iRobot unveils SealForce robot vacuums in bid to reclaim market share
Under new ownership by Picea Robotics, iRobot has launched two flagship models at IFA Berlin, introducing a sealing technology designed to improve carpet extraction and compete with established rivals.
iRobot has announced two new flagship robot vacuums, the Roomba Max 875 Combo and the Roomba Plus 678 Combo, at the IFA trade show in Berlin. The launch marks the company’s first major exhibition at the event in years and signals a strategic shift under its new owner, Picea Robotics, the contract manufacturer that purchased iRobot out of bankruptcy in January.
The headline feature of both models is a new system called SealForce, which creates a seal against carpets to enhance dirt extraction. According to iRobot chief engineer Adam Pope, the technology lowers a skirt around the cleaning head when carpet is detected, directing airflow deeper into the fibres. This mechanism is paired with a new vane-type blower motor that moves 20 litres of air per second, a specification that supports the Max 875’s claim of three times deeper carpet cleaning compared to models without the feature.
The Roomba Max 875 Combo, priced at US$1,199, boasts 35,000 Pa of suction power, the highest figure iRobot has ever published. For years, the company had refused to release detailed suction specifications, making this transparency a notable change in corporate strategy. To accommodate the SealForce skirt, the Max 875 utilises a single rubber brush rather than iRobot’s traditional dual rollers. The unit also features a heated mist system called ThermaMist to pretreat stains and a self-cleaning roller mopping system with a retractable cover.
The mid-range Roomba Plus 678 Combo is available for US$899. It offers 30,000 Pa of suction power and 18 litres per second of airflow. While it lacks the heated mist feature, it includes a SprayForce system that sprays cleaning fluid on stains to presoak them. The Plus 678 lifts its mop by 10 millimetres when it detects carpet to prevent moisture transfer.
Both models support Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri Shortcuts, and are currently undergoing Matter certification. The Max 875 can also climb thresholds up to 3.5 centimetres high. The introduction of these models places iRobot in direct competition with rivals such as Narwal and Dreame, which have already released robot vacuums with similar sealing mechanisms.
The launch suggests iRobot is moving to close the gap with its competitors, focusing on practical improvements in vacuuming performance rather than more experimental hardware designs.
