Review: iRobot makes a fine comeback with the Roomba Max 705 Combo after a quiet spell
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iRobot is back with its most advanced 2-in-1 robot yet, as it looks to reclaim ground in a crowded market
After a quiet few years, iRobot, the brand that pretty much turned robot vacuums into a household name, is back, and its Roomba brand has some catching up to do.
It's not exaggerating to suggest iRobot pretty much defined the robot vacuum category during the early surge in interest, but now it no longer has the market to itself, and competition has never been more fierce.
That's why its latest launch, the Roomba Max 705 Combo is big news. This has to be quite the comeback, and it's no surprise that it's the most advanced 2-in-1 robot iRobot has ever built. We've certainly been kept waiting long enough.
It combines vacuuming and mopping in a single unit, backed by a large self-cleaning dock, which brings it bang up to date.
And, here's some more big news, it has LiDAR, something rarely seen on Roombas, and it's coupled with some clever AI tech to avoid obstacles and map rooms.
Another major addition is a roller mop. It promises to make up for what has been something of a weakness in the iRobot stable, and it's a fresh approach in a sea of robot vacuums that usually rely on spinning disc mops.
The mop is continually washed during use and extends into corners, while a protective mop cover automatically deploys to keep carpets dry.
This is clever, because it solves one of the most common frustrations with combo robots: soggy rugs and compromised vacuuming.
The combination of LiDAR mapping and camera-based AI allows the Roomba Max 705 Combo to map homes in 3D and avoid everyday obstacles like cables, toys and pet mess. That might not be a cutting-edge feature any more, but iRobot has always had one of the best mapping and avoidance system, and the LiDAR addition really ramps it up a notch.
iRobot claims the Max 705 Combo has “175x more suction”, which sounds impressive, but the comparison is made against much older Roomba models rather than modern competitors. So it’s a technically valid statistic, but not a particularly useful one.
That said, suction power is impressive, even on carpets, so it's continuing the Roomba theme there. It's also a surprisingly compact setup, which is good for people with smaller spaces. Twin rotating brushes help it get into tight spots, too.
The price is another interesting topic. At launch, the Roomba Max 705 Combo was pitched at £1,099, which put it in a very hectic end of the market, and it could be argued it didn't really have the credentials to do battle with the new breed of flagships.
However, there is usually a heavy discount on it, bringing the price down to a more realistic figure. Currently it's on the iRobot website for £549, including a free starter pack worth £100.
And that's a really sensible price. In fact, there's a lot to like about the Roomba Max 705 Combo. It's a fine return to form, and proof that not only is iRobot back, it's still capable of producing innovative and market-leading tech.
A solid comeback, then. It's a polished, capable and confidence-driven flagship that might not deliver a knockout blow, but it does a great job of putting the brand back on the map.