iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum and Mop, Clean by Room with Smart Mapping, Empties Itself for Up to 60 Days, Works with Alexa, Personalized Cleaning OS

TLDR Review: iRobot Roomba Combo i5+

Published: October 18th, 2024

Score

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ earns a moderate score owing to its effective self-emptying feature and solid vacuuming performance on hard surfaces, appealing especially to households with pets. However, it faces criticism for its inconsistent mapping abilities, subpar mopping function, and frequent connection errors, leading to frustrations among users. While it offers convenience, the frequent maintenance hurdles experienced by some customers may detract from its overall value for more demanding cleaning needs.

8/10
Expert
6.9/10
Consumer

Scores

design
8.5
performance
7.5
battery_life
8.5

Pros

  • •Excellent navigation and persistent mapping for efficient cleaning.
  • •Works well in dimly lit conditions (with initial training runs).
  • •Rarely requires manual intervention, runs multiple times a day smoothly.
  • •Rubber brush rollers are superior for pet hair and agitating carpet.
  • •Support for future software updates like Keep Out Zones.
  • •Not necessary to empty the bin frequently due to the dirt disposal system.
  • •Responsive and custom cleaning via Alexa integration.
  • •Suction power is strong, comparable to or better than other brands tested.

Cons

  • •Not capable of operating in complete darkness without smart lights.
  • •Shorter battery life compared to some competitors, requiring strategic scheduling.

Bottom Line

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ offers a compelling mix of vacuuming and mopping capabilities with features like smart mapping and Alexa integration that earn high marks from users. Its self-emptying function is a big hit for minimizing manual maintenance. While it shines in handling pet hair and operates remarkably smoothly, its performance is slightly limited by its dependency on favorable lighting conditions and battery life. Consider your home's lighting and cleaning schedule needs when deciding on this purchase.

Product Score

Based on professional reviews and customer feedback

7.45/10
Overall
8/10
Expert
6.9
Consumer

Why this score?

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ earns a moderate score owing to its effective self-emptying feature and solid vacuuming performance on hard surfaces, appealing especially to households with pets. However, it faces criticism for its inconsistent mapping abilities, subpar mopping function, and frequent connection errors, leading to frustrations among users. While it offers convenience, the frequent maintenance hurdles experienced by some customers may detract from its overall value for more demanding cleaning needs.

8+ Excellent
6-8 Good
4-6 Average
<4 Poor
Available at Amazon
View at Amazon
Lowest at any Popular Retailer
$599.99 at Home Depot
How we researched this

About this review: We pulled together findings from professional reviews and hundreds of user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from 1 retailers to give you the short version.

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More Answers

If you're still curious about the iRobot Roomba Combo i5+, here are some other answers you might find interesting:

Wondering how loud the iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ gets when it empties its bin? You're not the only one. According to our research, when the Roomba self-empties, it gets pretty noticeable—think of it like being near a regular vacuum cleaner.

This noise happens because it uses strong suction to move all the collected dust and debris into its base station. Some folks find the noise a bit surprising at first, but many people seem to get used to it after a while. It's kind of the trade-off for the convenience of not having to empty the dustbin as often.

The manufacturer mentions that it has sound insulation to help reduce the noise, though it doesn't completely quiet things down. A lot of users find that it helps to schedule cleaning when they're not home or busy with something else, so the noise isn't a bother.

Overall, while the self-emptying feature isn’t silent, most people feel that the ease it brings is worth the brief noise. If you're debating between the perks of less manual labor and those short noises, the Roomba Combo i5+ could be a decent choice to think about.

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From what we've found, the iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ runs for about 75 minutes before it needs to head back to its base to recharge.

That should be enough to cover a standard-sized home pretty well, but if you live in a larger place, you might have to run it a couple of times to finish the job.

A really nice feature is the self-emptying dustbin, which a lot of people seem to appreciate.

It's especially handy if you're busy and don't want to stop and empty it yourself all the time.

On the mopping side of things, the feedback is a bit of a mixed bag.

You have to swap in a special bin that holds a bit of water or cleaner, and it's more about a light wipe than a real heavy-duty clean.

It's okay for everyday maintenance, but probably not the best for deep cleaning.

Plus, if you have mixed floor types, you'll need to keep an eye on it while it's mopping.

It doesn't automatically tell where the carpet ends and hard floor begins, so you'll have to set up digital boundaries or block off areas manually.

When it comes to vacuuming, though, our research suggests it does a solid job.

It's reliable for picking up dirt and debris, so if everyday vacuuming is your main concern and yo

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Hey there! It sounds like you're wondering how the iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ handles pet hair. Based on what we've found, it's pretty good at it.

This Roomba isn't just a basic vacuum; it vacuums and mops. Plus, it's got this neat self-emptying feature. According to the manufacturer's description, it can empty its vacuum bin into a bag, storing debris for up to 60 days. For pet owners, this is awesome because you don't need to empty it all the time—more free time for cuddles or walks!

As for pet hair, our research shows it does a great job on both carpet and hard floors. It really handles fur well, which is a relief if you have furry friends shedding everywhere.

However, about the mopping part, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Some folks mentioned that while the vacuum function is solid, the mopping isn't as impressive. The microfiber pad might struggle with tougher stains, like the ones pets sometimes drag in.

When you're setting it up, be prepared for a few hiccups, especially with connecting to Wi-Fi. It might not be the smoothest ride at first, especially when you're trying to get the mopping feature up and running.

But once it's set, the smart mapping tech is handy. It learns y

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