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Eureka Unveils J15 Max Ultra with Industry-First Transparent Spill Detection

Update September, 2025: Eureka has now clarified how its IntelliView AI technology works in practice. While the J15 Pro Ultra can indeed recognize and adjust for wet and dry messesโ€”the company notes that transparent liquids or those similar in color to the floor (like milk on white tiles) remain difficult for vision-based sensors to detect. Eureka attributes this limitation to the same optical challenges faced by the human eye, where low contrast and lighting conditions can obscure liquid boundaries. Despite these challenges, the feature has been positively received by users and media, though real-world results may vary depending on spill type and environment.


Eureka has introduced its latest flagship robot vacuum, the J15 Max Ultra, during CES 2025. As a relative new-comer to the premium robot vacuum market, Eureka is building on its earlier J15 Ultra and J15 Pro Ultra, aiming to enhance both spill detection and general cleaning performance. This new release claims improved suction and obstacle avoidance, plus additional technologies addressing common robot vacuum challenges.

Eureka J15 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum

Eureka J15 Max Ultra

$1,199.99

Price as of December 14, 2025

New Features

IntelliView AI 2.0: Detecting Transparent Liquids

Eureka is launching IntelliView AI 2.0 on the J15 Max Ultra, calling it the first robot vacuum capable of identifying and adapting to transparent liquid spills. Previous J15 models and other brands typically rely on vision-based sensors that an often miss clear spills.

IntelliView AI 2.0 combines an infrared vision system with a Full HD sensor, creating two real-time views: the infrared view captures how liquids reflect infrared light, and the camera view captures pattern differences on the floorโ€™s surface. When a transparent spill is detected, the vacuum automatically lifts its roller brush and switches to mopping to prevent the liquid from being sucked into the dust bin. If you have frequent spills from pet water bowls โ€” or from kids who like to splash in the kitchen sink โ€” this would be a valuable feature.

A demonstration of the difference between IntelliView and RGB sensors
The RGB sensor can easily miss clear liquids in bright or low light rooms while the IR camera in the Eureka J15 Max Ultra can detect its reflection

TECH TALK: Dual-Sensor System

The J15 Max Ultra uses two cameras at the same time: an infrared (IR) camera and a Full HD (FHD) camera. The IR camera โ€œseesโ€ light that humans cannot, which helps it detect things like clear liquids or changes in surface textures. Because it shines its own infrared light, it can still spot spills even in dark rooms or rooms with high glare โ€” either of which can cause problems for the FHD camera, which works more like a regular phone camera, capturing colors and details we can see.

Both cameras send their images to AI software, which looks for reflections and surface changes that might reveal liquids. If a spill is invisible to the FHD camera, the IR camera might still pick it up. By using both views, the J15 Max Ultra cleans more accurately, making it less likely to miss puddles.

Automatic Extension and Anti-Tangle โ€œDragonClawโ€ Design

The previous Eureka J15 models had an extending mopping arm, called the ScrubExtend, but the side brush on those models was fixed, making it harder for the previous J series side brush to reach into corners.

Donโ€™t miss Vacuum Warsโ€™ CES 2026 coverage: Get expert insights, previews, and analysis of the newest robot vacuums and floorcare products unveiled at CES. Explore CES News

The J15 Max Ultra attempts to remedy this problem by introducing SweepExtend, an extending arm that can sweep into corners in the same way ScrubExtend does. The side brush features a V-shaped bristle arrangement called the DragonClaw (the name makes sense when you look at it.). This bristle shape is meant to minimize tangling through the use of centrifugal force, shaking the hair free before it can wind around the brush.

The DragonClaw side brush uses a V shaped brush to avoid hair tangles

Upgrades

Robot vacuum manufacturers are prioritizing power, and Eurekaโ€™s J15 Max Ultra is no exception. Eureka claims that this model has a suction level of 22,000 Pa. This is quite a lot more than the 19,000 Pa of the J15 Ultra and the 16,200 of the J15 Pro Ultra.

The J15 Max Ultra also carries a higher-capacity battery, 6400 mAh over the previous 5200 mAh; with 22,000 Pa of suction power, it’s going to need it.

The Max Ultra also retains the more premium features of the J15 Pro Ultra, such as roller brush lifting and a base tray self-cleaning function.

Threshold Clearance

Eureka reports that the J15 Max Ultra can cross a simple threshold of 3 cm (1.18 inches) and handle an additional 9.8 mm (0.39 inches) on more complex thresholds. Altogether, that works out to 39.8 mm (1.57 inches), a significant upgrade from the 2024 J15 models, which were both rated at only 2 cm total (0.78 inches) with no accommodations for tiered thresholds.

If these numbers hold up in testing, this threshold climbing feature would put the J15 Max Ultra just behind the Roborock Qrevo Curv, which advertises a threshold crossing capacity of 40 mm, and the upcoming Dreame X50. We can expect to see more features like this from vacuum manufacturers in 2025 to make robot vacuums more independent than ever. We are seeing this threshold climbing ability as a priority in robot vacuums, and we expect that 40 mm will become increasingly standard for robot vacuums.

Obstacle Avoidance

A similar Eureka model, the Eureka J20, scored a 7 in our obstacle avoidance tests, which was a particularly poor rating against our average of almost 17. The J15 Max Ultraโ€™s upgraded sensors, along with liquid detection and improved AI, could hopefully enhance performance in obstacle avoidance, not just for liquids but also for small objects and reflective surfaces, which would improve Eurekaโ€™s standing in the robot vacuum market.

The Eureka J15 Series Lineup

J15 Max UltraJ15 Pro UltraJ15 Ultra
Navigation Lidar SLAMLidar SLAMLidar SLAM
Obstacle AvoidanceLine Laser + RGB Vision Sensor + LED Light + Infrared Vision Sensor + Infrared Array EmitterLine Laser + RGB Vision Sensor + LED Light Line Laser + RGB Vision Sensor + LED Light
IntelliView AI Version2.01.01.0
Suction Power22,000 Pa16,200 Pa19,000 Pa
FlexiRazorB6YYY
Roller Brush LiftingYY*
Auto Mop LiftingYYY
SweepExtendY**
ScrubExtendYYY
AI Carpet DetectionYYY
Threshold Crossing Height*3+1 cm* / 1.18+0.39 inches*2 cm / 0.78 inches2 cm / 0.78 inches
Battery Capacity6400 mAh5200 mAh5200 mAh
*Actual results may vary based on environmental conditions

Release

Eureka anticipates a global launch for the J15 Max Ultra in June 2025, starting in the United States, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. You can visit Eurekaโ€™s official website for more information.

The J15 Max Ultra appears to make strides in handling transparent liquids, boosting side brush performance, and increasing suction powerโ€”signals that Eureka is working hard to establish itself in the competitive robot vacuum arena. Independent testing will show whether these claims hold up in real-world situations.

If Vacuum Wars reviews this product we will make our findings available in the Robot Vacuum reviews section of this website. Best rated models may also qualify for a spot in our Top 20 Best Robot Vacuums list.

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Amanda

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Amanda
Amanda Cartwright is a staff writer at Vacuum Wars, where she reports on the latest trends and innovations in robot vacuum technology and the broader home automation industry. She uses her background in writing and education along with her fascination for technology to keep our readers up to date on emerging products and the rapidly evolving world of robot vacuums.

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