iRobot has announced the new Roomba Max 705 Combo, the latest and most advanced robot from one of the global leaders in robot vacuum cleaners.
It introduces a 'first-of-its-kind' cover to protect your carpets when transitioning from mopping to vacuuming, and its suction is said to be 175x stronger than iRobot's predecessors.
As a professional vacuum tester, I'm intrigued. iRobot has long been a favorite at Homes & Gardens, but the brand's latest release disappointed us on test, so I look forward to seeing whether the new Max 705 Combo could shape up to be the next best robot vacuum.
The Roomba Max 705 Combo promises powerful 2-in-1 cleaning
iRobot says that the 705 Combo's suction power is an incredible '175x stronger' than previous ones in its range. This is compared to the Roomba 600 series, which came out back in 2010 and shows a marked evolution for the brand.
'The Roomba Max 705 Combo combines more than three decades of our category expertise with the latest technology to deliver an elevated cleaning performance that no other 2-in-1 offers today,' says Gary Cohen, CEO of iRobot.
It's also said to have iRobot's most advanced mopping system yet – the PowerSpin Roller Mop with PerfectEdge – and promises deep corner cleaning and dry carpets thanks to its new mop cover, to help mop floors the right way without spreading dirty water around.
Like previous Roombas, the Max 705 Combo uses AI technology to build a 3D map of your home and identify obstacles to avoid – this includes pet accidents, which is vital if you're looking for the best robot vacuum for pet hair.
A major upgrade is the 75 days of self-emptying, heated mop washing and drying, self-cleaning, and auto-refilling that the new cleaning station can provide.
Robot vacuums are smart home must-haves if you prefer to be hands-off with your cleaning, and having more time between emptying and refilling your station is a nice touch (robot vacuums typically store dirty contents for up to 60 days).
My initial thoughts as a vacuum tester
Roombas certainly stand out from the 19 robot vacuums we've tested at Homes & Gardens. For a while the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ was our all-time favorite, banishing pet hair and dust while looking stylish in the process.
But the most recent iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max sadly didn't live up the brand's reputation, and we've since turned to other brands as our go-to recommendations, most notably the eufy Omni S1 Pro.
eufy robot vacuums have been a game-changer for pet hair cleanup, too, even in a home with constant shedding fur.
I'd be delighted to see the new Roomba Max 705 Combo steal the limelight again, but there's no denying that the market has caught up at a rapid rate when it comes to automated home cleaning technology found in robot vacuums.
Dreame's latest Aqua10 Roller, for example, has already devised the mop cover feature that's a first in the Max 705 Combo, and the Dreame can also clean its mop on the go for continuous fresh water on your floors. It also has a head-turning 30,000Pa suction, which is higher than any robot we've tested (iRobot hasn't announced the exact suction power of the Max 705 Combo).
We've also seen a Roborock robot that can pick up objects, showing the interesting new ways that this high-tech market is evolving.
iRobot's 'AI-driven' obstacle avoidance and mapping is standard in most robot vacuums, and it's one of the main ways to use AI at home. But while this feature isn't rare, we have found that Roombas excel in this department, and I'm excited to see whether the new Max 705 Combo can make things even more streamlined.
Ultimately, Roombas may have paved the way for robot vacuum innovation, but other brands have taken note and devised their ways to master automated cleaning. The competition is strong, so I'm excited to get my hands on the new Max 705 Combo to see how it fares.
The iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo is available for pre-sale in the UK and EU to ship in the next 1-2 weeks, and will be available in the US later this year.
What to shop
In the meantime, here are the robot vacuums we've tested and recommend for spotless floors with minimal effort. All prices were correct at the time of publication.
In our eufy Omni S1 Pro review, we praised this masterful robot's deep cleaning abilities, as well as its easy setup, unlimited filter refills and lifetime warranty. It's so powerful that it slashed our tester's canister vacuum usage by 90%.
The X10 Pro Omni is the predecessor to the Omni S1 Pro, and while it can't clean quite as effectively, especially on carpets, it's powerful enough that it should cost $100s more. Our full eufy X10 Pro Omni review reveals more.
Our Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 review explains why we recommend this excellent mid-range robot vacuum, if you want almost-immaculate floors without the effort.
If you're not ready to invest in an expensive robot vacuum, considering a cordless vacuum-mop combo is a great way to save money on deep floorcare. My Dreame H14 Pro review reveals why it's the best vacuum-mop combo we've ever tested.
The versatile Black+Decker steam mop can cut your chore time in half, thanks to its ability to clean everything from floors to soft furnishings to clothing. It's $100s cheaper than robots and expensive vacuum-mops.
It can't mop, but the Dyson V11 boasts tremendous suction power that can clean almost as well as a corded vacuum. In my Dyson V11 review, I learned that it could clean carpets, floors and upholstery with total ease, making it one of the best cordless vacuums you can buy.
Next, learn how to choose a robot vacuum cleaner, and the robot vacuum mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
