The best robot vacuums aren’t cheap, and cheap robot vacuums often come with compromises. However, Roomba’s new Combo Essential could close the gap between the two. While not as affordable as the iLife V3s Pro, this $275 robot not only includes vacuuming and mopping capabilities, but also iRobot OS for advanced smart features.
While we haven’t had a chance to test the Combo Essential yet, we can take a look at its features versus the competition. Here’s how it compares to our top three.
Roomba Combo Essential vs iLife V3s Pro
When you compare the value of the Roomba Combo Essential to that of the iLife V3S Pro, the 2-in-1 Essential cleans the floor with it. Pun intended. The infrared-controlled iLife V3S Pro completely lacks intelligence and uses intermittent room navigation. This means it takes longer to walk around the room during each session. You also can’t send it from your phone or voice assistant, nor can you clean specific ps of your home.
Roomba Combo Essential uses iRobot’s operating system to automatically map out spaces to clean when you leave the house, create detailed visual cleaning reports, and suggest cleanings for a fraction of the cost of the best Roombas we’ve tested. It also has a mop that adds an extra layer of cleaning to your floors.
However, the iLife is one of the best robot vacuum cleaners due to its excellent cleaning performance. Although it’s pretty old at this point, it’s still one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair, so I’m excited to see how the new Essential fares in our lab test.
Roomba Combo Essential vs Shark IQ
The Roomba Combo Essential’s deceptively discreet design packs a lot of gear under the hood. Its 4-stage cleaning system consists of a special V-shaped multi-surface brush, edge sweeping brush, and pump-fed microfiber mop pad that work together to vacuum and mop hard floors in a single pass in rows. clean. It is incredibly similar to the Shark IQ, which has a similar design and also cleans in rows.
The Combo Essential wet and dry vacuum cleaner records your work using the smart Clean Map reporting feature. This generates a report in the iRobot app to show you how long the cleanup took and where it got covered. Their app will even suggest cleaning times, like the $1,400 Roomba J9+ Combo we recently reviewed. The Shark IQ does this too, along with advanced limit settings.
This Roomba doesn’t come with a self-emptying base like the affordable Shark IQ does for truly hands-free set-it-and-forget-it operation. You will have to manually empty the trash can, as well as equip and clean its mop after each session. That said, its mop can be removed to run the Essential in vacuum-only mode on all floor types. There are three suction power levels and three water level options you can choose from depending on the mess.
The Shark vacuum lacks mopping capabilities, but its 45 days of automatic maintenance more than makes up for it. You can set it and forget it and run it completely on autopilot for just under two months. If you don’t need the mop and don’t feel like emptying the vacuum’s dustbin, the Shark IQ appears to be a more powerful option for less than $100 more.
Roomba Combo Essential vs. Roomba 600
The Roomba Combo Essential is an upgraded replacement for the budget-focused Roomba 600 series. Its smaller dimensions fit better under furniture but cover more ground for improved cleaning results. Compared to the 600 Series, the new Roomba Combo Essential has 20 times more suction power and 25% better dirt pickup on hard floors. This adds up to a longer battery life of 120 minutes.
The Combo Essential’s more comprehensive row-cleaning pattern outperforms the more random wipe-and-tap approach of the 600. That said, both use the iRobot app for rich smart features. These include aspirations triggered by geofencing when you leave home and seasonal cleaning recommendations. The Achilles heel of the Roomba 675 turned out to be a pet hair catcher. If the Combo Essential delivers on those power improvements, it should be a much more powerful option than the old 600 series.
We’re eagerly waiting to get our hands on the new Roomba Combo Essential 2-in-1 robovac. If its suction power and cleaning performance live up to the promise, this will revolutionize the robot vacuum category. While it lacks a self-emptying dock, the Combo Essential is poised to be one of the best smart home devices you can buy.
- Roomba J9+ Combo Robot Vacuum and Mop Review
- The best cheap robot vacuum cleaners
- The best smart home devices
