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Just last week, I reviewed the new Samsung Jet Bot+ vacuum cleaner that uses LiDar technology to add an extra layer of intelligence to its cleaning bot. But Samsung isn’t alone in making its robots smarter. iRobot, the company that literally pioneered this space, adds more clarity to the Roomba Combo J7+’s hurdles as well as the ability to mop floors and vacuum, something that will keep plenty of Indian families happy.
There is only one button on top of the Combo J7+ and most of the control has to be done via the iRobot app (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
From a design perspective, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ is very similar to previous robots from the company, except for the headlight. But it is not that simple. This design now has a reservoir for storing and dispensing water for wiping. But I was surprised to see that there is no squeegee underneath the robot as I’ve seen in similar models before. Interestingly, the Combo J7+ has a crescent-shaped folding part at the top where the mop cloth is attached and this part goes down when the robot has to mop the floor. This is actually a very practical design because, in other vacuum robots that have a mop, fiber clothes end up tainted over time, because they get dragged everywhere.
There is only one button on top of the Combo J7+ and most of the control has to be done via the iRobot app. The water tank at the site of the machine can be removed to add water. iRobot recommends that you should drain the water after every run, which is not very practical if you ask me. Also included in the box is a liquid hard floor cleaner that can be added to the water tank. The iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ also comes with a sleek and compact charging base that also cleans the robot after each run.
The Combo J7+ has a crescent-shaped folding part on top where you stick the mop cloth (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
Setting up the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ is easy and all you have to do is let the app find the robot and then connect it to your home Wi-Fi. The robot needs to do some planning before it gets to know the area in which it will operate. The mapping processes are relatively silent. Once this is done, it will be ready to start cleaning.
Unlike Samsung, the iRobot app does not display the real-time map with the robot’s location. Instead, after the mapping is turned on, it gives the option to save the map. Ideally, you don’t do this until after the robot has mapped out the entire house and the areas you want to clean. Once done, you can select each area on the map and define restricted areas.
Setting up the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ is easy (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
The light at the front of the robot is useful for the vacuum cleaner to see what is actually in front of it. The robot notes obstacles and clicks pictures. You will receive regular alerts on the app asking you to determine if there is a permanent or temporary obstacle. Depending on your choice, the bot will decide how to process this on its next run. The app also allows you to schedule daily or weekly runs and select the type of work you want – just vacuuming or sweeping.
Being a pioneer in space, the iRobot has no problems handling any type of vacuuming. In fact, when the Roomba was on my cloth mat, I could see the threads standing up because of the strength of the suction. But the wiping is more muted and you can see a thin layer of water on the wiped areas. And honestly, that’s fine, otherwise you’d have wet floors. The whole cleaning of my 2BHK house takes about 90 minutes and ends up using all the water in the tank.
The robot has a good level of intelligence. For example, it will pull the mop when you get close to the carpet. He also cleans a specific area and then moves on to another spot that he remembers needs his attention. At first, it seemed a bit arbitrary, but gradually I realized that there is a method to this madness.
iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ takes robot vacuum evolution to the next level by adding better scanning and visibility in the home (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
One place that has a problem with humans. If you’re standing where the robot is trying to clean, it will keep bumping into your legs and won’t disappear like some other robots I’ve tested. Also, when the robot empties its crate into the charging base, the sounds can be frightening to young children and pets in the house. So keep the berth in a place that is usually away from those who might be affected by loud noises.
The iRobot Roomba Combo J7+ takes the evolution of the robot vacuum cleaner to the next level by adding scanning and improving visibility into the home. However, the Rs 89,900 price tag is a bit steep for most households, unless you’re in a place where human assistance is hard to come by. Just for context, a basic Roomba robot vacuum I bought during the pandemic cost me less than a quarter of that amount. But with devices like this, they pay back the investment with regular use. Just make sure you really have a use case for one.
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