Roomba Combo 10 Max Review: A Jack-of-All-Trades, But Master of None

So, I decided to test out the Roomba Combo 10 Max, and here’s the lowdown. This thing promises a lot, from vacuuming and mopping to somehow knowing which rooms are dirtier. But promises and reality don’t always match up. When you open the box, you're hit with a decent enough looking machine. It's black, sleek, and feels quite robust.

Setting it up was a breeze. Just plug in the AutoWash Dock, and the Roomba gets to work mapping your house pretty quickly. The claim is that it maps 7x faster than before. Honestly, I didn't clock it, but it felt fast enough. I could see my home layout on the app in no time. So, in terms of getting started, it's pretty smooth sailing.

With all its features, it sounds like it should practically do everything but make you coffee. However, things aren't always as rosy. The first thing I noticed after a couple of uses was how it handles different surfaces. It transitions well from hardwood to carpet, thanks to its smart mop system that lifts itself up. You won’t find soaked carpets here, which is a relief.

Overall, the first impression is strong but let’s dig deeper to see how it fares in the long run.

At its price point, the Roomba Combo 10 Max is definitely an investment. It does offer a lot of features packed in one device: vacuuming, mopping, self-cleaning, and mapping. For someone looking for an all-in-one solution, it could be seen as good value given everything it can do.

However, compared to other robotic vacuums on the market, it falls short in a few areas. For instance, the main competitor, Roborock, offers similar features with better cleaning performance and often at a lower price. So, while iRobot's brand reputation is solid, this particular model feels a bit pricier without delivering a huge benefit over its peers.

If you're someone who doesn’t mind spending a bit more for convenience and the brand, then it might be a good fit. But if you're looking for sheer cleaning power and value for money, there might be better options out there.

In summary, it’s a decent product that functions well enough, but whether it's worth its price depends on how much you value its convenience features over raw cleaning performance.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max, aesthetically, is not going to win any design awards, but it doesn't look bad either. It's got that typical Roomba look: round, low-profile, and generally unobtrusive. The black color gives it a sleek appearance, though it might show dust a bit more than a lighter color. But hey, it's a vacuum, so it should be cleaning itself, right?

What stood out to me was the practical design elements, especially the Auto-Retract Mopping System. This feature is neat because it helps keep your carpets dry by lifting the mop when moving from hard floors to carpet areas. It’s a thoughtful touch, and in practice, it works as advertised. No complaints about wet carpets here.

The build feels pretty solid. At 15.4 kg, it’s not lightweight, but it’s manageable. The dimensions are quite standard for a robot vacuum, so it fits well under most furniture. I didn’t find it struggling or getting stuck, which is always a good sign.

In summary, while the design isn't anything groundbreaking, it's practical and seems built to last. It looks like iRobot has focused more on functionality, which in this case, is a good thing.

Battery life is an essential factor for any robotic vacuum, and the Roomba Combo 10 Max holds up reasonably well. On a full charge, it runs for about two hours on average. For a small to medium-sized home, that's generally enough to get through all the rooms. It’s not the longest-lasting battery out there, but it's pretty standard for this type of device.

The AutoWash Dock doubles as a charging station, which keeps things neat and tidy. One nice feature is the auto-return when the battery runs low. The Roomba manages to find its way back to the dock pretty consistently, which saves you the hassle of manually placing it there. However, if your home is particularly large or has complex layouts, it might not make it back on the first try.

Recharge time is about what you'd expect, taking a few hours to get back to full. This means that if you're planning to have multiple cleaning sessions in a day, you'll have to schedule them with enough downtime in between, which can be a bit limiting.

Overall, battery life is decent but doesn’t blow you away. It’s adequate for regular cleaning but might require some strategic planning for larger homes.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max comes in a sturdy box, and the unboxing experience is as straightforward as you'd expect. Everything is packed securely, which is nice to see, and each component is individually wrapped to prevent any damage during shipping.

Inside the box, you’ll find the Roomba itself, the AutoWash Dock, a power cord, and a user manual. It’s a pretty minimal package, but it has everything you need to get up and running. I appreciate the simplicity; there's nothing worse than being overwhelmed with unnecessary bits and pieces.

The packaging is mostly recyclable, which is a plus in today's eco-conscious world. I didn't notice a lot of excessive plastic, which is always a pleasant surprise.

Overall, the packaging is solid and functional. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but it does the job of getting the product to you safely, which is what really matters.

Performance is where the Roomba Combo 10 Max has some highs and lows. On hard floors, it performs quite well. The vacuuming is pretty thorough and the mop ensures that any lingering dirt is picked up. The mop pad is washed and dried automatically which is a nice touch, reducing maintenance.

However, on carpets, while it vacuums decently, it does sometimes miss spots, especially when transitioning from hard floors. The suction is generally strong but can struggle with heavier debris. I noticed this especially after a busy weekend with kids and pets leaving quite a mess.

One of the features it touts is the Dirt Detect Technology, which is supposed to clean dirtier spots more thoroughly. It does work to an extent, but I wouldn’t say it’s perfect. In some cases, it felt like I had to manually intervene to get a proper clean, which is a bit disappointing.

Overall, it gets the job done for regular maintenance cleaning, but for a deep clean, you might find yourself needing to go over the area again with a manual vacuum. It’s more a maintenance device than a heavy-duty cleaner.