Roomba Combo j7+ Review

We have tested many Roomba vacuums in the past and have always been impressed by their performance. We are excited to see how the latest Combo j7+ robot mop & vacuum does in our testing series. 

Pros

• Retractable mopping pad
• Excellent cleaning performance with 96.4% debris removal rate
• Excellent obstacle avoidance
• Auto empty charging station

Cons

• Charging station doesn’t wash, fill, or dry the device
• Long hair easily tangles around edge spinning brush

Scoring

In This Review

Cleaning Test | Mop Test | Hair Test | Obstacle Test | Navigation Test | Cleaning Speed | Usability | Noise | Specs | Summary

Performance Tests

To test the Roomba Combo j7+ we put it through a battery of 9 different tests to measure cleaning performance, navigational efficiency, and overall usability. 

Our testing series includes:

• Cleaning test
• Mop Test
• Long Hair test
• Pet Hair test
• Obstacle avoidance test
• Navigation test
• Cleaning Speed test
• Usability test
• Noise test

Cleaning Test

For our cleaning test, we use 4 different debris types (sugar, kitty litter, rice, and cereal) across 3 different floor types (hardwood, low pile carpet, high pile carpet). We lay the debris in the direct cleaning path of the robot vacuum and measure the amount of debris removed by weight. Here are the results:

These scores just about match the average we’ve measured across all of our robot vacuum tests to date, which comes in at a 96.3% overall debris removal. Furthermore, the overall score matches the Roomba j7+ exactly. 

Hardwood cleaning performance was fantastic. It removed the majority of the debris only missing: a few pieces of rice, kitty litter, and sugar. 

Low pile carpet and high pile carpet was where the Combo j7+ struggled the most. Historically, across all robot vacuums we’ve tested, low pile carpet performance seems to be the lowest at a 94.5% removal rate.

On both low pile and high pile carpet the Combo j7+ missed sugar and kitty litter. 

While this performance is still excellent, it isn’t as perfect as we had seen in other Roomba models. Here’s a quick comparison of the Roomba Combo j7+ vs. other flagship Roomba models on the market:

Mop Test

To test the mopping performance of the Roomba Combo j7+, we let it perform multiple cleaning runs in our office and studio space. After, we check the mop pads to see how much dirt has built up over time. 

Mopping performance was great for the Combo j7+. There was a good amount of dirt build-up on the mop pads after multiple cleaning runs. 

The mop on the Roomba Combo j7+ has the helpful ability to lift its mop pad away so it can vacuum carpet or rugs without getting them wet. 

We’ve tested other robot vacuum & mop combos that can lift the mop pads a few millimeters. Unlike those robot vacuums, the Combo lifts the mop pad and places it on top of the device, removing the mop pad completely from the floor. 

Where other robot vacuums can still get carpet wet with drips, the Combo j7+ doesn’t have this issue. 

Long Hair Test

For our long hair test, we place long strands of hair in the direct cleaning path of the Roomba Combo j7+ and run the robot over it. After it finishes cleaning, we check the floor for remaining hair and the device itself for hair that is tangled. 

We are always looking for ways to improve and expand on our testing methods to bring more relevant and important information to our readers. In addition to changing the type of hair we are using, we have also recently updated our methods to measure the amount of hair remaining on the floor and tangled in the robot vacuum. 

However, the amount of hair we use for this test is still something we are trying to determine. With the Roomba Combo j7+ we used multiple amounts of hair: 1.0 grams, 0.5 grams, 0.3 grams, and 0.1 grams. Here are the results:

Starting Amount	Amount on Floor	Amount Tangled	Overall Performance
1.01 grams	0.00 grams	0.56 grams	Good
0.32 grams	0.00 grams	0.26 grams	Poor
0.13 grams	0.00 grams	0.11 grams	Poor

Across all of our hair tests with both the original hair we tested with and the new blue hair, we found the Roomba Combo j7+ struggled keeping hair from tangling. While the brush rolls did okay, the majority of the hair would tangle around the edge-sweeping brush.

We started testing with 1.0 grams and we felt like that was an unrealistic amount of hair, thinking that was the possible culprit for the poor performance. But after testing progressively less hair, we found the Combo j7+ just struggled with long hair at every level. 

If you, your partner, or your pet have long hair lying around, you’ll want to make sure to either clean out the device of tangles often.

Pet Hair Test

Our pet hair test checks how well the Roomba Combo j7+ can clean pet hair from high pile carpet. We place 1.0 gram of pet hair and rub it into the fibers of the carpet. We then let the Combo j7+ complete two cleaning cycles on the carpet and measure how much of the hair remains after it is finished. 

Pet hair performance for the Combo j7+ is excellent. The majority of the fur was removed from the carpet.

While a small amount remained in the carpet, this level of performance is solid enough to handle pet hair with minimal help from the user. 

Obstacle Avoidance Test

To see how well the Roomba Combo j7+ can avoid obstacles in its path while cleaning, we placed 4 objects (a shoe, mug, cord, and fake pet waste) in a cleaning area. We then ran the robot vacuum in this area, watching to see how well it avoided the objects while cleaning. 

Overall obstacle avoidance performance was very good, but not amazing. It was able to avoid most of the objects we placed in its path, however, it failed to recognize and avoid the mug. Instead, the Combo pushed the mug out of its path while it continued to clean.

The Roomba uses an RGB camera to recognize and avoid objects. With software updates, this technology could be improved to recognize more objects. In addition, you can toggle a setting that will allow the robot to take pictures of objects it runs into, send a picture to you, and let you identify it to help improve the robot’s recognition capabilities. 

Notably, the Roomba Combo j7+ obstacle AI is designed to assess common objects left on the floor including cords, clothes, shoes, socks, backpacks, pet bowls, pet toys, and solid pet waste. As a result, it not being able to detect and avoid the mug was not surprising.

According to iRobot:

…we have a priority focus on recognizing/avoiding common objects found on floors that prevent the robot from completing a cleaning job. Since mugs typically aren’t a floor obstacle the robot is going to encounter in a home, that may explain your result—and why the shoe, cords and pet waste were avoided.

Navigation Test

Our navigation test checks how well the Roomba Combo j7+ is able to navigate floors without getting stuck. We have the robot vacuum run multiple times in our office and studio space and check to see if it: returned to base, fully cleaned the space, and didn’t get stuck. 

Navigational performance was very good for the Combo j7+. In most cases it was able to clean the full space and return to the base successfully. 

There were two occurrences where it got stuck. Once on a table leg and again on a strap. However, our office space tends to be cluttered with film equipment, other devices we are testing, and furniture. Suffice it to say, it is a minefield for robot vacuums. 

In addition, we tested the j7+ in low-light settings. Previously with the Roomba j7+, we found it struggled fully cleaning the space in low-light conditions. In the case of the Combo j7+, we found it cleaned more of the space than its predecessor, but did get stuck at the end. An improvement overall, but still not perfect. 

Overall, I would say this level of performance is still good, almost excellent, and would be a good fit for any normal home. 

Cleaning Speed Test

Our cleaning speed test showed the Roomba Combo j7+ was able to clean our 1,000 sq. ft. office space within 70-80 minutes. 

This speed is a little worse than average compared to other robot vacuums we test. On average robot vacuums are able to clean our space in 50-60 minutes. The Roomba Combo j7+ is a little longer, but not enough to warrant concern. 

Usability Test

Usability for the Roomba Combo j7+ is a bit of a mixed bag. In some ways it has a lot of features that greatly improve the user experience. However, there are some key ways it is lagging behind other robot vacuums on the market. 

Setup

Setup is fairly easy for a single person to complete and takes between 5-10 minutes not including charging time. 

Here is what is included in the box:

• Roomba Combo j7+
• Home Base charging station
• Mop pads (2x)
• Extra edge-sweeping brush
• Extra filter
• Hard-surface floor cleaner
• Hardwood floor cleaner
• Dust bag (2x)
• Power cord

With everything unpacked you’ll need to attach a mop pad to the Combo j7+ and fill the water tank. Roomba includes a one-use cleaner that can be used in conjunction with water to assist with cleaning. Simply pour the whole pack into the water tank and fill the rest with water. 

From there, your robot vacuum is ready to start cleaning, but iRobot does recommend fully charging the device before starting. iRobot states this will take 3 hours to fully charge the device. 

Once it is fully charged, you will want to let the vacuum map your house. This can be done while cleaning (which takes more time) or without (which is faster).

Controls

Controls for the Roomba Combo j7+ are incredibly basic. There is a single button located on top of the device that can start, pause, or resume a cleaning cycle. Additionally, if you hold the button down, it can send the robot home. 

Otherwise, there are no other physical controls to interact with. 

App

Most of the control of the device is accessed through the iRobot Home app. With the app you can:

• View, edit, manage maps
• No-go zones
• Set up a schedule
• View cleaning history
• Adjust cleaning settings
• Identify object to avoid
• Access voice controls
• Connect with other iRobot devices

All of these features can greatly improve usability, making the device more hands-off. In addition, the app will also try to intelligently recommend cleaning sessions based on external data. It will recommend them via a notification and you can choose to proceed or not.

Maintenance

Maintenance is where the Roomba Combo j7+ can lack compared to the latest and greatest robot vacuums on the market. That said it still offers features which some of the more basic robot vacuums lack.

The Home Base charging station is able to automatically empty the dustbin for you. This is a great addition to usability, leaving you only to replace the dust bag in the base as that gets full.

Beyond charging and emptying the dustbin, the base can’t do anything else. Some robot vacuums have bases that can wash and dry the mop pads, as well as fill the internal water tanks. However, the Combo j7+’s base lacks this functionality. Instead you will need to hand wash the mop pads and fill the water tank manually. 

It isn’t a deal breaker, maintenance is still greatly improved by the base. But it is worth noting for a robot vacuum at this price point.

Noise Test

To test the noise level of the Roomba Combo j7+, we let it run on each mode and measure the level of noise created by the device. We use a sound meter and measure from about 3’ away for 30 seconds. Here are the results:

We found the j7+ to have a noise level of 69.3 dB while cleaning and a peak of 85.4 dB while self-emptying. This is about average when compared to other robot vacuums we’ve tested and can be loud enough to disrupt conversation. That said, with the proper scheduling set up in the app, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Common noise levels

• 20 dB – rustling leaves
• 30 dB – whisper
• 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
• 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
• 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
• 70 dB – traffic, showers
• 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone

Roomba Combo j7+ vs Roomba j7+

The j7+ comes in two versions the combo and the standard version. Both models have similar internals with the difference being the mopping functionality.

Here is a table comparing the two models:

	Roomba Combo j7+	Roomba j7+
Type	Robot	Robot
Manufacturer	iRobot	iRobot
Diameter	13.3"	13.3"
Height	3.4"	3.4"
Weight	7.35 lbs.	7.49 lbs.
Floor Type	All (indoor)	All (indoor)
Cleaning Performance	96.4%	96.4%
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes	Yes
Voice Assitant	Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri	Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
Zone Cleaning	Yes	Yes
Mopping	Yes	No
Returns	Varies by retailer	Varies by retailer
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Price	Check Price	Check Price

Specifications 

Type	Robot
Manufacturer	iRobot
Model	Combo j7+
Diameter	13.3″
Height	3.4″
Weight	7.35 lbs.
Floor Type	All (indoor)
Sensor	RGB
Dust Bin Volume	416.4 ml
Noise Level	69.3 dB
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes
Voice Assistant	Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
Zone Cleaning	Yes
Digital Mapping	Yes
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	1-year
Check Price	Check Price

Should you buy the Roomba Combo j7+ robot vacuum?

I would recommend the Roomba Combo j7+ if you’re looking for the following features:

• 2-in-1 vacuum & mop combo: With the Roomba Combo j7+ you never have to worry about the robot getting carpets or rugs wet, or cross-contaminating your floor with a dirty mop pad. Instead the mop retracts to the top of the device while cleaning, completely removing it from the floor. 
• Excellent cleaning performance: Our testing showed the Roomba Combo j7+ was able to handle all debris types with relative ease. It missed some debris, but with a 96.4% debris removal rate, there aren’t too many reasons to complain. The Combo j7+ is more than capable of handling any daily cleaning job. 
• Hands-off usability features: Thanks to obstacle avoidance, an intuitive app, and the auto-empty charging base, the Roomba Combo j7+ offers a lot of great hands-off features. If properly set up, the device can be very hands-off, excluding the mop pads and water tank.

For more information, or to buy the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+, click here.