iRobot Adds Self-Emptying to Its Roomba Essential Range

iRobot added automatic dust emptying to its lower-priced Essential range on October 21, 2024. The North American launch introduced Roomba Combo 2 Essential at USD 424.99 and the vacuum-only Roomba Vac 2 Essential at USD 399.99, with both supplied with an AutoEmpty dock.

The dock collects debris in a sealed bag that iRobot said could hold up to 60 days of dirt under its stated usage assumptions. The robots also gained an updated bumper and recharge-and-resume operation, allowing them to return to a cleaning task after replenishing the battery.

Combo 2 Essential combines vacuuming with a removable microfiber mopping pad. It offers four suction settings and three water levels, with a manufacturer-rated runtime of up to 120 minutes. For a combined vacuum-and-mop run, iRobot's instructions call for rugs to be moved out of the way; the pad does not provide the same carpet-handling arrangement as higher-tier lifting systems.

The company also reported Combo 2 Essential availability in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The quoted dollar figures are North American launch prices from 2024. The announcement's main portfolio change was bringing a self-emptying station to the Essential series.