Why You Ought to Bear in mind the Roomba, Even After iRobot Is Kaput

You realize a model has recognition when its title is virtually synonymous with its product. Take Kleenex or Band-Help, for instance. iRobot, the makers of the Roomba robovac that arguably began the craze round disc-shaped autonomous vacuums, is now being consumed by its personal vacuum manufacturing associate. No product can stand on model recognition alone, particularly not when each different firm is promoting the identical factor for cheaper.

On Sunday, iRobot, the corporate that has lengthy owned the Roomba model of robovacuums, declared Chapter 11 chapter. In its press release, the corporate mentioned it was promoting itself off to its contract producer, Picea Robotics. iRobot promised that it was attempting to complete its Chapter 11 “reorganization” proceedings by February 2026 and says present Roomba customers received’t face any instant service disruptions.

When you’ve got a brief reminiscence, you might not bear in mind when iRobot tried to sell itself to Amazon. That deal imploded due to European regulators in early 2024, leaving the corporate stranded like a Roomba trapped underneath a shelving unit within the nook of a room. iRobot had already despatched most of its manufacturing abroad after its Amazon deal died, which is how Picea got here into the image.

Primarily based in Shenzhen, China, Picea Robotics is a broader manufacturing associate of a number of main manufacturers that make robovacuums, together with Shark and Anker (via its Eufy sub-brand). Within the press launch, iRobot mentioned Picea has offered greater than 20 million robovacs in its lifetime, which is notable because the firm (which can be listed as 3irobotix) was based in 2016, based on its LinkedIn page. The 3i model additionally has its personal line of vacuums.

Picea could merely take the Roomba model title as its personal after which begin delivery its personal vacuums with the emblem stamped on them. The best Roomba models had been at all times those with out a number of aptitude. They did the job by snacking on all of the rogue mud bunnies round your major flooring. iRobot’s newest vacuums included bizarre innovations such because the Roomba Combo 10 Max with added options that allow it clear its personal mop and empty its bin. That gadget value $1,300, so perhaps there’s a motive iRobot wasn’t seeing such nice returns. Roomba had additionally tried innovating with robovacuums with automatic pet treat dispensers, which might inevitably solely create extra mess that the vacuum could be compelled to wash up later.

The house robotics area is already saturated with China-based manufacturers, reminiscent of Eufy, Ecovacs, Dreame, and Roborock. Hell, now we even have drone-maker DJI getting into the fray. Considered one of Roborock’s newest “improvements” had it shove a robotic arm right into a vacuum with its Saros Z70. Sadly, the robotic appendage didn’t carry out nicely in real-life eventualities. There’s solely a lot innovation you are able to do with this type issue, a lot in order that IFA 2025 was stuffed with mecha fits for vacuums to help them climb stairs. Some, like Ecovacs, have tried sticking an AI chatbot into the vacuum, in case you needed to speak along with your roving mud sweeper.

All these pointless additions don’t essentially make for a greater robotic vacuum. Our favorite robot vacuum of the year was the massive, blocky, but charming Matic Robot Vacuum. Merely put, it had probably the most correct mapping and laptop imaginative and prescient capabilities with no need a cloud connection. For the sake of an autonomous vacuum and mop, do you really want something extra?