Celebrating 20 years of robot vacuums and over 40m robots, iRobot gives insight to its upcoming OS update and new Combo j7+ robot vacuum
iRobot, known best for its popular Roomba range of robot vacuums, has announced two big developments for 2022 – a large OS update and a new model with a unique retractable mopping mechanism.
This news is the first major development we’ve seen from the manufacturer since news broke in August 2022 regarding its acquisition by Amazon. iRobot is also using the moment to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of its first Roomba robot in 2002.
We spoke with Praj Shyamkant, Senior Product Manager, about iRobot’s new platform, its latest combo cleaner, and how we should think about iRobot’s new owner, Amazon.
The splashiest announcement comes in the form of iRobot’s new Roomba Combo device; the Roomba Combo j7+. The Roomba Combo j7+ will retail for $1,099 in the US, £999 in the UK, and international markets will become available throughout Q4 2022.
This isn’t iRobot’s first combo cleaner, but it does move the needle on cleaning technology innovation.
Featuring a cool new mop design, the Roomba Combo j7+ offers “seamless switching”, with a retractable, top-mounted mop that will automatically lift and dock when the machine moves from hard flooring to carpets or rugs, preventing wet messes. To save time, the device can also vacuum and mop at the same time.
This feature also means users won’t need to regularly lift the robot from the ground to fit the mop pads when vacuuming tasks are complete. Plus, with pad detection and tank level sensing, users simply need to look out for the notification when it’s time to refill the tank or replace the mop pad. If users can’t get to the device in time to do this before the next clean, the Roomba Combo j7+ will intelligently switch to vacuum-only mode.
In addition to this mop mechanic, users will be able to control the integrated water pump, customizing the amount of liquid and how many cleaning passes the robot will make room-by-room.
