Why does pad odor matter if the dock is enclosed?

None of these robots' records states how quickly an idle pad develops odor. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ has no station that washes its pad, so the owner rinses it by hand between runs. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame X60 Ultra docks wash pads in hot water and dry them, and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra dock washes and dries its pad. Odor timing is not verified on any of these records.

Can manual rinsing of pads replace an automated wash cycle?

None of these robots' records compares hand rinsing with an automated wash for hygiene. On the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, rinsing the mop pad by hand is part of the weekly routine, because its dock does not wash the pad. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame X60 Ultra docks wash and dry the pads automatically, which removes that step but adds dock upkeep such as filter cleaning and tank handling.

Does heat drying actually extend pad lifespan?

None of these robots' records states how much heat drying extends pad life. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame X60 Ultra docks all dry the pads after washing, and the S8 MaxV Ultra and X60 Ultra wash them in hot water. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ has no pad drying station; its owner rinses the pad by hand. Pad wear rates are not verified on any of these records.

How do these two mop-dock approaches handle a pet-heavy household?

These records do not rank the two approaches for pets. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ uses camera object recognition for pets, cords, socks and shoes, and its pad is rinsed by hand. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra dock seals hair and dust into a disposable bag and washes pads in hot water. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame X60 Ultra docks also self-empty and wash pads. Pad swap intervals for pet homes are not verified on any of these records.

What is the real maintenance difference between passive and active docks?

The records list different routines. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, whose dock does not wash the pad: clear brush hair, rinse the pad and check dock water weekly, refill the 3 liter reservoir about monthly, and change the dock bag every 60 days. Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: weekly dock filter cleaning, monthly spray-head inspection, a bag change every 60 to 90 days. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: monthly filter rinse and sump cleaning. Dreame X60 Ultra: empty the 3 liter dirty tank and top up the 4.2 liter clean tank after every use.

Comparisons · Robot Vacuums3 robots · checked 16 Oct 2026

Approaches compared

Robot mop docks: passive water feed vs active wash-and-squeeze

A mop dock can only feed the robot water, or it can also wash and dry the pad. This page compares what each dock does for the pad, the water, the drying and the cleaner.

This page checks

Pad washWhether the dock cleans the pad at all
Wash waterHow hot, as each maker prints it
DryingWhat happens to the pad after the wash
Cleaner and waterDetergent dosing and tank refills

iRobot

Roomba Combo j9+

IIIConditionalStrong

$1,399list

Where to buy

Amazon

Out of stock at iRobot; listed at select retailers

Jun 2024iRobot j-series firmware update expands obstacle recognition and carpet detection

Roborock

S8 MaxV Ultra

IIIConditionalExemplary

$1,799list

Where to buy

Manufacturer site Amazon

Out of stock at Roborock US

Dreame

X60 Ultra

IVEnvironmentalStrong

$1,499.99list

Where to buy

Amazon

Feb 2026Launches commercially in North America and Europe

Full specifications18 figures on record · 16 differ

Figure

Roomba Combo j9+

S8 MaxV Ultra

X60 Ultra

List price

Roomba Combo j9+$1,399

S8 MaxV Ultra$1,799

X60 Ultra$1,499.99

Released

Roomba Combo j9+Sep 2023

S8 MaxV UltraApr 2024

X60 UltraFeb 2026

Dock

Roomba Combo j9+Auto-empty, auto water refill

S8 MaxV UltraAuto-empty, mop washing, hot-water washing, drying, detergent dosing

X60 UltraAuto-empty, mop washing, hot-water washing, drying, auto water refill

Onboard bin

Roomba Combo j9+170 mL

S8 MaxV Ultra270 mL

X60 Ultra235 mL

Water tank

Roomba Combo j9+170 mL

S8 MaxV Ultra100 mL

X60 UltraNot on record

Dock dust bag

Roomba Combo j9+Not on record

S8 MaxV Ultra2.7 L

X60 Ultra3.2 L

Mop lift

Roomba Combo j9+Not on record

S8 MaxV Ultra20 mm

X60 Ultra10.5 mm

Threshold climb

Roomba Combo j9+0.6 in

S8 MaxV Ultra0.8 in

X60 Ultra3.5 in

Weight

Roomba Combo j9+8.9 lb

S8 MaxV UltraNot on record

X60 Ultra10.4 lb

Runtime

Roomba Combo j9+120 min

S8 MaxV Ultra180 min

X60 Ultra180 min

Charge time

Roomba Combo j9+180 min

S8 MaxV Ultra180 min

X60 UltraNot on record

Battery capacity

Roomba Combo j9+82.5 Wh

S8 MaxV Ultra75 Wh

X60 Ultra92 Wh

Suction

Roomba Combo j9+10,000 Pa

S8 MaxV Ultra10,000 Pa

X60 Ultra35,000 Pa

Noise

Roomba Combo j9+75 dB

S8 MaxV Ultra67 dB

X60 Ultra67 dB

Navigation

Roomba Combo j9+PrecisionVision Navigation: front-facing camera with iRobot OS object recognition for pets, cords, socks, and shoes

S8 MaxV UltraLiDAR + camera-based visual SLAM with AI obstacle detection.

X60 UltraRetractable LiDAR SLAM with 3D structured light and RGB camera obstacle recognition across 280-plus object classes, ProLeap 2.0 articulated legs clearing obstacles up to 3.47 in, multi-level map support, carpet detection

Connectivity

Roomba Combo j9+Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter, Alexa, Google Home

S8 MaxV UltraWi-Fi, Bluetooth, Alexa, Google Home

X60 UltraWi-Fi, Matter, Google Home, Alexa

Size

Roomba Combo j9+13.7 × 13.7 × 3.4 in

S8 MaxV Ultra13.8 × 13.8 × 4.1 in

X60 Ultra13.8 × 13.8 × 3.1 in

The same on all three

Battery type

Roomba Combo j9+Li-ion

S8 MaxV UltraLi-ion

X60 UltraLi-ion

Add a robot256 robot vacuums on record + Add a robot256 robot vacuums on record

Some links earn Robovations a commission. Nothing on this page is ranked by it.

Dock by dock

What each mop dock does for the pad

Only the Roomba Combo j9+ dock has no pad wash or dry: it refills the tank and you wash the pad. The other two wash and dry it and dose detergent. They differ in wash water: up to 140°F and 212°F.

iRobotRoomba Combo j9+

RoborockS8 MaxV Ultra

DreameX60 Ultra

1Pad wash at the dockDoes the dock clean the pad?

Roomba Combo j9+Pad washed by hand

The dock empties debris and refills water. Hands-on reviews: the pad needs washing by hand after mopping.

Hands-on reviews, Aug 2024 and Sep 2026

S8 MaxV UltraDock washes pad

Default wash every 15 minutes, adjustable in the app.

Roborock support page

X60 UltraDock washes pads

Cleaned by 20 spray nozzles. Pads detach and stay in the dock on high-pile carpet.

Dreame Australia product page

2Wash waterTemperature, as each maker prints it

Roomba Combo j9+

None

No wash cycle, so no wash water.

Hands-on reviews

S8 MaxV Ultra

140°F

Up to 140°F hot water wash. A hands-on review lists room temperature, warm and hot settings.

Roborock US product page

X60 Ultra

212°F

Dreame's Australia page lists this wash temperature. The mop pads then mop with 104°F water.

Dreame Australia product page

3DryingAfter the wash

Roomba Combo j9+No drying

The mop pad rides on top of the robot between runs. The dock has no spot to clean or dry it.

Hands-on reviews

S8 MaxV UltraHot air

140°F hot air dries the mop and the dock base.

Roborock US product page

X60 UltraHot air

Hot air drying is listed. No drying temperature found on the pages opened.

Dreame Australia product page

4Cleaner dosingDetergent added for you

Roomba Combo j9+

Not found

Searched iRobot's dock and robot pages. No detergent dosing by the dock is mentioned.

Searched iRobot US pages

S8 MaxV UltraAuto dosing

Automatic dispenser with a 580 ml tank, refilled about every three months.

Roborock US product page

X60 UltraAuto dosing

Dock mixes and refills solution automatically. A 200ml bottle of floor solution comes with it.

Dreame Australia product page

5Water to the robotHow its tank is refilled

Roomba Combo j9+Dock refills tank

Clean Base Auto-Fill dock "refills liquid for up to 30 days".

iRobot US product page

S8 MaxV UltraDock refills tank

Dock refills the robot's 100 ml tank from a 4 L clean tank. A plumbed kit is a separate listing.

Roborock support page and US store

X60 UltraDock refills tank

A hands-on review says the dock refills water automatically. Tank sizes not confirmed on pages opened.

Hands-on review, May 2026

Same on all three: the dock refills the robot’s water tank, and each robot lifts or detaches its mop on carpet.

In a utility room the Roomba Combo j9+'s mop pad lies under the running tap in a deep tub to be washed by hand, while the robot waits on the tiles below without it.

Your home

How each one fits a home like yours

Set the conditions that describe your home. Each robot answers from its own Fit Check; nothing is scored until you choose.

Fit check

Describe your home

Pick what applies. Each robot answers from its own record.

Primary floors

Mopping needs

Upkeep you accept

Across what you setEach robot’s own Fit Check

Roomba Combo j9+Set a condition

S8 MaxV UltraSet a condition

X60 UltraSet a condition

Primary floorsNot set

Roomba Combo j9+Not set

S8 MaxV UltraNot set

X60 UltraNot set

Mopping needsNot set

Roomba Combo j9+Not set

S8 MaxV UltraNot set

X60 UltraNot set

Upkeep you acceptNot set

Roomba Combo j9+Not set

S8 MaxV UltraNot set

X60 UltraNot set

Everything else

Where they land among 259 robot vacuums

Only the measures on which these three differ. The bar is the whole category; the block is the typical middle half; the tick is the median.

HeightClearance under furniture

Roomba Combo j9+

3.4 in

S8 MaxV Ultra

4.1 in

X60 Ultra

3.1 in

2.6typical 3.6–4 · median 3.87.8

RuntimeOne charge, maker figure

Roomba Combo j9+

120 min

S8 MaxV Ultra

180 min

X60 Ultra

180 min

60typical 120–207 · median 180360

List priceUS list price

Roomba Combo j9+

$1,399

S8 MaxV Ultra

$1,799

X60 Ultra

$1,500

$160typical $549–$1,200 · median $800$2,600

Sources

Where every figure comes from

Roomba Combo j9+ · iRobot US product page; Clean Base Auto-Fill dock page; Vacuum Wars review (Sep 2026 update); Yahoo Tech review (Aug 2024); How-To Geek review (Jan 2024)
S8 MaxV Ultra · Roborock US product page and support FAQ; Homekit News review (Apr 2025)
X60 Ultra · Dreame Australia product page (Dreame US page would not load in full); LB Tech Reviews (May 2026)

Dock functions were read from each maker's support or product page on 2 Oct 2026. Where a maker page would not load, a hands-on review is named as the source. Temperatures keep the maker's units.

Questions

What readers ask

Do I wash the Roomba Combo j9+ pad by hand?

Yes, according to hands-on reviews. The Clean Base Auto-Fill dock empties debris and refills water for up to 30 days, but it does not clean or dry the mop pad.

How hot is the dock's wash water?

The S8 MaxV Ultra goes up to 140°F, and Dreame’s Australia page prints 212°F for the X60 Ultra. The Roomba dock has no wash cycle.

Which docks dose detergent for you?

Roborock lists an automatic dispenser with a 580 ml tank for the S8 MaxV Ultra, and Dreame lists automatic solution refilling for the X60 Ultra. None was found for the Roomba dock.

Common questions

What readers ask about this comparison.

Next up

Which robot vacuums still clean when Wi-Fi is down?

Read the comparison

Comparison ID: RV–CMP–3457 · Last reviewed Jun 11, 2026 · Based on owner reports, manufacturer documentation, and firmware release notes

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