The
new
Roomba
Combo
2
Essential
and
Roomba
Vac
2
Essential
include
a
dock
for
self-emptying
their
dirt
bins
—
a
feature
missing
from
the
budget-friendly
Essential
robovacs
that
iRobot
introduced
six
months
ago.
The
2-in-1
Combo
2
features
both
vacuuming
and
mopping
capabilities
for
$424.99
and
is
slightly
more
expensive
than
the
Vac
2,
which
only
sucks
up
dust
and
dirt
for
$399.99.
The
Combo
2
is
now
the
most
expensive
option
in
iRobot’s
Essential
line
and
slightly
pricier
than
the
$400
DreameBot
D10
Plus,
our
current
choice
for
the
best
budget
robot
vacuum
and
mop.
The
Vac
2
is
available
via
“select
retailers”
in
North
America
(including
Target
and
Best
Buy,
so
far)
and
has
the
same
features
as
the
Combo
except
for
the
mopping
capabilities,
which
contributes
to
its
lower
price.
Both
vacuums
have
a
self-emptying
dock,
up
to
120
minutes
of
battery
life,
and
the
ability
to
perform
cleaning
routines
that
can
run
automatically
or
start
manually
from
a
button
on
the
robot,
in
the
mobile
app,
or
by
voice
command
to
Alexa,
Siri,
or
Google
Assistant-capable
smart
device.
The
Roomba
Combo
2
Essential
is
a
2-in-1
robovac
with
basic
mopping
capabilities.Image:
iRobot
When
a
cleaning
routine
is
complete
(or
when
its
battery
is
close
to
dying),
the
Combo
2
will
automatically
return
to
its
included
AutoEmpty
dock,
where
the
contents
of
its
dust
bin
will
be
sucked
into
a
bag
that
iRobot
says
is
large
enough
to
hold
60
days’
worth
of
dirt.
The
bag
is
also
self-sealing,
making
the
process
of
replacing
and
throwing
it
away
a
little
cleaner.
The
Combo
2’s
mopping
capabilities
require
a
little
more
maintenance.
The
charging
dock
can’t
automatically
refill
the
tank
used
to
moisten
the
robovac’s
reusable
microfiber
mop
pad,
and
rugs
will
need
to
be
manually
moved
out
of
the
way
during
a
cleaning
routine
that
involves
water,
as
the
Combo
2
can’t
retract
its
mop
pad
when
transitioning
from
hard
floors
to
carpeting.
iRobot
says
the
new
Combo
2
features
“100
percent
stronger
suction
compared
to
the
Roomba
Combo
Essential”
while
cleaning
for
up
to
120
minutes
on
a
single
charge.
But
the
company
doesn’t
specify
which
of
the
four
levels
of
suction
power
will
yield
a
two
hour
runtime.
At
maximum
power,
you
can
potentially
expect
a
cleaning
routine
to
last
less
than
two
hours.
Also,
the
Combo
2’s
navigation
isn’t
as
advanced
as
what
you’ll
find
on
more
expensive
Roomba
models.
This
robovac
relies
on
“specialized
sensors”
and
an
“enhanced
bumper”
to
avoid
obstacles
as
it
simply
crisscrosses
a
room.
Although
it
can
display
a
visual
representation
of
where
it’s
traveled
through
the
iRobot
app,
the
Combo
2
can’t
generate
3D
maps
of
a
room
to
know
where
it
has
and
hasn’t
cleaned.
The
Roomba
Vac
2
Essential
is
the
vacuum-only
version
of
the
Roomba
Combo
2
Essential
robovac.Image:
iRobot
Original author: Andrew Liszewski
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