New Smaller, Cheaper Roombas Hit the Market
▼ Summary
– iRobot announced eight new Roombas with lower prices, some up to £200 cheaper, and improvements including higher suction power, smaller size, and roller mops.
– The new models are up to 25 percent smaller for better navigation under low furniture, and feature increased suction and improved navigation across the line.
– The lineup launches in mid-2026, starting with Roomba 415 Combo and 115 Combo, with UK prices from £229 to £799.
– The flagship Roomba Max 775 has 30,000Pa suction, dual rubber rollers, a self-cleaning roller mop, and a new hot spot mopping feature with pressurized spray.
– The expanded lineup includes multiple models at different price points, similar to competitors, with variations in mopping systems, suction power, and obstacle detection.
A year after filing for bankruptcy and debuting its first lidar-equipped robot vacuums, iRobot has unveiled a completely revamped lineup of Roombas. This week, the company introduced eight new models that are not only more capable but also significantly more affordable, with price drops of up to £200 (around $270) on certain models. The key updates include higher suction power, a more compact design for better maneuverability, more models featuring roller mops, and the debut of a new “hot spot mopping” feature.
Now owned by Shenzhen Picea Robotics, a Chinese original design manufacturer specializing in robotic vacuums, iRobot says many of its new bots are up to 25 percent smaller. This allows them to glide under furniture as low as 9 centimeters, a major advantage for homes with tight spaces. Across the board, suction power has been boosted, and navigation systems have been refined for smarter cleaning.
The new Roombas are slated for a mid-2026 launch, rolling out gradually across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Roomba 415 Combo and 115 Combo appear to be the first to hit shelves, as they are already listed as “coming soon” on iRobot’s UK website.
While iRobot has only shared UK pricing with The Verge, the lineup starts at £229 (roughly $309) for the base model 115 and tops out at £799 (about $1,080) for the flagship 775. That’s a noticeable reduction from the previous generation, which ranged from £249 to £999 (or $299 to $999 in the US). Full specs and feature details are still under wraps, but here is what we know so far.
Roomba Max
The premium Roomba Max 775 Combo, priced at £799, is the top-tier model available in white or black. It boasts a massive 30,000Pa of suction, a significant leap from the 16,000Pa found on the 705 series. It also features Roomba’s signature dual rubber roller brushes, which excel at removing hair from carpets, and a self-cleaning roller mop equipped with the new hot spot mopping technology.
This hot spot mopping feature uses a “pressurized hot-spray pre-treatment” to loosen sticky, dried-on messes before scrubbing begins, according to iRobot. While this spray concept is new for robot vacuums, it first appeared on the Ecovacs Deepot X12 Omnicycle last month. However, the idea traces back to iRobot’s original Braava floor mopper.
The 775 comes with an AutoWash dock that empties the dustbin, washes the mop with hot water, and dries it with hot air. For those who prefer a vacuum-only option, the Roomba Max 715 is available at £549, featuring the same specs and an auto-empty dock. Both models rely on iRobot’s most advanced lidar navigation and camera-based, AI-powered obstacle detection to navigate homes and avoid cords, shoes, and clutter.
Roomba Plus
The mid-range Roomba Plus line includes the 615 at £599 and the 675 at £699. Both are combo vacuum-and-mop robots with roller mops, bringing this feature to a more accessible price point. They also include the new hot spot mopping and offer suction power between 20,000 and 30,000Pa.
These models use iRobot’s standard lidar navigation combined with camera-based, AI obstacle detection, though it is less advanced than the system in the 700 series. The AutoWash docks on these models have a more utilitarian design.
The Roomba Plus 575 Combo, also £599, switches to dual spinning mop pads instead of a roller mop and comes with AI-powered obstacle detection. Its suction reaches up to 20,000Pa, a major improvement over the prior 500 series models, which maxed out at 7,000Pa. The 515 Combo (£549) and 415 Combo (£449) share the same features but omit the camera-based object recognition.
Roomba 115 Combo
At the entry level, the Roomba 115 Combo costs just £229 and delivers 15,000Pa of suction, more than double the 7,000Pa of its predecessor. It uses a removable, washable microfiber pad with an onboard water tank for mopping. For an extra £70, buyers can opt for a version with an auto-empty dock.
This expanded lineup mirrors the strategy of competitors like Ecovacs and Roborock, offering multiple models with subtle variations across a wide price range. The idea is to help customers find the perfect fit for their needs and budget, though it can be overwhelming to sift through all the specs. We plan to test these new Roombas and will share our findings once iRobot releases more details.
(Source: The Verge)
