This new Roomba seals itself to your carpet
iRobot has unveiled a new flagship robot vacuum, the Roomba Max 875 Combo, alongside a midrange sibling, the Roomba Plus 678 Combo, marking the company's first appearance at a major trade show in years since being bought out of bankruptcy by contract manufacturer Picea Robotics in January. The headline feature is a new sealing system called SealForce, which lowers a skirt around the cleaning head on carpet to improve airflow and suction, addressing a common complaint about robot vacuums' carpet performance. The launch signals iRobot is trying to close the gap with rivals such as Narwal and Dreame, who already offer similar sealing technology.
The $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo offers 35,000 Pa of suction, the highest iRobot has ever disclosed, along with lidar and camera navigation, a single rubber brush, threshold climbing up to 3.5cm, and a self-cleaning mop with a new heated "ThermaMist" pretreatment spray and an auto-empty, self-washing dock. The cheaper $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo shares the SealForce technology and roller mop but has reduced suction of 30,000 Pa, no ThermaMist, and no retractable mop cover. Both models are available now via irobot.com.
- iRobot launches new flagship Roomba Max 875 Combo with SealForce carpet-sealing tech
- Also released: cheaper Roomba Plus 678 Combo at $899
- First major trade show appearance under new owner Picea Robotics
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iRobot is the company behind Roomba, one of the best-known brands of robot vacuum cleaners. These machines move around a home on their own, using sensors and maps to avoid obstacles and clean floors; “Combo” models can also mop hard surfaces.
Robot vacuums have often been less effective on carpets than ordinary upright cleaners, because a close seal around the floor helps suction pull dirt from between carpet fibres. Several newer competitors, including Narwal and Dreame, have introduced systems designed to improve that seal, increasing pressure on iRobot to match them.
iRobot has faced a difficult period, including financial problems and a change of ownership. Its new products therefore matter not only as household appliances, but as an attempt by the long-established Roomba maker to compete in a market where newer brands have added more powerful cleaning and navigation features.