Techstination Interview: What's new with new Roomba J9+ robotic vacuums?

The Roomba J9 + and J9+ Combo are arriving from pioneering robot maker iRobot. What's new in how they clean floors? Director of Floorcare Warren Fernandez chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin.

[@missmonasuzette]

I didn't want a mop so I'm glad there is an option for just vac alone. I have a house full of hardwoods that I don't want to risk being damaged, plus it seems like the mop combo models are just one more thing that could malfunction, not to mention more hassle and the cost of solution. I don't see how those little pads could possibly get the floors very clean. I do have one question. Does the Roomba J9+ get tangled in area rug fringe? My i7 does and it's not fun getting it untangled. I had to cut some of the fringe off my rug to get it out. Can I set it so it avoids the fringe?

[@glohora]

I can’t find anywhere a comparison between the suction power of the s9 plus and the j9 plus, especially on carpets. Can you help please?

[@joeywynnyczuk1563]

The s9+ has more suction power. If you're looking for more power on carpet the s9+ is the way to go.

[@liadbar-el8570]

With all of these features and add-ons, the Robot is getting taller and my king size bed remains the same height from the floor. I can't clean under it by hand and I will have to stay with old Robots. Advice to iRobot: make them thinner.

[@anamariajuch-calero6116]

I agree. I am about to buy the combo j9 but my fear is, if it is taller, how much taller is it from for instance i8?

[@WarpedTrekker]

@@anamariajuch-calero6116 it is not taller at all. same height as previous roombas.

[@alonsomartinez9588]

I will wait until they automatically replace pads. I don’t know that they can call it hands free for 30 days.

[@brandonavants7662]

Or clean the pad! This really doesn’t help me. :(

[@tjheritage7986]

I hope that this robot can distinguish the waste of a small dogs that often doing it at home, as opposed to the large dogs that do it outside.

[@corey9200]

This is what the Roomba J7+ Combo should have been, and it's still behind in terms of tech. I have the RoboRock S7 MaxV and this product, at least to me, feels like they are trying to justify being so far behind the competition in terms of technology. I hope they up their game and prices.

[@Jsebas289]

I have a Roborock S8 ultra that only functioned for about 3 months. I had to redeploy my roombas s7 to make up for the missing roborock. Ill take a better robot over newer tech 😅

[@KevingalvezGalvez]

I wouldn’t call that mopping, a correct way to called it would be wiping down a tiny section. It will not clean all your floors it will instead just drag and smear dirt all over. Very misleading. I will buy a combo when it can actually scrub off and clean all the dirt off the floor. Also the circular shape is not the most ideal shape in my opinion, it will never clean the corners of your house. I like the shape of their Roomba® s9 series better.

[@BotvacProductions469]

irobot is the reason neato went out of buisness. roombas still cant clean corners! its R O U N D, and the edge is square. the corners are still dirty after my roomba "cleaned " them

[@brandonavants7662]

lol we want a seamless experience, but you gotta replace the pads.

[@BotvacProductions469]

maybe there will be a thing called "self pad replacing and epty into the trash technology

[@brandonavants7662]

@@BotvacProductions469 kinda like spell check?

[@BotvacProductions469]

@@brandonavants7662 what?

[@markhoffman]

Swap a mop pad myself? Unacceptable…I want a seamless experience… I want the DoorDash person to come into my house and hand feed me my order and wipe my chin.

[@pleaseletitgo1818]

You still have to replace the pads…… so I’ll pass!