However, it struggles on carpet, especially if there’s a lot of pet hair on it.
Its bin-emptying and mopping system, too, are very underwhelming.
It’s available to buy direct from iRobot, or via third party retailers like Walmart orAmazon.
Underneath, you’ll find two rubbery brushrolls and a fixed side brush
However, by the time my UK review unit arrived, the price had dropped to 999.
In the US the price-drop is less, but not insignificant: it’s now $999.99.
That’s still in the premium bracket, but lower down.
This bot has a fixed mop pad rather than rotating one
Let’s start with the robot itself.
I’m also wondering whether there’s a lack of suction power.
It was a revelatory innovation that others would soon adopt for their own products.
Rather than simply raising the mop when not in use, this bot repositions it on top of the machine
The very same system is in use on the Combo 10 Max.
Which brings me to one of the biggest disappointments with this machine.
You guessed, the nature of static mop itself.
The retracting mop pad leaves the top of the robot wet
(Here’s more onhow robot vacuums navigate.)
However, one good thing with this bot is that its front-mounted RGB camerais pretty good at detecting obstacles.
But I’ll give iRobot the benefit of doubt in this regard.
A front-mounted RGB camerais used for object detection
Invariably all you will hear is a low-pitched hum as it passes by.
Dock design
The Roomba Combo 10 Max’s AutoWash Dock gets an immediate star for great aesthetics.
Unlike other models, removing and carrying these tanks to the sink is most certainly a two-handed operation.
The bot empties dust into this dock dust bag
A LiDAR-equipped model takes about eight minutes to map the same space.
So far so good.
I thought it was just doing a mid-session clean but, no, that was it.
The dock contains two water tanks hidden behind a door
It then trundled back to the dock as before.
I’ll go ahead and amend the map'.
Would I rely on it to avoid dog mess?
The tanks need to be held flat as they pull out horizontally
It then went back to base.
One especially annoying aspect with this system is the level of noise it creates.
By comparison, my Roborock Qrevo Curv is almost as quiet as a church mouse.
This bot had real trouble mapping my home
In my kitchen test, it mopped efficiently enough and no worse than some cheaper models I’ve tested.
Was it as good as a pair of spinning toweling mops?
No, but for light mopping duties it’ll do.
After mop cleaning, this bot left my floors too wet
When I removed the robot’s bin, I noticed a large semi-circular clump of pet hair sticking out.
This can happen with some robot vacs, especially those with poor docking station suction.
Or so I thought.
(Image credit: Future)
It should either allow you into that setting or remain inoperative.
Instead you just get an unhelpful oops message that says yo give it another spin'.
In fact, it’s primitive and quite blocky.
(Image credit: Future)
Take my dining room map, for instance.
you’ve got the option to also command this model using Alexa andGoogle.
Should you buy the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if…
You value aestheticsThis bot has one of the best-looking docks on the market.
You want ultra-quiet operationBoth the robot and cleaning base are noisy in operation.
I also tested its mopping function on engineered hard wood flooring and how well it navigated various obstacles.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max occasionally left remnants of Labrador hair bundled on the carpet
Read we test robot vacuum cleaners.
This what the Roborock Qrevo Curv picked upafterthe Roomba Combo 10 Max had done a vacuuming cycle on this rug
The Roomba Combo 10 Max made one speedy pass over my purposeful spillage, then proceeded to head off elsewhere
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The retractible mop pad in mopping mode
Simultaneous vacuuming and mopping will leave the suction inlet clogged with damp dust and dirt
Hair blocked the onboard bin and prevented it from emptying properly
I regularly found debris left in the onboard bin after the auto-empty process
The mop cleaning process leaves mop pads (and subsequently, my floor) soaking wet
The lack of LiDAR means the maps lack detail and accuracy
