iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

It's mixed. In some homes the Roomba Combo j5+ maps rooms well and steers around obstacles, but bad maps, unfinished jobs and bumping into furniture are common complaints. Its avoidance can also be over-cautious enough to skip whole areas. On a cluttered floor, expect to check the app for missed spots after a run.

Both happen. In some homes the j5+ keeps floors clean and handles dust bunnies with pets around. In others it pushes debris around, misses dirt and seems short on suction. Results vary enough from home to home that the first few weeks are worth watching closely while a return is still easy.

Hard floors, clearly. On tile, vinyl and similar surfaces the Combo j5+ does much better, while on carpet and rugs it often leaves fuzz and embedded dirt behind. A home that's mostly rugs will get less out of it, and it may need a separate vacuum for deep carpet cleaning.

No. The j5+ mop drags a damp pad across the floor, which handles light messes on hard floors but not dried-on stains. You swap the vacuum bin for the Combo Bin to mop, and No Mop Zones in the iRobot Home app keep it off carpets. Some units also misread the vacuum bin as the mop bin until reset.

Not always. Some households go weeks without touching the bin, but a frequent complaint is that the base fails to clear the robot's bin, leaving it to be emptied by hand. The Combo j5+ is fairly quiet while it cleans; the base is very loud for a few seconds every time it empties.

iRobot says it avoids cords, socks, shoes, pet bowls and pet waste. Its P.O.O.P. promise offers a free replacement if it runs over pet waste, subject to iRobot's terms.