Roomba Combo j9+ vs. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra vs. Dreame L20 Ultra – Which one is better?

Choosing a high-end robot vacuum cleaner is not as simple as it was a few years ago, because there are more and more interesting options on the market. In addition to Roomba, which is the premium robot vacuum cleaner brand par excellence, other companies like Roborock have managed to launch their products at a level that matches Roomba. Today we bring you a comparison in which you will be able to check it, and in which we analyze the Roomba Combo j9+, Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L20 Ultra. 

Looking at its price, it is easy to understand that we are looking at three robot vacuum cleaners that are very similar to each other. In fact , all three have a suction power that not many models can aspire to (note the irony). Although, in this sense, we must say that iRobot (the company that owns Roomba) does not provide information about suction power as transparently as the rest. By using it we realize its excellence, but not because they communicate it.

Likewise, the three robot vacuum cleaners that we have chosen are equipped with a super complete automatic emptying and filling station, although only two of them have the functions of drying and washing the mop. Another of the differentiating elements between the three robot vacuum cleaners is the type of navigation, although all three have technology that allows them to identify objects.

We are going to analyze the three robot vacuum cleaners in detail so that you can get a better idea of ​​which one best fits your search preferences. Do you want to know? Keep reading!

Roomba Combo j9+ vs Roborock S8 Pro Ultra vs Dreame L20 Ultra – Comparative table

If you want to know what the main differences are between the three robot vacuum cleaners that are the subject of this review, we show them in the following comparative table:

(Swipe the table to see all the content)

What are the emptying stations like?

As we have mentioned, all three robot vacuum cleaners have built-in stations to increase the level of independence, but they are not exactly the same. The Roomba Combo j9+ has an automatic emptying and refilling station. That is, the robot empties its own internal tank and, in addition, the mopping water tank fills itself. This gives it an autonomy of up to 30 days, making vacuuming much more comfortable for you.

In the case of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L20 Ultra, the stations add two more functions to the auto-emptying and auto-filling functions: both can wash and dry the mop on their own. In terms of autonomy, the Roborock station can be used for approximately 7 weeks, while the Dreame station can be used for approximately 75 days. This, however, depends on how often you use the robots and the amount of dirt they collect, it is approximate.

On the other hand, if we compare the capacity of the tanks, we see that the Dreame L20 Ultra comes out ahead, since its tank has 4.5 liters, compared to the 2.5 liters of the Roborock base, which is just over 2 liters in the Roomba.

Adjustable power, but at different levels

Suction power is one of the most interesting aspects when we compare different robot vacuum cleaners. In this case, if you have used a Roomba before you will know that it is not a brand that usually gives this information. Particularly, we don’t understand why, because it is one of the most powerful on the market, and that is something you realize when you try it. However, it simply says that it has 10 times the suction power of the 600 series. 

For its part, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a maximum power of 6000 Pascals, which rises to 7000 Pascals in the Dreame. These two robots have 4 levels to regulate power, one more than the 3 that Roomba has. It should be noted that both the Roborock and the Dreame work especially well on carpets, something that is not as common in other models.

Does the type of navigation change?

Yes, it changes slightly. Roborock and Dreame robots base their navigation on a laser system, which is usually more precise than any other. And not only that, but they combine it with a ToF sensor in the case of Roborock and with a three-dimensional camera in the case of Dreame. This means that, in addition to performing a super complete initial mapping, they can save interactive maps of each plant. On these maps, they can establish the most optimized cleaning routes.

The Roomba Combo j9+ is also capable of anticipating the most efficient cleaning, but it does not use laser navigation. The brand opts for PrecisionVision, a navigation system that is fundamentally based on cameras. In the specific model we are analyzing, it is reinforced with a laser light that improves visibility in dark areas, and this allows it to identify more different objects. Actually, it is a camera navigation system that has little to envy of the laser.

In all three cases, it is also possible to carry out intelligent room management. Through the app, you can view the maps and decide which areas you want it to go through and which not, the order of cleaning each room, when to schedule the start of cleaning, etc.

They vacuum and scrub simultaneously

If you are a fan of Roomba, you will know that Roomba Combo is the brand’s first model that can vacuum and mop at the same time. Until then, it was possible to synchronize robot vacuum cleaners with iRobot floor mopping robots, but there was no model that combined both functions. The Roomba Combo j9+ does. In this case, there are no differences compared to the Roborock and Dreame, since in both cases, it is also possible to decide if you want to only vacuum, only mop or perform both functions together.

Analyzing brushes and mops

The brushes are one of the key components in these robot vacuum cleaners, because the effectiveness of the cleaning depends on them. Both the Roomba Combo j9+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra have a double rubber brush in the central part, which allows for much stronger vacuuming. The Dreame L20 has a brush that is also made of rubber, although it is not double.

The fact that the brushes are made of rubber shows that they are three models designed for cleaning in homes with pets, since the hair gets tangled less than with bristle brushes. It should be noted that both the brush and the mop raise automatically, a very interesting feature if we are vacuuming floors with carpets. Thus, when the robot detects a carpet and is mopping, the mop raises itself.

In this sense, it is worth highlighting a super useful function that the Dreame L20 Ultra has, the mop extension. Basically, it is the ability to extend the mop to mop edges and corners more efficiently. It is an example of the technological and innovation capacity that the brand is betting on. Additionally, the Dreame L20 Ultra can leave both mops on the automatic station if you only want it to vacuum.

Let’s talk about the battery

The battery is another aspect that we can use to compare the performance of the robots, although, in this case, all of them are almost perfect. Keep in mind that all three have the “Recharge and resume” mode, so that if the battery is going to run out and they have not completed the cleaning, they return to the base to recover it and continue. This makes the maximum autonomy that each one can last lose importance, although we must say that, in the worst case (the Roomba), it is about two hours. Normally, this is enough time to complete the cleaning.

What is the robot vacuum cleaner we would choose?

At this point, we only have to decide which of the three robot vacuum cleaners we would choose. The first thing we should look at is the price, and, in this case, it is not a decisive element, because all three have a price equivalent to high-end robots, between which the difference is minimal. That said, the question is to see which one has the best value for money. And, in our opinion, the Roomba Combo j9+ has a disadvantage compared to its two rivals, and that is that the station does not have automatic drying and washing of the mop, a function that we find very interesting if you are already willing to spend more money in a robot vacuum cleaner.

On the other hand, the Roborock and Dreame have really good suction power, and both have a laser-based navigation system. Furthermore, in any of the three we can see that there is a technology that allows them to identify a greater variety of objects, which makes cleaning even more autonomous and independent. And, as far as the battery is concerned, both the Roborock and the Dreame can last approximately 3 hours running, and both have the recharge and return function.

Therefore, our decision would lean towards one of these two models, the RoborockS8 Pro Ultra or the Dreame L20 Ultra. The Dreame perhaps offers a little more autonomy if you only want to vacuum, since it leaves the mops in the station. But, as you already know, it’s just up to you to decide which one best fits what you’re looking for.