the job in the bathroom. "Cleaning the bathroom before you clean another room is gross," Angle says. "You should clean the bathroom last."

Direct Detective also customizes the robot's settings based on the room and floor type, so you shouldn't have to manually select cleaning preferences in the app, though you still can if you want. It may, for example, automatically set the robot to make two passes in the kitchen, and increase its suction power over carpet and in hallways.