iRobot expands line of 2-in-1 Roomba combos

iRobot expanded its lineup of 2-in-1 robots with two new robots, the Roomba Combo j5+ ($799) and the Roomba Combo i5+ ($549). Both of these new Roomba are combo robot vacuums and mops that feature a swappable bin depending on the cleaning mode being used.

Both robots have a vacuum bin and a Roomba Combo bin. With the vacuum bin installed, the Roombas can clean a mix of floor types, from carpets and rugs to hard surfaces. The Roomba Combo bin can be filled with water or a compatible cleaning solution to mop floors. 

“Following the successful launch of the Roomba Combo j7+, customer demand for more iRobot 2-in-1 cleaning devices continues to grow,” Barry Schliesmann, chief product officer at iRobot, said. “We’re meeting that demand by expanding our 2-in-1 fleet with the Roomba Combo j5+ and Roomba Combo i5+, giving customers greater choice when it comes to an iRobot vacuum and mop option that best suits their home and budget.”

When using the vacuum bin, the Roomba Combo j5+ uses power-lifting suction and its Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes to clean. It’s able to avoid tangles with pet hair while still picking up anything from small particles to hair to large debris. 

The Roomba Combo j5+ also uses Dirt Detect Technology which allows it to detect dirtier areas and clean them more thoroughly. It also automatically empties itself into its Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, which holds up to 60 days of debris. 

When the Roomba Combo bin is installed, the robot will automatically detect when it’s time for a combination clean. When it knows it needs to clean, the Roomba Combo j5+ will transform into a robot vacuum that also mops and employs its Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes, Power-Lifting Suction, an Edge-Sweeping Brush, and a mopping pad to tackle debris, dirty footprints, and dust. 

The Roomba Combo i5+ robot vacuum and mop is similar to the j5+ but is made for smaller homes with mostly hard floor surfaces. It converts between a hard floor vacuum and a mop after switching bins, like the Roomba j5+. 

Amazon is currently in the process of acquiring iRobot. The planned acquisition was first announced in August 2022. The deal was quickly put on hold in September 2022, when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officially started an antitrust investigation into the deal.

Most recently, despite the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) clearing Amazon’s $1.7 billion pending acquisition of iRobot, the European Union (EU) opened an anti-trust investigation into the deal.