iRobot has unveiled its new Roomba Combo 2 Essential robot vacuum and mop. This affordable $425 hybrid robot adds a new AutoEmpty dock and twice the suction power of the original Combo Essential released earlier this year. This combination could be a strong competitor to some of the best robot vacuums we've tested, especially at this price.

This 2-in-1 robot combines multi-surface brushes, edge sweeper brushes, 100% more powerful power-lifting suction (compared to the original Combo Essential), and reusable textured microfiber mop pad for a 4-stage cleaning system.

The Roomba Combo Essential does not automatically equip or clean with a mop pad like the more expensive Roomba S9+, but the mop pad can be removed to run in vacuum-only mode on any type of floor. The Roomba Vacuum 2 Essential, announced for $399, also allows users to save cash by eliminating the mop cleaning function altogether.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential navigates precise rows with enhanced bumpers and special sensors. The robot cleans for up to 120 minutes on a single charge, and when the battery runs low, it automatically returns to the AutoEmpty dock to recharge and resume, completing the cleaning task. It works with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant-enabled devices.

The robot vacuum generates a smart clean map and logs wet-dry vacuuming to the iRobot app, showing how long it took the robot to clean an area and which parts of the room it cleaned. It also has smart features such as suggesting an automatic cleaning schedule when you are out of the house, creating detailed visual cleaning reports, and prioritizing room cleaning. These are all things I appreciate from the $1,400 Roomba J9+ combo I reviewed earlier this year.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential ($424.99, iRobot) is available in the U.S. now at iRobot.com and will soon be available on select retail sites, including Amazon. If mopping is not required, the vacuum-only Roomba Vacuum 2 Essential is also available for $399.99.