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Roomba Combo 10 Max Review: A Letdown for iRobot Fans

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is iRobot’s first venture into the vacuum-mop combo space with a dock that washes and dries its mopโ€”a long-awaited step toward a more fully featured robot vacuum and mop combo from the brand. As long-time supporters of iRobot, one of the few domestic manufacturers in the robot vacuum market, we were excited to test the Combo 10 Max. We even went the extra mile by delaying our review and purchasing a second unit to ensure some disappointing findings that we came across were accurate.

While the Roomba Combo 10 Max has some notable strengths, such as excellent carpet deep cleaning and pet hair pickup, it also falls short in key areas. In this review, weโ€™ll explore both its redeeming qualities and its drawbacks to help you decide if it still could be the right fit for your needs.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop
$1,399.00

The Roomba Combo 10 Max aimed to make a strong entrance as iRobot's first vacuum-mop combo with a washing dock, but it fell short of expectations. While its vacuuming performance was impressiveโ€”earning top scores in pet hair removal and deep carpet cleaningโ€”its outdated navigation, limited app functionality, and inefficient mop-washing dock were major drawbacks. iRobotโ€™s decision to use a fixed mop-lifting system, though innovative, feels obsolete compared to competitors' spinning or vibrating mop pads. The dockโ€™s design also seemed poorly executed, leaving excess water in the mop pads and creating a messy experience. 

Pros:
  • Excellent hair pickup
  • Strong deep-cleaning performance
  • Above-average obstacle avoidance
  • Auto-empty bin
  • Self-cleaning dock
  • Dirt detection technology
Cons:
  • Outdated navigation
  • Limited app functionality
  • Mopping system issues
  • Subpar auto-empty capabilities
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11/01/2024 09:19 pm GMT

A Bit of History First

iRobot wasnโ€™t the first company to enter the robot vacuum market, but it quickly became the industry leader for the first two decades. However, as new features emerged, iRobot seemed to lag behind competitors, particularly because it resisted adopting LiDAR navigation, which is now the industry standard.

iRobot's first Roomba robot vacuum and lineup of its successors ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot’s first Roomba robot vacuum and lineup of its successors ยฉVacuum Wars

More recently, iRobot made a significant bet on its unique mopping system, which lifts its mop pad up and rests it on top of the robot vacuum’s body when not in use. In our view, this design choice limited the engineers’ ability to develop an effective mop-washing dockโ€”a feature that has since become a must-have in robot vacuums.

Inspecting the iRobot Roomba Combo lifting mop pad mechanism
Inspecting the iRobot Roomba Combo lifting mop pad mechanism

Pros of the Roomba Combo 10 Max

iRobotโ€™s vacuums have consistently excelled at core vacuuming tasks, and the Combo 10 Max is no exception. In key performance areas such as pet hair removal, carpet deep cleaning, and surface debris pickup, the Combo 10 Max demonstrates the solid vacuuming fundamentals that iRobot has built its reputation on.

Outstanding Pet Hair Pickup

Weโ€™ve been developing a new pet hair test that evaluates how well robot vacuums remove pet hair embedded in carpets. Although the test is still in development, preliminary results show that the Combo 10 Max was one of only two robot vacuums to achieve a perfect score. For context, the average pet hair pickup across 17 models tested so far is just 66%, so the Combo 10 Max is a standout performer in this area.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's excellent performance with pet hair pickup ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop’s excellent performance with pet hair pickup ยฉVacuum Wars

Strong Performance on Deep Cleaning

The Combo 10 Max also excels at picking up deeply embedded debris. In our deep clean test, it achieved one of the best scores on record, tying for sixth place out of over 100 robot vacuums tested.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's impressive performance with deep cleaning ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop’s impressive performance with deep cleaning ยฉVacuum Wars

Excellent Debris Pickup

Additionally, it was excellent with picking up surface debris from hard floors and carpets, consistently picking up nearly all debris types and sizes.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 MAX robot vacuum on hard floor and carpet
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 MAX robot vacuum on hard floor and carpet ยฉVacuum Wars

Above-Average Obstacle Avoidance

The Combo 10 Max features an obstacle avoidance system that combines an RGB camera with an LED light. While it isnโ€™t the most advanced system on the marketโ€”lacking technologies like structured lightโ€”the results were certainly above average in our tests. It performed well overall, although not perfectly.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's obstacle avoidance system and performance ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop’s obstacle avoidance system and performance ยฉVacuum Wars

Cons of the Roomba Combo 10 Max

Outdated Navigation

Unfortunately, the Combo 10 Maxโ€™s navigation system seemed outdated. It uses a combination of camera data and floor tracking sensors to map the space, but the entire process feels sluggish. It took four times longer to create the initial map compared to most other vacuums. In regular use, the Combo 10 Max takes longer than average to complete a cleaning job, despite having slightly above-average battery efficiency. Its coverage score was also below average, likely due to these navigation limitations. Additionally, the robot struggled with interruptionsโ€”it often got confused when moved mid-task.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop struggled with navigation and coverage. ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop struggled with navigation and coverage. ยฉVacuum Wars

Limited App Functionality

The iRobot app is another area where the Combo 10 Max falls short. In contrast to many current robot vacuum apps that offer granular control, the iRobot app provides limited options. We also found it buggy during my testing, though to be fair, it has above-average ratings in both the iOS and Google Play stores, so perhaps our experience was an outlier.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's app seems limited compared to many current robot vacuum apps. ยฉVacuum Wars
The iRobot app seems limited compared to current robot vacuum apps despite its above-average app score. ยฉVacuum Wars

Mopping System and Dock Issues

The mopping system is where the Combo 10 Max really falls behind. Most brands have adopted spinning or vibrating mop pads that lift slightly to avoid wetting carpets. In contrast, iRobotโ€™s design lifts the mop pad all the way to the top of the robot, aiming to prevent carpet contact entirely. While this approach may have seemed innovative initially, it quickly became obsolete with the rise of removable mop pads and software-based cleaning modes that tackle carpets before hard floors.

The iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum's mopping system and lack of software-based cleaning modes seems dated compared to other flagship models. ยฉVacuum Wars
The iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum’s mopping system and lack of software-based cleaning modes seems dated compared to other flagship models. ยฉVacuum Wars

The lack of spinning or vibrating mop pads also reduced the effectiveness of its mopping. In our testsโ€”part of a newly developed mopping test protocolโ€”the Combo 10 Max scored an 86, which is slightly below the average.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's performance with mopping ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop’s performance with mopping ยฉVacuum Wars

The new docking station is another area of concern. While it attempts to wash and dry the mop pads, the process feels poorly executed. The dock requires the robot to lower the pad and move back and forth over a spinning roller, which is inefficient and leaves too much water in the mop. The system creates a mess and feels like an afterthought. Moreover, the dock was louder than average, and its dustbin-emptying capabilities were subpar compared to other high-end docks.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop's docking station is louder than average and creates a mess when cleaning the mop pad. ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop’s docking station is louder than average and creates a mess when cleaning the mop pad. ยฉVacuum Wars

Long-Term Concerns

Given the complexity of the mop-washing system, we are also concerned about potential quality control issues down the road. The sheer number of moving parts may have the potential to increase the likelihood of malfunctions over time.

Our Conclusion

In summary, while the Roomba Combo 10 Max has some redeeming qualitiesโ€”such as excellent pet hair pickup and strong deep-cleaning performanceโ€”its outdated navigation, limited app functionality, and underwhelming mopping system drag it down. The docking station that was intended to be a key feature actually feels like an afterthought, which for us, further diminished the value of the product.

iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop in the Vacuum Wars studio ยฉVacuum Wars
iRobot Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop in the Vacuum Wars studio ยฉVacuum Wars

So in the end, we think that the Roomba Combo 10 Max is a decent product for those who prioritize vacuuming over mopping, but there are better options available for consumers seeking an all-in-one solution.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Specs

Vacuum typeRobot vacuum & mop
Self-emptyingYes
Self-refilling (mop tank)Yes
Mop cleaningYes
Mop dryingYes
Obstacle avoidanceYes
Avoids pet wasteYes
Max run time120 min
Colorsblack
Battery TypeLithium Ion
Partial iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max specifications from the iRobot website.
 

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Christopher White

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Christopher White CEO
Christopher White is the CEO of Vacuum Wars, the premier YouTube channel dedicated to vacuum cleaner reviews. Over the past eight years, Vacuum Wars has become a trusted resource, meticulously reviewing hundreds of robot vacuums, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners, and various floor care products. Known for their comprehensive in-house testing, Vacuum Wars has built one of the most extensive databases of vacuum cleaner metrics available. Under Christopherโ€™s leadership, the channel has maintained a strict no-sponsorship policy, ensuring that all reviews remain unbiased and trustworthy. This dedication to integrity has garnered a loyal following of over 300,000 subscribers who rely on their expert advice. Christopher is also a recognized authority on robot vacuums, boasting one of the largest private collections of these devices worldwide. Learn more.

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