Roombas are making a comeback, with iRobot’s biggest ever launch

This year has been huge for robot vacuums, with new and upcoming models from Dreame, Eureka, and Roborock now clambering over obstacles, targeting water spills and even picking up your socks, all in the name of more effective, hands-free cleaning.

You can see our top picks among robot vacuums you can buy right now in our round-up of the best robot vacuums we’ve tested.

But ask anyone outside of the tech world to name a type of robot vacuum and the answer will surely be Roomba. That’s why it’s odd that iRobot, the brand behind Roomba, has been conspicuous by its absence during a bumper period of innovative launches.

And now we know why.

iRobot has been preparing for its largest-ever lineup of robot vacuums. The four new models of robot will be available for pre-order from 18 March in the US and selected European countries from iRobot.com.

Pricing will start at €399/$469 for the simple Roomba 105 Combo, which comes with an auto-empty dock, and go up to €799/$999 for the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, which comes with an AutoWash dock which auto-empties the onboard bin, washes and heat-dries mop pads, and self-cleans at the end of a cycle. The pricing seems extremely reasonable for what’s on offer.

Accompanying the new models will be a refreshed Roomba Home app, which should be easier to use.

Every model will feature:

• Stronger suction
• More accurate Lidar navigation and fast mapping
• Better mopping (all comparisons are made against the Roomba 600 series)
• Automatic carpet detection and avoidance
• Object sensing and avoidance

In addition, the pricier models will have iRobot’s PrecisionVision AI Technology, which will make the robot even more adept at obstacle identification and avoidance.

There are plenty of great features in the new models, especially the Roomba 505 Combo, which has extending mop pads for edge cleaning. But what we don’t see are any features that are new to the market. But what matters is how well the new robots perform. The pricing is competitive and everyone loves a Roomba, after all.