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iRobot's New Flagship Roomba Seals Itself to Your Carpet

Under new owner Picea Robotics, iRobot debuts the $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo with a suction system designed to grip carpet fibers directly.

iRobot used IFA Berlin, its first major trade show appearance in years, to unveil two new robot vacuum-mop combos. The flagship $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo introduces "SealForce," a design that presses the vacuum head against carpet to create a tighter seal and boost suction on fibers, rather than relying purely on brush agitation. A cheaper $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo also launches alongside it, and both are available immediately through iRobot's website.

The release marks a notable moment for the brand, which filed for bankruptcy after Amazon's acquisition attempt collapsed under regulatory pressure. Picea Robotics, a contract manufacturer, bought iRobot's assets earlier this year and is now betting on hardware innovation to revive the once-dominant robot vacuum maker's reputation against Roborock, Ecovacs, and other rivals that have out-engineered it in recent years.

Why it matters: iRobot practically invented the robot vacuum category but has spent years losing ground to Chinese competitors with better navigation and cleaning tech. Whether SealForce is a real engineering leap or marketing dressing will say a lot about whether new ownership can actually turn the brand around.

Sources: The Verge