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This is a U.S. buying guide for June 2024, not a current-price ranking. Prices and stock changed frequently, and the available evidence does not establish a consistent June 2024 price for every model. Choose by floor type and the chores you want the robot to handle: the Combo j9+ offers the broadest feature set, but the s9+, j7+, or i5+ can be a better fit for a particular home.
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How to choose a Roomba
Separate cleaning performance from automation. A robot that recognizes cords and pet waste is useful in a cluttered home, but that does not mean it picks up carpet hair as well as a carpet-focused model. Likewise, a Combo label means vacuuming and wet mopping; it does not promise mop-pad washing, drying, or carpet-safe operation.
- For carpet and pet hair: consider the older s9+.
- For pet accidents, cords, and clutter: favor a j7-family model with PrecisionVision Navigation.
- For vacuuming and mopping in one robot: compare the Combo j9+, Combo j7+, and Combo i5+ by their mop mechanisms and carpet handling.
- For less dustbin work: choose a “+” version with a Clean Base, while remembering that bags and other parts still need replacement.
“+” generally identifies the auto-emptying version in these model families; “Combo” identifies a vacuum-and-mop model. The exact dock and mop features vary by SKU, so check the product listing for the specific package. Vacuum Wars’ model comparison describes the Plus designation as the auto-emptying bin.
#1 Best Overall
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION*. 3-Stage Cleaning includes 70X more power-lifting suction*, a Multi-Surface brush, and Edge-Sweeping brush to devour dirt and dust bunnies and leave floors barefoot clean. *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- FULLY CUSTOM AND TARGETED CLEANING. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes and levels of suction power.
- EASY-TO-USE ROOMBA HOME APP. Simply tap to set a custom clean, get time estimates, check on the filter life, or create keep-out zones to avoid specific areas.
- EXTRA DIRT- SPOT CLEANING IS ON IT. Easily target the places where your floors need extra attention, with spot cleaning, your robot repeatedly cleans in one area for up to 5 minutes.
Roomba model differences at a glance
| Model | Vacuum | Mop | Auto-empty | Auto-refill water | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| j7 | Yes | No | No | No | Obstacle avoidance without an auto-empty dock |
| j7+ | Yes | No | Yes | No | Pet homes and lower-touch vacuuming |
| Combo j7+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Vacuuming and mopping with a retractable mop |
| j9+ | Yes | No | Yes | No | Premium vacuum-only cleaning |
| Combo j9+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Most complete Roomba feature package |
| Combo i5+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Lower-tier Combo features with self-emptying |
| s9+ | Yes | No | Yes, in the plus package | No | Carpet, pet hair, and wall-edge cleaning |
Best overall: Roomba Combo j9+
The Combo j9+ is the strongest all-round choice if you want one Roomba to vacuum, wet-mop, empty its dustbin, and refill its water tank. Its retractable mop design is more practical on mixed flooring than a fixed wet pad, and it supports room mapping, targeted cleaning, and voice assistants.
iRobot says the j9+ navigates in rows, can map a home faster than its previous mapping technology, and can label rooms with up to 90% accuracy. Those are manufacturer claims, not independent benchmarks. Its mapping features also include Clean Zones and Keep Out Zones. iRobot’s Combo j9+ product page lists its features and qualifications.
What to know before paying for it
- The dock refills water and empties dirt, but it does not wash and dry the mop pad. You still have mop-pad care to do.
- Wet mopping is not a replacement for manual scrubbing on dried food, stains, or heavy soil.
- Its premium feature set is wasted if you mainly want carpet vacuuming and do not need mopping.
Pick the j9+ vacuum-only model instead if you want premium vacuuming and auto-emptying but do not want a mop. For carpet-focused pickup, compare the s9+; for a lower-cost route to obstacle avoidance, look at the j7 or j7+.
Best for carpet and pet hair: Roomba s9+
The s9+ remains worth considering in June 2024 if carpet and hair pickup matter more than the newest navigation features. Its D-shaped body is designed to reach close to walls and corners, and Tom’s Guide recorded 97% hair pickup on carpet and 99% on hardwood in its testing. Those results belong to that publication’s test, not a universal guarantee. Read Tom’s Guide’s s9 review for its testing context.
The trade-off is age: the s9+ does not have the j7/j9 family’s object-recognition system. Its shape can also make maneuvering and docking more demanding, and availability and pricing may depend on remaining retailer stock. Consumer Reports’ 2024 buying guide listed an overall score of 83 and a price of $1,000 for the s9+; that is a guide-listed price, not a verified June street price. Consumer Reports’ 2024 buying guide also listed the j7+ at 71 and $800 and the i4+ Evo at 76 and $520.
Rank #2
- UP TO 75 DAYS HANDS-FREE CLEANING. Dirt and dust stay gone because it empties into the AutoEmpty dock with a bag that traps 99% of allergens as small as 0.7 microns- That means no mess or cloud of dust when you empty it- Just drop the used bag into the trash and put a new one in the base.
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION. 3-Stage Cleaning includes 70X more power-lifting suction*, a Multi-Surface brush, and Edge-Sweeping brush to devour dirt and dust bunnies and leave floors barefoot clean *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- FULLY CUSTOM & TARGETED CLEANING. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes and levels of suction power.
- EASY-TO-USE ROOMBA HOME APP. Simply tap to set a custom clean, get time estimates, check on the filter life, or create keep-out zones to avoid specific areas.
Best for pets, cords, and clutter: Roomba j7+
The j7+ is the better choice when the household problem is what lies on the floor, not just what is embedded in carpet. Its camera-based PrecisionVision Navigation is designed to recognize and avoid items such as pet waste, cords, socks, and shoes. It also supports Imprint Smart Mapping, room-specific jobs, and Keep Out and Clean Zones. The “+” package adds a Clean Base for automatic dirt disposal.
Object avoidance reduces the need to clear every ordinary obstacle, but it is not a guarantee. Remove wet messes, loose strings, and hazardous objects, and supervise early runs. Tom’s Guide reported 94.45% pickup in its overall j7+ test; it also noted weaker carpet pet-hair performance than some competitors. RTINGS likewise highlights obstacle handling while placing j7 cleaning performance below the S9 in some areas. See Tom’s Guide’s j7+ review and RTINGS’ j7/j7+ review.
Recommended Free Tools
The j7 is the vacuum-only, non-Plus alternative if you are comfortable emptying the bin yourself. iRobot’s product page showed $599.99 for the j7 and $799.99 for the j7+ when observed in the later price snapshot; these are not June 2024 prices. Check iRobot’s j7 product page for the model and current listing details.
Best integrated vacuum-and-mop alternative: Combo j7+
The Combo j7+ is an option for mixed-floor homes that want a single robot to vacuum and mop, with a retractable mop that can lift away from carpet. That carpet protection is a meaningful advantage over a Combo model whose wet pad stays in contact with the floor. It is also a potential discounted alternative if the Combo j9+ costs too much.
It does not auto-refill water like the Combo j9+, and it should not be treated as a self-cleaning mop station. The mop pad still needs care. A June 2024 BGR article gave an example U.S. promotional price of $699 for the Combo j7+; that was a temporary sale price, not a standard price. BGR’s June 2024 Roomba recommendations also cited temporary prices for other models.
Rank #3
- DEEP DOWN AND WALL-TO-WALL. Advanced DualClean Mop Pads with PerfectEdge extend floor-mopping coverage by 18%* and SmartScrub adds 2x deeper scrubbing** to wipe out tough messes. *Compared to unextended DualClean Mop Pad**Compared to standard vacuum & mop mode on coffee & grime
- STRONG SUCTION SERIOUS MOPPING. Devours messes from crumbs to pawprints with 70x more suction*, DualClean Mop Pads with PerfectEdge, SmartScrub, a multi-surface rubber brush, and edge-sweeping brush. *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots
- CLEARVIEW PRO LIDAR. Expertly maps your home to maximize coverage and clean thoroughly, day or night- Plus, specialized sensors ensure Roomba robot won't take a tumble down stairs.
- PRECISIONVISION AI TECHNOLOGY. Immediately recognizes cords, socks, even pet waste, and swiftly navigates around them. Identifies wet & dry messes ahead and repeats cleaning passes for a more thorough clean.
- AUTOWASH DOCK DOES IT ALL. 75 days of auto-emptying, 4 weeks of mopping and pad washing*, continuous pad refreshing, and heated pad drying ensure an ultra-effective clean day after day. *Based on 1 mopping run per week
Best value Combo: Roomba Combo i5+
The Combo i5+ combines mapping, room-specific cleaning, vacuuming and wet mopping, Dirt Detect, recharge-and-resume behavior, and an auto-empty dock. iRobot describes the Clean Base as holding up to 60 days of dirt under stated conditions; actual time between bag changes depends on use and household debris. It is a practical value candidate for mostly hard-floor homes willing to manage its bin and mop limitations. See iRobot’s Combo i5+ page for supported features and setup requirements.
The bin and carpet compromise
The i5+ uses separate bins: install the Combo bin for vacuuming and mopping, or the dry bin for vacuum-only cleaning. With the Combo bin installed, it vacuums and mops at the same time; it cannot lift the wet pad clear of carpet. Remove or roll up rugs, or exclude carpeted areas through the app or voice assistant. This makes it less convenient than a retractable-mop model in homes with scattered rugs.
Setup and operation require a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. If a router combines 2.4 and 5 GHz under one network name, setup may require router-specific steps. The non-Plus Combo i5 is another lower-upfront-cost option if you do not need the auto-empty dock; check the exact package before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Head-to-head: which Roomba fits your priority?
j7+ or s9+?
Choose the j7+ for pet-waste avoidance, cords and clutter, room mapping, and a more modern navigation system. Choose the s9+ for carpet and pet-hair pickup and edge-focused cleaning. Tom’s Guide’s cited test results support the s9+ as the stronger hair-pickup candidate, while its j7+ review emphasizes the latter’s obstacle handling and reports 94.45% overall pickup in its own test. Neither model wins every household’s priorities.
Combo j9+ or Combo j7+?
Choose the Combo j9+ if automatic water refilling and the broader premium feature set justify the extra cost. Choose the Combo j7+ if a retractable mop and carpet transitions matter but the j9+’s water-refill feature does not. Neither dock washes and dries the mop pad.
Rank #4
- CLEAN FLOORS EVERY DAY—WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT. The Roomba Plus 415X vacuums and mops in one run, stopping crumbs, dust, and spills before they turn into stuck‑on messes. With 20,000 Pa and DualClean mop pads, your floors stay visibly clean from morning and night.
- NO MORE SCRUBBING DRIED‑ON MESSES. SmartScrub applies extra pressure exactly where messes are stubborn—breaking down dried food, muddy paw prints, and kitchen splatter, so you never have to scrub by hand again.
- REACHES THE PLACES DIRT USUALLY HIDES. A 46% slimmer design* fits under more furniture, while extending brushes pull debris from edges and corners—so dust doesn’t collect where traditional robots miss. *Compared to Roomba 105
- GREAT FOR HOMES WITH PETS. Tangle‑free rubber brushes capture pet fur without clogging, eliminating constant stops to cut hair off the brush.
- EVERY CLEAN STARTS WITH A FRESH MOP—NOT YESTERDAY’S DIRT. The AutoWash Dock washes and heat‑dries mop pads at 113°F after every run, preventing odors and buildup so floors aren’t cleaned with yesterday’s dirt.
Combo i5+ or j7?
Choose the i5+ for hard floors and the option to mop, accepting bin swaps and manual carpet management. Choose the j7 for vacuuming with obstacle avoidance and mapping, without the Combo bin or mop. The j7 also avoids the i5+’s carpet-with-wet-pad problem.
One Combo robot or a vacuum plus Braava jet m6?
A j7 or j7+ can work with a Braava jet m6 through iRobot’s Imprint Link for a separate vacuum-then-mop workflow. That adds another device and dock footprint, but keeps vacuuming and mopping in separate robots. A Combo reduces the number of robots but makes the exact mop mechanism and maintenance more important.
Choose by home and floor type
- Mostly carpet: Start with the s9+ if you find it at a sensible price and do not need object avoidance or mopping.
- Mostly hard floors: The Combo i5+ can cover routine vacuuming and wet mopping at a lower product tier; the j9+ adds a retractable mop and auto-refill.
- Pets that shed: Favor the s9+ for hair pickup based on the cited test, or the j7+ if avoiding pet messes and floor clutter is more important.
- Children, cords, or busy floors: The j7 family’s object recognition is useful, but clear hazards and supervise initial runs.
- Small apartment: A non-Plus model may be adequate if you do not mind emptying its bin; check that the dock and robot fit your available floor space.
- Large home: Auto-emptying reduces bin chores. A j9+ can refill water, but no stairs are climbed autonomously; expect to carry the robot between floors and manage docking as needed.
- Mixed flooring with rugs: Prefer the Combo j7+ or j9+ over the i5+ if you need the robot to transition between hard floors and carpet while mopping.
- Wants mopping but dislikes upkeep: None of these removes all mop maintenance. The j9+ automates water refilling, not mop-pad washing and drying.
Before relying on any model with high-pile carpet, fringe, high thresholds, or loose cables, test how it handles those conditions. Leave the dock on a stable, level surface with clearance specified in that model’s owner’s guide.
What ownership still requires
A Clean Base reduces how often you empty the robot, not the need to maintain it. Plan for replacement bags, filters, brushes, and occasional hair removal from rollers. Combo owners also need to refill or manage water as appropriate to the model, wash mop pads, and clean the dock and sensors. The i5+ adds bin swapping when you change between mopping and vacuum-only use; the j9+ reduces water-refill work but still requires pad care. Check the exact model’s replacement-part requirements and warranty terms before purchase.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAvailability and sale prices are time-sensitive. In a June 2024 BGR article, examples included a temporary U.S. sale price of $599 for the vacuum-only j9+ and $379.99 for the j7; those promotions should not be treated as standard prices. The current official product pages may show different prices and availability.
Final buying decision
- If you want the broadest vacuum-and-mop automation in Roomba’s June 2024 lineup, choose the Combo j9+.
- If carpet and pet hair are the main job, look for the s9+ at a worthwhile price.
- If pet accidents and clutter are the bigger concern, choose the j7+; drop to the j7 if you are willing to empty the bin manually.
- If you want an affordable self-emptying Combo for hard floors and can manage bins and rugs, choose the Combo i5+.
Roomba is not automatically the best fit for every robot-vacuum shopper: buyers who expect more aggressive mopping or a dock that washes and dries mop pads should compare other brands’ systems before choosing a Combo.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
