iRobot formalizes, after all the competition, its new high-end vacuum cleaner robot: the Roomba Combo J9+. A product that highlights a sleek design and increasingly successful cleaning intelligence.
A few days before IFA, iRobot launched two new mid-range vacuum cleaner robots, the Q5 Pro and the Q8 Max. Products which, if they do not revolutionize the market, allow the American manufacturer to align with the prices of its main competitors. However, the inventor of the robot vacuum cleaner waited until Monday to launch his two new flagships, the Roomba J9+ and the Roomba Combo j9+.
Ever smarter robots
Before discovering these two new robots, we were treated to the presentation of a study by the brand on the satisfaction of owners of vacuum cleaner robots. The most frequently cited recurring problems are: the inability of the rotating pads to lift high enough to avoid staining the carpets, blockages due to obstacles and brushes that capture the slightest cable within their reach. The main concern remains the lack of intelligence of the robots on a daily basis and their inability to learn from previous cleanings. Shortcomings that of course the new Roomba pride themselves on correcting.
The Combo j9+ looks just like the Combo J7+. We have a beautiful object, which benefits from truly high-end manufacturing quality. Its main originality is its mechanized mop. Where the competition offers to raise it by 7.5 to 10 mm at best, therefore risking dampening carpets which are not short pile. The DRI (Dry Rug Intelligence) from iRobot switches the mop from the top of the robot to the bottom and vice versa as needed. A metal mechanism that is still fun to observe and which, according to the brand, should last for years.
The robot uses a double rubber brush system which has already proven itself. It will remove animal hair and solid debris with great efficiency.
The manufacturer relies heavily on the sensors embedded in its robot and especially the intelligence of its iRobot OS. It offers many in-house features like Carpet Boost which automatically detects the floor type and adjusts the cleaning power.
Dirt Detective plays the AI card, so that the robot can predict and know how to treat your floors correctly. Thus, the robot generates a cleanliness map in order to identify the dirtiest rooms or the areas that require the most attention. It learns from past cleaning steps to decide in what order and how to prioritize the parts to be treated. He can also decide on his own to treat a room like the kitchen twice, or to save the bathroom for last.
Finally, Smart Scrub will focus on the encrusted stains, making more back and forth movements and above all exerting greater pressure on the floor.
An ace of avoidance and a base that leaves us wanting more
iRobot’s PrecisionVision navigation already makes it possible to quickly obtain precise maps. The manufacturer promises to have improved tracking and identification capabilities. This includes cables, bowls, toys, litter boxes, cats, dogs and animal waste. iRobot takes the opportunity to highlight its POOP promise (Pet Owner’s Official Promise) and guarantees the replacement of the robot if it passes over animal waste.
Once cleaning is complete, Roomba j9+ returns to its Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal. It automatically drains there for up to two months.
A very beautiful object, with a polished and very high-end design. It is designed to fit into all interiors with nicely crafted lines. A wooden plaque brings a touch of nature and allows you to place objects on it. A small vegetable leather tab allows you to open the front panel, in addition to adding a little extra premium touch.
A product that iRobot announces is very quiet when it empties the robot’s dust bin. Something that didn’t jump out at our ears during our quick introduction. A clean water tank is present to supply the Combo J9+. But where all the high-end competition offers bases capable of cleaning their robot’s mop, iRobot still ignores them.
iRobot replaces this with two storage spaces in the base door. One for storing dust bags and the second for dry mops, the dirty ones having to go into the machine… A proposal which may seem absurd and we are not sure that it speaks to the majority of people.
We therefore surely have the most aesthetic base on the market, but with limited functions compared to what the competition offers. We doubt that buyers of a €1,399 robot vacuum mop would expect to wash their own mop after each cleaning cycle.
The Roomba J9+ is a copy of the J9+ combo, but without the mechanized mop and a base that only self-empties the robot’s dust bin.
Do you use Google News (News in France)? You can follow your favorite media. Follow Frandroid on Google News (and Numerama).