This Is the Best Robot Vacuum I’ve Tested (and Trust Me, I’ve Been Through Many)

Compared to other Roombas I’ve tested, the j9+ is the most powerful yet. It picked up most of the hair and dust on the first pass, leaving visible vacuum lines on my rug (a sign of great suction). However, while it did an impressive job on hard floors and tiles, it didn’t pick up every single hair from my low-pile carpet. I found that for a truly complete clean, I still had to do an additional pass with my Dyson V15 to catch the stray hairs the Roomba left behind.

That said, it navigates like a pro. Unlike some of its predecessors that needed rescuing every ten minutes, this one effortlessly avoided obstacles and adapted to my space. It even captured an image of any unexpected object it encountered—so if I left a stray sock on the floor, I got a little reminder in the app. And the biggest win? Self-emptying and detangling. With two shedding brunette roommates (myself included), I usually have to cut hair out of vacuum rollers weekly. Not with this one—the rubber brushes prevent tangles, and the bin automatically empties into the base when full.

Here’s where I was skeptical. Most robot vacuums that promise mopping are...fine. They lightly dampen the floor but don’t actually scrub. But the SmartScrub feature on the j9+ helps with surface-level cleaning, making it great for maintaining floors on a weekly basis. It does a solid job at lifting light dirt, dust, and small spills, but it’s not a replacement for a deep clean. Especially stuck-on messes, like dried food or heavy grime, will still need manual scrubbing.

My before-and-after bathroom test confirmed this. While the mop successfully removed most dust and light debris, it struggled with hair buildup and grime along the edges. Additionally, after running the mop, I noticed the mop pad itself gets dirty fast, meaning regular cleaning or replacing is necessary to keep performance consistent. If I want my tiles spotless, I still need to do a manual scrub every now and then, especially in high-traffic areas. It’s a great tool for upkeep, but don’t expect it to replace elbow grease completely.

If you’re in the market for a robot vacuum that actually does its job well, the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is worth every penny. It’s the best vacuum-mop combo I’ve ever tested, picking up everything from pet hair to stubborn dirt with minimal effort on my part. The Dirt Detective feature, self-emptying bin, and tangle-free brushes make it a standout among competitors.

Is it perfect? No. But if you’re looking for a roomba that makes cleaning feel like less of a chore, this is the one to beat. Just be prepared to play tech support for the first couple of days while it learns your space. After that? You can basically set it and forget it. For small apartments and pet owners, I’d say it’s a game-changer.

Fast Facts: What’s in the Box

• iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ vacuum/mop
• Clean Base Auto-Fill Dock (self-empties and refills)
• Extra mop pad and filter
• Charging cable
• User manual