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iRobot Unveils New Essential Series Robots with AutoEmpty Dock in North America

iRobot has announced the availability of two new additions to its Essential series in North America: the Roomba Combo 2 Essential and the Roomba Vac 2 Essential robots. Of the Essentials lineup, these new models offer twice the vacuuming power of their predecessors and are the first to feature an AutoEmpty dock, enabling automatic dustbin emptying after cleaning sessions.

iRobot Combo 2 Essential Robot Vacuum and Mop's AutoEmpty Dock
iRobot Combo 2 Essential Robot Vacuum and Mop’s AutoEmpty Dock

Key Updates to the Essential Series

Both the Combo 2 Essential and the Vac 2 Essential introduce updates to the Essential lineup:

  • AutoEmpty Dock: The new dock can hold up to 60 days of debris. It uses a sealed bag capable of capturing particles as small as 0.7 microns. The bags seal themselves when it’s time to change them, helping to prevent dust clouds or mess.
  • Increased Suction Power: Both 2 Essential robots offer twice the suction power of the original Essential releases. Users can also select from four levels of suction power to suit various floor types, carpets, or targeted cleaning needs.
iRobot Roomba Combo 2 Essential Robot + AutoEmpty Dock
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Roomba Combo 2 Essential

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential is the new vacuum and mop combination, designed for simplicity and ease of use. It offers three levels of mopping water, allowing users to choose between light and deeper cleaning sessions. The robot uses a washable and reusable microfiber mop pad and can be set to simultaneously vacuum and wet mop or vacuum only. Specialized sensors guide the robot to navigate in precise rows.

iRobot Combo 2 Essential Robot Vacuum and Mop's option to vacuum only or vacuum and mop in one pass
iRobot Combo 2 Essential Robot Vacuum and Mop’s option to vacuum only or vacuum and mop in one pass

Roomba Vac 2 Essential Robot

For those seeking a vacuum-only option, the Roomba Vac 2 Essential is available. This model offers the same vacuuming power, docking station, and features as the Roomba Combo 2 Essential but without the mopping functionality.

iRobot Roomba Vac 2 Essential Robot + AutoEmpty Dock
$399.99 $196.55
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06/16/2025 10:52 pm GMT

iOS Intelligence

With both models, users can use the iRobot Home App to automate cleaning routines. The ‘Clean While I’m Away’ feature allows the robot to automatically start cleaning when a user leaves home. Both robots are also equipped with Clean Map® Reports, showing where the robot has cleaned and providing details such as coverage and duration for completed jobs.

App features for customized cleaning and reporting.

Conclusion

With the introduction of the Roomba Combo 2 Essential and Roomba Vac 2 Essential robots, iRobot has expanded its Essential series by adding models that include an AutoEmpty dock and enhanced cleaning technologies. Both robots are now available in North America.

More details are available in the the full press release at the iRobot website.

If Vacuum Wars reviews these products, we will make our findings available in the iRobot Reviews and Robot Vacuum reviews areas of this website. Best rated robot vacuum cleaners may also earn a position in our Best Robot Vacuums list.

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Lisa Tatar

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Lisa Tatar
Since joining Vacuum Wars in 2020, Lisa has leveraged her extensive background in communications to produce reliable, informative content for readers. As a working parent and pet owner, she brings practical insights to her work, understanding the real-world challenges of home cleaning. Passionate about helping consumers make informed choices, Lisa combines her personal and professional knowledge to ensure her writing delivers clear, valuable information.

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