When it comes to cleaning our homes, there's no doubt that robot vacuum cleaners have revolutionized the way we approach this household chore. Within this segment, iRobot has been a leading brand and synonymous with quality for years and with the Roomba Combo 10 Max has only reaffirmed this title. Launched a few months ago, we've been testing this equipment at home for quite some time, and now I can tell you The best and worst of this robot that vacuums and mops And it's made me forget about some of my household chores for quite a while. Get comfortable, I'll tell you all the details.
AutoWash design, construction and base
The Roomba Combo 10 Max It does not go unnoticed, neither for its aesthetics nor for its size. The main unit maintains iRobot's classic circular shape, with a matte black finish and elegant details, such as the grooved half-sphere that hides the mop—though it's also a bit more dust-friendly, so keep that in mind. The body follows the same line as previous generations in terms of the placement of the front-facing camera for navigation and the sensors, strategically arranged for operation.
What really makes the difference, anyway, is your AutoWash base. At first glance, it may look like a somewhat bulky black tower, but its thoughtful and functional design conceals a triple function: emptying the dirt bin, refilling the clean water tank, and washing/drying the mop. Inside the base are three compartments: a clean water tank, a dirty water tank, and a solid waste bag, standardized on previous iRobot models.
The front cover opens to give access to the tanks, and its size allows even place objects on top as if it were an improvised side table. The subtle knurling in the finish also gives it a more refined look than other competitors in the same price range, something you might appreciate if you're planning to place the robot's base in a more visible location, such as the living room.
Cleaning system: vacuuming and scrubbing
One of iRobot's historic strengths is vacuuming, and this new model continues that tradition. The Combo 10 Max includes a double central rubber roller, ideal for avoiding hair tangles, accompanied by a side brush that draws dirt toward the center. Its performance on hard floors—in my case, I've tested it on both laminate and ceramic floors—is remarkable, easily picking up dust, dirt, crumbs, and even small objects.
En carpeting, achieve a cleaning also quite good. This vacuum not only tackles carpets with ease, but also automatically intensifies suction, putting special emphasis on cleaning this very dirty area. I don't have pets in my house, so unfortunately I haven't been able to test how well it handles the dreaded pet hair. Still, iRobot assures that for homes with furry friends, its effectiveness at picking up hair is beyond question, making it a great option to consider.
The scrubbing section is the one that generates a little less enthusiasm for me. The system consists of a mop that rises completely when it detects a carpet so as not to wet it - a mechanism reminiscent of the convertible visors of the Combo j9+ models - but which does not incorporate vibration or rotation - what it does instead is a kind of back and forth. This makes it offer a correct result to keep floors clean, but it may fall a bit short if what you want is to clean slightly drier or more persistent stains.
I am in favor of using only the robot vacuum cleaner's mop anyway. for maintenance purposes (never as a central element for scrubbing), but it is true that the effectiveness of rotating discs or more advanced systems (using sonic vibration) is superior, so it is something you should keep in mind if you expect to put it to work "thoroughly" in this regard.
Navigation and obstacle detection
Here we find One of the key differences compared to the competition: this iRobot relies on a camera and sensors instead of LiDAR. This results in a slower and slightly less detailed initial mapping than its competitors, although the Navigation is fluid and adapts equally well to cleaning dirt, thanks to the Dirt Detective system. In case you're not familiar with it, this feature analyzes previous cleanings to determine which areas need more time or adjustments to the amount of water. In fact, Dirt Detect takes immediate action when it identifies specific buildup, such as in the kitchen.
El The obstacle detection system has also improved compared to previous generations, although again I miss the presence of LiDAR.. It's even capable of dodging pet droppings, with a commitment to free replacement if it doesn't. However, this comes at the cost of leaving areas uncleaned by avoiding loose objects. Although these obstacles are reported in the app—which I discuss a few lines below—I think it still represents a slight loss of cleaning coverage worth mentioning.
General performance and maintenance
This robot's battery allows it to cover medium to large homes without any problems. If it runs out of juice, it resumes where it left off after recharging. The dust collection bag lasts for about 8 weeks (2 months) of normal use, with app tracking so you can keep better track.
Regarding the AutoWash base, I think it is important to point out that it performs the cleaning the mop with a rotating roller while the robot moves in and out. I certainly don't think it's the most practical solution I've seen in this type of equipment, as it's constantly noisy and the process feels a bit sluggish. The subsequent drying process isn't the quietest either, which is one of the aspects I liked least about this model.
As to Manual maintenance, as is usual with these devices, is minimal. The robot also includes the usual replacement filters, side brushes, and bags. The rollers can be removed without tools to remove tangled hair, perhaps the task you'll have to do most often.
The iRobot app: intuitive and comprehensive
We have reached a point where almost all high-end robots (such as this Como 10 Max) look alike, so their app is usually a differentiating element to keep in mind. In the case of iRobot, its solution, available for iOS and Android, combines a clear interface with a good number of options to configure our equipment according to preferences.
The main screen thus shows a summary of the status of the robot and its base, the configured maps and quick access to frequent routines. Additionally, scrolling down takes you to the automatic schedule, cleaning history, robot configuration, and help section. Everything is correctly divided and ordered so there's no getting lost. Even inexperienced users will find it comfortable and quickly adapt to the Americans' approach.
From this platform we can, for example, configure personalized routines for different rooms, cleaning modes, intensity, amount of water, number of passes or even establish a child lock - my little daughter goes crazy pressing the button on the robot and with this I have managed to stop her from turning it on every 2 x 3.
An interesting point is the compatibility with Matter and Apple HomeKit -much less seen-, in addition to Google Home and Alexa. This makes the Roomba Combo 10 Max an attractive smart home option without any compatibility issues. Keep this in mind.
An interesting proposal
With all of the above, it won't surprise you if I think the Roomba Combo 10 Max comes across as a Solid robot vacuum cleaner and an interesting purchase option. It's efficient at vacuuming, powerful in autonomy, and very easy to use thanks to its app. Although it has some minor shortcomings (such as the lack of more advanced scrubbing, the use of LiDAR mapping, or the mop cleaning system), overall it's a safe bet. Especially considering that, at the time of writing, you can find it under a price which is around 800 euros, according to the distributor.
For users of this form that prioritize dry cleaning and a simple connected experience And without complications, this model more than delivers. If, on the other hand, you're looking for the best scrubbing on the market or ultra-precise navigation at high speeds, there are probably more attractive alternatives on the market today. It's a matter of priorities.
