The New Roomba Has Evolved Past Needing Humans

Robot vacuums can do a lot; they can climb stairs and are smart enough to know when to get serious about tackling the dirtiest of stains. So, I was shocked to find out that Roombas couldn’t clean themselves, particularly the mopping pad. It looks as though robot vacuums have hit a new stage of evolution: true self-cleaning.

According to The Verge, iRobot’s newest cleaning device, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, takes that decidedly filthy task out of your hands. Not only can the 10 Max wash its own mop, but it can also empty its bin and refill the mopping tank, making it the hands-free cleaning robot that I already thought it was. The functionality doesn’t come cheap, though, as the Roomba Combo 10 Max is available for pre-order for a budget-smashing $1,300.

In another big leap for smart home devices and an obvious attempt to sweeten the pot, the 10 Max will be the first robot vacuum to support Matter. For those unfamiliar, Matter is a newish IOT connectivity standard that allows smart home devices to talk to each other. The latest iteration, Matter 1.2, allows users to control smart home devices via platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home.

But back to this self-cleaning business. The secret sauce is in the dock. This is iRobot’s first robo vacuum with what the company says is the fully multifunction charging dock. Not only can the 10 Max clean its mop and dry itself, but the vacuum can empty and refill its water tank. In order to cut down on malodorous emissions, the tank is made of antimicrobial plastic that will also cut down on any gross bacterial growth. Is it worth $1,300? Not sure, but I’d love to find out.