Roomba Combo j7+
3 independent reviewsRead the findings →iRobot's older vacuum and mop, whose pad lifts onto its back over rugs. It vacuums well in homes mixing hard floors and rugs. Its mop drags rather than scrubs, though, and the upkeep is all yours.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in iRobot’s range
- Roomba Combo j7+This model
- Roomba j7+Same robot and dock, without the mop
- Roomba Combo j9+More suction and a dock that refills the water
- Roomba Combo 10 MaxLater flagship whose dock also washes and dries the pad
Feedback
What reviewers found
Three full tests, all positive about the vacuuming and the carpet-safe mop. Vacuum Wars bought one and put it through its standard tests, PCMag ran it daily for a week in a 1,000 sq ft home, and TechRadar lived with it for several months. All three rate the vacuuming, though TechRadar found big spills overwhelmed it. The mop splits them: TechRadar loved the shine, while PCMag found it scrubs less than rivals. PCMag also needed a replacement unit after a pump fault.
Vacuum Wars, lab test · PCMag, hands-on, A week of daily runs, Mar 2023 · TechRadar, hands-on, Several months, Nov 2022
Hard floors
Mixed resultsEveryday dirt is fine: Vacuum Wars found it unusually good with heavier debris on hard floors, and PCMag saw it collect dust and dirt everywhere. But TechRadar found big flour and rice spills overwhelmed it, and edge cleaning was weak.
Carpet and rugs
Mixed resultsVacuum Wars measured a deep-clean result well above average, and PCMag found it cleaned every floor type. TechRadar saw a scatter of rice on carpet overwhelm it, with debris pushed up against a rug edge after an hour.
Pet hair
Reviewers rate it highlyPCMag saw it collect pet hair from every floor type during a week of daily runs, and TechRadar found its dual rubber rollers did a great job of stopping hair tangling in the mechanism.
Mopping
Mixed resultsTechRadar found floors shiny once the pad soaked through, but PCMag saw some smudges stay and says it scrubs less than spinning-pad rivals, and Vacuum Wars needed many passes for weeks-old stains. Fine for upkeep, not set-in grime.
Navigation and obstacles
Reviewers rate it highlyThe front camera is a strength. Vacuum Wars found it avoided cords, small items and fake pet waste well, PCMag rated its avoidance excellent and never had it stuck, and TechRadar saw it steer round laundry and wires, though curtains and cat toys got caught.
Dock and upkeep
Mixed resultsThe dock only empties the bin. PCMag and TechRadar both had to refill the water tank and wash the pad by hand, and both found emptying very loud.
App and software
Reviewers rate it highlyTechRadar found the app excellent and intuitive, putting you in control of cleaning, maps and routines, and PCMag found it user-friendly, with smart suggestions for zones after a few runs.
Noise
Mixed resultsThe robot is fairly quiet, peaking at 68dB for TechRadar, but emptying is a shock: about 90dB for TechRadar and 88dB for PCMag.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceOnly PCMag reported a fault: a pump error on its first wet run, then a replacement dock that wouldn't power on, though iRobot replaced the unit. None of the reviews we use has judged it long-term.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly TechRadar clearly judged value, finding it premium but not bad value for its smart features, despite lacking self-washing and automatic refilling.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Carpets stay dry, every time
This is the reason to buy it. Vacuum Wars couldn't trick it into mopping carpet, and TechRadar moved a bathroom rug around before and during a run and still saw it stow the mop in time. PCMag watched it lift the pad onto its back on every rug, and finish vacuuming the rug before mopping round it. If you have rugs you'd hate to get damp, few combos are this safe.
Strong vacuuming, but big spills overwhelm it
Vacuum Wars found it excellent in every vacuuming test, with a deep-clean score of 91 against a 73 average, and unusually good with heavier debris on hard floors. PCMag saw it collect dust, dirt and pet hair from every floor type, and it never got stuck in a week. TechRadar was less impressed: a flour-and-crumb spill and a scatter of rice overwhelmed it, and rice ended up pushed against a rug edge. Daily dirt is fine, but big messes may need a hand vacuum.
Mopping: shiny floors, weak on old stains
The mop drags a single pad and only sometimes shuffles back and forth. TechRadar was very impressed once the pad had soaked through, which took about five minutes, and found floors shiny and mark-free. PCMag saw shinier tiles after two passes, but some smudges stayed, and says it scrubs less than rivals with spinning pads. Vacuum Wars rated it better than average on dried coffee and juice, but weeks-old stains took many passes. It's fine for daily upkeep, not set-in grime.
Good at dodging clutter
The front camera is a real strength. Vacuum Wars found it avoided cords, small items and fake pet waste better than the earlier j7, though it isn't perfect with oddly shaped things. PCMag lists its obstacle avoidance as excellent. TechRadar saw it steer round laundry, wires and people, but curtains and small cat toys still got caught. iRobot also promises a free replacement if it runs over pet mess, which says something about its confidence.
Slow runs and manual mop upkeep
Because it vacuums first and mops after, Vacuum Wars timed an hour and 20 minutes to vacuum and mop about 400 sq ft, where a rival took 50 minutes. The dock only empties the bin, so PCMag and TechRadar both refilled the tank and washed the pad by hand after runs. TechRadar also measured about 90dB while the dock emptied the bin, and PCMag about 88dB. Expect a short, very loud burst after every clean.
Our take
Should you buy the Roomba Combo j7+?
Best for: Homes wanting to mop hard floors while keeping rugs dry. Skip it if: You do not want to wash the mop pad yourself.
buy it cheaply if your home mixes hard floors with rugs and you want strong vacuuming plus a light daily mop that can't dampen carpet. The Roomba Plus 575 Combo washes and dries its own pads if the upkeep puts you off, and the Roborock Qrevo S5V scrubs harder.
The Combo j7+ is the mopping version of the Roomba j7+, from iRobot's older j range. A front camera finds the way and spots cables, socks and pet mess, twin rubber brushes do the vacuuming, and the dock empties the bin into a bag. The mop pad sits on two metal arms that lower it onto hard floors and lift it onto the robot's back when it reaches a rug.
All three testers liked the vacuuming and found the mop kept rugs dry every time. Vacuum Wars scored its deep cleaning well above average and found it unusually good with heavy debris on hard floors, and PCMag saw it collect pet hair from every floor type in a week of daily runs. TechRadar found big flour and rice spills overwhelmed it. The mop drags rather than scrubs. TechRadar loved the shine, but PCMag saw smudges stay and Vacuum Wars needed many passes on weeks-old stains. The dock only empties, so PCMag and TechRadar refilled the tank and washed the pad by hand, and TechRadar measured emptying at about 90dB. PCMag also needed a replacement after a pump fault. Newer models have followed it, and iRobot's US store now lists it only at other retailers.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Can it leave the mop in the dock for carpet?
It doesn't need to. The pad lifts right up onto the top of the robot on rugs, per the specifications, and Vacuum Wars, PCMag and TechRadar all found carpets stayed dry. You can also run it with no pad fitted to vacuum only.
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
Mostly. Vacuum Wars found it avoided cords and fake pet waste well, and iRobot backs pet-mess avoidance with a replacement promise. TechRadar still had curtains and small cat toys pulled in, so tidy away anything thin and dangling.
How often do I have to empty or refill it?
The dock bag holds about 60 days of dirt, per the specifications. The water tank is another story: PCMag says you refill it by hand every run or two, and the pad goes in the wash after each mopping run. Nothing washes the pad for you.
Does it fit under low furniture?
It's 8.6cm tall and 33.8cm across, per the specifications, which is lower than many newer robots with laser turrets. TechRadar notes it's on the large, heavy side, which can hold it back in tight spaces. Measure under your sofa before you buy.
How big is the dock, and is it loud?
The dock is about 40 × 30 × 34cm, per the specifications. The robot itself is fairly quiet: TechRadar measured up to 68dB. Emptying is another matter, at about 90dB for TechRadar and 88dB for PCMag, so don't schedule it while someone's asleep.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
Roomba Combo 10 Max
Why consider it: It keeps the same flip-up mop but adds a dock that refills, washes and dries the pad.
The compromise: Testers found its mapping slow and were let down by the dock.
Roomba Plus 575 Combo
Why consider it: A slimmer Roomba with a camera for clutter and a dock that hot-washes and dries its spinning pads.
The compromise: Its pads lift rather than stow, and one tester hit repeated Wi-Fi dropouts.
Qrevo S5V
Why consider it: Tests found excellent mopping and carpet cleaning, and the dock washes and dries the pads.
The compromise: It has some of the worst obstacle avoidance around, so tidy up first.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Roomba Combo j7+?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Vacuum Wars: iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Review ↗Lab test
- PCMag: iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Review ↗4.0 / 5, ExcellentHands-on, A week of daily runs
- TechRadar: iRobot Roomba Combo j7 Plus review ↗4 / 5Hands-on, Several months
Sources
- iRobot: Roomba Combo j7+ robot vacuum and mop ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.