Roomba Inventor Bounces Back With 8 New Robot Vacuums

The inventor of the robot vacuum cleaner is back in business with a fresh start and ambitious new lineup.

iRobot emerged from bankruptcy this spring under new ownership by Chinese manufacturer Shenzhen PICEA Robotics. The company immediately announced eight new Roomba models that address the problems that led to its financial struggles in the first place.

The American company created an entirely new product category when it launched the first Roomba in 2001. But as cheaper competitors flooded the market, iRobot struggled to keep up and filed for voluntary bankruptcy late last year.

Now the reborn company is fighting back with robots that are up to 25 percent smaller and pack nearly double the cleaning power. The flagship Max 775 combo delivers 30,000 Pa of suction compared to 16,000 Pa in the previous top model.

The new lineup starts at around $309 for the base model 115 and reaches $1,080 for the flagship 775. That's roughly the same entry price as before but with significantly better performance across the board.

Even the budget friendly Roomba 115 Combo now offers 15,000 Pa of suction, double what it had before. More models include roller mops, and the company introduced a new "hot spot mopping" feature that targets stubborn stains with pressurized hot spray.

The Bright Side

This comeback story shows how manufacturers can learn from their mistakes and return stronger. By partnering with their Chinese manufacturing partner instead of fighting a losing price war, iRobot found a path forward that preserves the brand and innovation that made Roomba a household name.

The smaller sizes mean the new robots can navigate tighter spaces in homes, while the increased suction power helps them compete with budget brands on performance. Advanced features like LiDAR navigation and AI powered cameras remain standard on higher end models.

The timing couldn't be better as spring cleaning season approaches and consumers look for smart home solutions that actually deliver on their promises.