\n<\/p>\n
With a new owner looming<\/a>, iRobot is already getting into the Amazon discounting game by dropping the prices on its brand-new vacuums this Cyber Monday. On Friday, it started with its new budget and midrange lines<\/a>, the Roomba Combo i5 Plus and Combo j5 Plus, and on Sunday, iRobot slashed $400 off its new top-of-the-line models<\/a>, the j9 Plus and Combo j9 Plus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Roomba j9 Plus is the company\u2019s flagship robot vacuum and is on sale for $599,\u00a0<\/strong>down from $899 at\u00a0Amazon<\/a>. It comes with a self-empty dock and all the smarts of the Roomba j7<\/a>, including AI-powered obstacle avoidance to steer clear of household clutter such as cords, clothes, shoes, and pet poop, plus higher suction power than the j7. It also adds the option of three vacuuming levels (previously only found on the Roomba s9) and has a new feature called Dirt Detective that learns which rooms are dirtiest in your home and cleans them first. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Roomba Combo j9 Plus mopping version is also $400 off, on sale for\u00a0$999, down from $1,399<\/a>. This is the first Roomba that can refill its own mop reservoir as well as empty its bin. Its redesigned self-empty\/fill dock has a new stylish look that\u2019s also practical \u2014 its wooden top can act as a side table, and it has space for extra supplies for the robot. Unlike most other mopping robots, the Combo j9 has a retractable mop that it can lift up over its body when it needs to vacuum carpet. Read my review of the Combo j7<\/a> to see how it works.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Combo j9 adds a new mopping feature (also coming to the j7) called SmartScrub that moves the robot back and forth while mopping to simulate scrubbing. SmartScrub combines with Dirt Detective to target rooms that are more likely to need it, like kitchens and entryways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve not tested these new bots yet, but as an upgrade to my\u00a0top budget pick, the Roomba i3 Evo<\/a>\u00a0(which is hard to find right now), the Combo i5 Plus adds a swappable mopping bin and a sleeker self-empty base. It has mapping but no keep-out zones, so it is best for hardwood floors \u2014 unlike the higher-end Combo models, it doesn’t lift its mop up when it comes across carpet. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The new\u00a0Roomba Combo j5 Plus<\/a> is essentially the same robot but with more smarts. It allows for keep-out zones and no-mop zones and has the AI-powered obstacle avoidance of the j7 and j9 lines, so it will avoid common household clutter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n All the new models work with the iRobot app for scheduling and mapping and can be controlled by smart home platforms and voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple\u2019s Siri.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Feeling a little overwhelmed on what deals to pounce on? Need some tech buying advice? Our\u00a0<\/em>Verge Deals\u00a0team is here for your retail therapy, and we\u2019ll be answering your burning shopping questions for Cyber Monday live on November 27th at 11AM ET.\u00a0<\/em>Leave a question here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n