TL;DR: iRobot launched two new Roomba robot vacuums with stronger suction, upgraded mapping, and self-empty dock options, as reported by iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
iRobot has expanded its Roomba lineup with two new robot vacuums aimed at everyday cleaning in United States homes, combining higher suction power, smarter navigation, and more automated dust disposal than the company's prior entry and midrange models. The launch was detailed on September 2, 2026, with US pricing, dock configurations, and retail availability outlined for the fall, according to iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
The two machines cover the two most common buying patterns in the category: a vacuum-only robot for carpet, hardwood, pet hair and daily debris, and a vacuum-and-mop combo robot for homes with mixed hard floors and area rugs. Both use lidar-based mapping, app-based room control, voice assistant support, and compatibility with self-empty charging bases, according to the same Verge report. The company positioned them as simpler to set up and maintain than flagship models while retaining core automation features, a point also described in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
What iRobot announced on September 2
The September 2 announcement added two distinct Roomba models to the US lineup, one focused on vacuuming and one that vacuums and mops in a single run. Both are wheeled, disc-shaped autonomous floor-cleaning robots that charge on a dock, return to the dock to recharge and resume, and can be scheduled from a smartphone app, as described by iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
iRobot framed the release as a refresh of its mainstream range rather than a limited edition. The vacuum-only model is intended as a high-value daily driver for apartments, single-family homes, and pet owners. The combo model adds a mopping pad and water tank system for kitchens, entryways, bathrooms and other hard-floor zones, while retaining carpet detection to avoid wetting rugs, according to iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Both robots are sold in the United States through iRobot.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Target and other authorized retailers. iRobot confirmed US power plugs, US warranty terms, English and Spanish app support, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri Shortcuts for voice-initiated cleaning, as noted in the company materials summarized by The Verge.
The launch does not replace iRobot's premium Combo 10 Max and flagship self-washing models. Instead, it fills the middle of the lineup where most US shoppers buy, between basic bump-navigation robots under 300 dollars and premium self-empty and self-wash stations above 800 dollars, according to the context provided in iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
The two new models at a glance
The first new robot is a dedicated vacuum, built for strong pickup on carpet and hard floors without a water tank. It uses a three-stage cleaning system with dual multi-surface rubber brushes, edge-sweeping brush, and high-efficiency filter, a layout iRobot has used across recent Roomba generations and carried forward here, as described in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
The second new robot is a vacuum-and-mop combo. It includes a removable microfiber mop pad, onboard water tank, and electronically controlled water flow with multiple water levels in the app. It can vacuum only, mop only, or vacuum and mop together, and it can be set to avoid carpets when mopping or to lift the mop pad over low-pile rugs where supported, according to iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
Both models include cliff-detection sensors for stairs, bumper sensors for furniture, carpet-boost for deeper carpet cleaning, and automatic recharge and resume for larger homes. Both ship with a standard charging dock in the base configuration and can be purchased in a bundle with a self-empty dock that transfers debris into a sealed bag, according to the specifications summarized by iRobot.
Color, dimensions and weight follow familiar Roomba design language. Each robot is round, low-profile for cleaning under sofas and beds, with a top-mounted lidar turret on mapping-enabled trims, a front bumper, two side wheels and a caster wheel, and a top button for start, pause and spot clean. The design emphasis is on fitting under standard US furniture clearances and navigating tight kitchens and hallways.
US pricing, bundles and availability
In the United States, the new vacuum-only Roomba starts at 299.99 dollars for the robot with a standard charging dock. The same robot bundled with a self-empty dock starts at 499.99 dollars, according to pricing detailed by iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
The new vacuum-and-mop Roomba Combo starts at 399.99 dollars with a standard charging dock. Bundled with a self-empty dock, it starts at 599.99 dollars. Replacement dust bags, filters, brushes and mop pads are sold separately through iRobot and retail partners, as listed in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Preorders opened September 2, 2026, on iRobot.com, with retail availability at Amazon, Best Buy and Target beginning in mid-September 2026. iRobot said initial shipments would cover the United States first, followed by Canada, with broader availability details to follow through regional stores. Shipping is ground-based within the contiguous United States, with delivery estimates shown at checkout.
The company is offering a standard one-year limited warranty in the US, with optional extended protection plans through select retailers. Trade-in and accessory-bundling promotions planned for the fall sales period were described as retailer-specific and not part of the base price, according to the launch materials.
What is in the box
Each base box includes the robot, charging dock with power cord, one high-efficiency filter installed plus one spare, one edge-sweeping brush installed, an illustrated quick-start guide, and warranty documentation. The combo box adds one microfiber mop pad and one washable pad holder, plus a fill bottle guide for the water tank, as listed by iRobot.
Self-empty bundles add the self-empty dock, one sealed dust bag pre-installed in the dock, and one spare bag. The dock uses short suction pulses to pull debris from the robot bin into the bag, reducing how often owners touch dust, according to iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Cleaning performance and suction upgrades
Both new Roombas offer increased suction compared with iRobot's prior entry-level models, with the company citing up to ten times the suction of the baseline Roomba 600 series for the vacuum model and similar gains for the combo model in vacuum mode. The figure refers to internal airflow testing versus that older baseline, not versus current flagship models, as explained in the launch documentation summarized by iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
The three-stage system pairs dual rubber brushes that flex to stay in contact with different floor types with directed suction and filtration. The dual-brush design is intended to reduce hair tangles compared with bristle brushes, a common issue in pet homes, while the side brush pulls debris from baseboards and corners into the main path, according to iRobot.
Carpet boost automatically increases suction on carpeted areas detected by acoustic and resistance sensors. On hard floors, the robots use a lower-power balance mode to extend runtime and reduce noise, with a maximum-power spot mode for entryways and high-traffic lanes selectable in the app, as described in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
For the combo model, mopping uses a flat pad that drags with consistent pressure while metering water across the cleaning path. It is designed for surface dust, footprints and light spills on sealed hardwood, tile, laminate and vinyl, not for scrubbing dried stains or for use on unsealed wood or waxed floors. Owners fill the tank with tap water only unless iRobot approves a cleaning solution for that specific tank, according to the company's care guidance.
Navigation, mapping and obstacle handling
Both robots use lidar for fast mapping combined with bump and cliff sensors for close-range safety. On first runs, each robot builds a floor map that owners can review, divide into rooms, label, and merge or split as needed. Saved maps support room-specific schedules, such as daily kitchen cleans and twice-weekly bedroom cleans, according to iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
The app supports Keep Out Zones and Clean Zones. Keep Out Zones block pet bowls, cables, play areas or fragile furniture. Clean Zones target high-mess areas like under the dining table or by the front door. The robots store multiple floor plans for multi-level US homes and recognize which floor they are on when placed there manually, since they cannot climb stairs, as noted by iRobot.
Obstacle avoidance focuses on common household objects such as shoes, socks, cords and pet waste, using a front-facing sensor array and software object detection. iRobot describes improved avoidance versus older bump-only entry robots, but notes that small, dark or reflective objects can still cause detours or gentle contact, and recommends pre-clean pickup for best results, according to iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Edge and corner coverage uses methodical rows rather than random bounce patterns. The robots clean in neat back-and-forth lanes, outline room perimeters first where appropriate, then fill interiors. If battery runs low mid-clean, the robot returns to recharge and resumes where it left off, a feature particularly relevant for homes over 1,500 square feet.
App, voice control and smart home integration
Setup runs through the iRobot Home app for iOS and Android. Owners connect over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, name the robot, run mapping runs, label rooms, set schedules, adjust suction and water levels, and review cleaning history with coverage maps and duration, according to iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
Voice control includes start, stop, pause, dock, spot clean, and room-specific commands such as cleaning the kitchen. Supported phrases work through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant once accounts are linked. Apple Siri Shortcuts can trigger preset cleans created in the app, according to iRobot.
The app also manages maintenance alerts for emptying bins, replacing bags, cleaning brushes and sensors, washing or replacing mop pads, and replacing filters on schedule. Firmware updates arrive over Wi-Fi and install overnight when the robot is docked, with release notes posted in the app, as described in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Privacy controls include options to keep maps on-device for core cleaning, to opt in or out of cloud map backup, and to delete maps or cleaning history. iRobot states that mapping data is used to operate cleaning features and that owners can review data-sharing settings in the app's privacy menu.
Battery life, dust capacity and maintenance
Both robots use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with up to 120 minutes of runtime in low-power hard-floor mode, with shorter runtimes on carpet or maximum suction. Full recharge from empty takes about two to three hours on the standard dock, after which the robot can resume unfinished jobs automatically, according to iRobot specifications summarized by The Verge.
Onboard dust bins hold about 400 milliliters, enough for several daily cleans in many apartments before manual emptying. Self-empty docks hold up to 60 days of debris in a sealed bag under typical usage defined by iRobot as daily cleans in mixed homes, though pet-heavy homes will fill bags faster, according to iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Routine care is straightforward. iRobot recommends emptying the onboard bin after each run when not using a self-empty dock, removing hair from brushes weekly, wiping cliff and charging contacts monthly, replacing filters every two months, and washing reusable mop pads after each mopping session. The app tracks accessory wear and sends reminders based on cleaning hours.
Noise levels vary by mode, with balanced cleaning quieter than maximum suction or self-empty transfers. Self-empty events last about ten seconds and are louder than vacuuming, so iRobot includes Do Not Disturb scheduling to block auto-empty and voice prompts during set nighttime hours, as noted in iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
Why this launch matters for US shoppers
The US robot vacuum market has shifted toward self-empty bases and hybrid mopping as default expectations, even in midrange price bands. By adding lidar mapping and self-empty bundles at 499.99 dollars and 599.99 dollars, iRobot is matching features that brands including Shark, Roborock, Eufy and Samsung now offer in the same range, while leaning on its service network and parts availability, according to the competitive context in iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
For renters and first-time buyers, the 299.99-dollar vacuum-only entry point provides mapping and scheduling without paying for mopping hardware they may not need. For families with hard floors, pets and entryway dirt, the 399.99-dollar combo consolidates two chores into one scheduled run, though it does not replace deep mopping or carpet extraction, as iRobot notes.
The timing targets fall allergies, back-to-school messes, and pet shedding season, when daily automated touch-ups reduce visible dust and tracked dirt. Retailers typically discount prior-generation Roombas during this window, so shoppers will be able to compare the new mapping and suction gains against lower-priced older stock, a dynamic highlighted in the Verge coverage.
Energy and water use remain modest. Robots draw household current only while charging and cleaning, and the combo tank uses ounces of water per mopping session rather than gallons. The larger environmental factor is consumables, including dust bags, filters and pads, which iRobot sells as replaceable parts with recycling guidance through retailer programs where available.
How the two new Roombas compare
The core choice is simple: choose the vacuum-only model for maximum value on carpets, rugs and pet hair, or choose the combo for hard-floor maintenance with light mopping. Suction, navigation, app features and battery life are closely matched, with differences centered on the water system, pad hardware and price, according to iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
Shoppers who already own a stick mop or wet-dry cleaner and mainly need daily vacuuming will get longer brush life and simpler maintenance from the vacuum-only robot. Shoppers with mostly tile, laminate or sealed hardwood who want one device to handle dust and footprints between deeper cleans will benefit more from the combo, especially bundled with self-empty for hands-off operation.
Both support the same self-empty dock design for their respective bins, but vacuum and combo bins and mop modules are not interchangeable between models. Owners should confirm model numbers on replacement bags, filters, brushes and pads before ordering, as iRobot uses model-specific fit guides on its site.
Neither new model includes a self-washing mop dock or hot-air pad drying. Those remain exclusive to higher-tier Roomba Combo stations that wash and dry pads at the base. Buyers who want fully automated mopping maintenance should consider those premium systems or plan to wash pads manually after use.
What to check before you buy
Measure furniture clearance, threshold heights and rug thickness before ordering. Both robots climb standard room thresholds and low rug edges, but very high-pile rugs, tasseled edges, dark patterned carpets and loose cables can cause slowdowns. Securing cords and using Keep Out Zones around problem areas improves success on first maps, according to iRobot setup tips cited by iRobot launches two new robot vacuums | The Verge.
Confirm Wi-Fi coverage where the dock will sit, since mapping, scheduling and voice control require a steady 2.4 GHz connection. Garages, basements and far bedrooms may need a closer router or extender. The robots can still start with the top button without Wi-Fi, but app maps and remote control will be limited until reconnected, as noted in iRobot Announces New Roomba Vacuum Lineup.
For pet owners, plan on more frequent brush checks and bag changes during shedding peaks. For allergy concerns, the sealed self-empty bags and high-efficiency filters help contain dust during disposal compared with shaking out an onboard bin, though iRobot advises following the filter replacement schedule to maintain performance.