iRobot has always been the leader in robot vacuuming and mopping. The original is back to show the overly crowded marketplace just how well it can be done with the new Combo 10 Max. The all-in-one device has a dock that stores a vacuum bag, and clean and dirty water, while also being able to wash the mop pad and rollers.
It can easily switch from carpet to hardwood to tiles via its smart mapping system, making sure your entire house stays clean. I’ve had several different iRobot models over the years, and while I have been stuck to the J7 for a few years now, this is the first all-in-one device that truly automates the manual task for floor maintenance and looks stylish and modern in your home.
Design
The machine itself looks almost identical to the previous model. With its mop pad now conveniently located inside the unit (it extends out in spectacular fashing when in use) The magic of this device is all housed in the impressive dock. While this is larger than usual units, it has a rigid design in a square box that fits perfectly in any space without being too obtrusive.
The dock houses a 3-litre clean water reservoir and next to it is a 2.5L dirty water tank. Directly underneath the water tanks is a vacuum bag drawer, depending on your level of dirt, dust and pet hair, this is advertised to last 60 days. With my medium-sized dog shedding at an ungodly rate this year, it lasted 48 days till it needed to be replaced. The bags are not reusable and you can buy replacements from the Irobot store, also official ones on Amazon.
The dock comes with an extendable ramp that you need to install before docking the Roomba for the first time, there is also a roller inside the dock that allows for the mop pad to be washed regularly. There are indicator lights on the top of the dock that will tell you if any of the tanks need to be replaced, refilled or emptied. It is worth noting that the app does this too, however, it is nice to have another point of acknowledgement if your phone isn’t nearby.
Design-wise, the unit itself is all black, with the disc shape featuring a single button on the top of the unit which allows you to stop, start, pause or return the unit to the dock by simply holding it down. On the front left of the robot is a camera with a headlight that is softened by a bumper. The back part of the unit has a water tank and dust bin that can be manually removed if things get too crazy on its run; unfortunately, pet hair was my biggest issue here. Underneath the unit are the traditional twin rollers, the three-sided brush and wheels on each side.
Performance
When you first boot it up and pair it with your app (and the robot charges!), the unit will do a discovery run of your home. This will allow it to identify if it’s carpet, hardwood or tiles and then save this in the Smart Map on the App that you can confirm. You can rename the rooms, fortunately, though the unit is intelligent enough to be able to recognise what each room is using the camera and the furniture in it. This worked well on my app, and I didn’t need to rename any of my rooms on the map.
There is a Dirt Detective mode that will clean with more suction for high-traffic areas, and it automatically provides a dirt and dust report after each run, which gives you the option to go back and do a deeper clean. Bathrooms and toilet areas get a more intense job with the mop, as does the kitchen.
Usually, you need to clean up before running a robot vacuum cleaner. They get caught on cords, shoes and anything else sitting on the floor. The Combo 10 Max is the first unit I have used that successfully can detect and avoid these, while still being able to finish the job. What’s more, when the job is complete, it provides a report, takes photos of each obstacle, and asks you to confirm if it is a temporary or permanent obstacle so it can be updated in the future. It is one of my favourite features of this unit, and while you should generally make sure that your floors are free for the best cleaning, there isn’t always time to do this if your unit is going each day and life gets busy.
The dock ensures that the unit stays clean after each run it empties the bin in the unit into the bag, empties the dirty water and fills the water tank with fresh clean water so it’s ready to go. The mop pad gets cleaned as well thanks to the roller in the dock and it takes into account drying time to avoid odours.
The companion app is your guide to controlling the automation inside the unit. You can set a schedule to run on certain days, control the suction level of the vacuum, the intensity of the mopping feature and most importantly what time it should start the cycle. You can also use voice control for this, adding in a Siri command like “Hey Siri, ask Roomba Combo to clean the kitchen” is handy, but not something that I found myself using often.
My only complaint is the noise level, while this is quieter than models I have used previously, it is still difficult to take a Teams call at work or watch TV comfortably while it’s in operation. It is a small gripe, and I recommend using the automation feature to find a time when things like this aren’t going on so it works best.
Verdict & Value
The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is the best robot vacuum and mop combo I have ever used. Its impressive dock looks stylish in your home while making it very self-sufficient so you don’t need to constantly empty and fuss over it after each run. The easy installation process and Smart Map generation show a huge leap forward for these machines and are the most reliable and consistent cleaners I’ve ever had.
While it does come at a premium price, this robot vacuum/mop combo is truly a reflection of getting what you pay for. The iRobot Roomba 10 Max Combo is the ultimate vacuum and mop solution that looks great, runs well and fits easily into any home.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Stylish dock automated cleaning and maintenance
Lowlights: Noise level
Manufacturer: iRobot
Price: A2,199
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by iRobot and is currently available via the ShopIrobot website.
