Solid-ReviewsWhich Roomba Should You Buy? The 2026 Lineup, Decoded
Which Roomba Should You Buy? The 2026 Lineup, Decoded
The short version: iRobot's 2026 renumbering is genuinely confusing, so here's the cheat sheet: Max (875/775/715) is the flagship tier, Plus (678/575/515/415) is the midrange tier, and the 105 series is the entry tier. Bigger number = more features within a tier. But the more important 2026 context: iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025 and was acquired by its Chinese contract manufacturer. The two Roombas we'd actually still buy are the Roomba j7+ (the pet-waste guarantee, on sale ~$500) and — only on a deep discount — the Roomba Combo 10 Max.
What happened to iRobot (the 30-second version)
iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025 and was acquired by its Chinese contract manufacturer. The company still operates: Roombas are still manufactured and sold, the iRobot Home app still works, and warranty support continues. What changed is the corporate outlook — iRobot went from the undisputed incumbent to a diminished brand under new ownership, while Roborock took the global #1 spot (~21.7% share per IDC) and Dreame, Ecovacs, and others out-spec it on hardware.
The practical upshot for buyers: a Roomba you buy today is the same product reviewers tested — the bankruptcy doesn't degrade the hardware in the box. The risk is longer-term (future software support, parts five years out). Our advice: buy a Roomba at a price where it's worth it on its own merits today — the j7+ on sale qualifies; the flagship Combo 10 Max at full price does not.
The 2026 lineup, tier by tier
| Tier | Models | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Max | 875, 775, 715 | Flagship tier: strongest cleaning, SmartScrub mopping (combo models), best avoidance. The 875 is the top spec; lower numbers trim features. |
| Plus | 678, 575, 515, 415 | Midrange tier: solid cleaning for typical homes, fewer premium features. The 678 leads the tier. |
| 105 series | 105, 105 Combo, 415X | Entry tier: basic mapping and cleaning at the lowest prices. The Combo adds mopping. |
| Legacy | j7+, Combo j7+, older numbered models | Previous generation, still sold — often the best value when discounted. |
The naming logic: the word (Max/Plus) sets the tier, the number sets the trim. A Plus 678 outranks a Plus 415; a Max 715 outranks any Plus. iRobot hasn't published exhaustive spec sheets distinguishing every trim, which is exactly why this lineup confuses people — when in doubt, compare the specific two models you're considering on suction claims, bin type, and whether the mop is included.
What each tier is actually for
- Max tier: large homes, pet owners who want the best avoidance iRobot offers, buyers who want iRobot's top hardware. Competes (unfavorably on price) with Roborock and Dreame flagships.
- Plus tier: the mainstream buy — typical apartments and houses, one or two pets, no extreme needs. This is where most Roomba buyers should look if they're committed to the brand.
- 105/entry tier: first robot vacuum buyers, small apartments, or a second robot for one floor. Don't expect flagship navigation or avoidance.
- Legacy (j7+): the interesting one — previous-gen flagship with the P.O.O.P. pet-waste guarantee, now frequently discounted to ~$500. Often a better buy than a new Plus-tier model at the same price.
The two we'd actually buy
iRobot Roomba j7+ — the one with the guarantee
Camera-based PrecisionVision avoidance with the P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) replacement guarantee, dual rubber brushes, Imprint Smart Mapping, and a Clean Base with 60-day sealed bags. ~4.2/5 across roughly 32,000 Amazon ratings — the deepest owner dataset in robot vacuums. Frequently on sale for $500–600, at which point it's fairly priced for the avoidance tech.
Honest drawbacks: No mop. No published suction figure; mid-pack on deep carpet. App bugginess complaints persist. You're buying the avoidance and the guarantee, not raw cleaning power.
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max — only on a deep discount
iRobot's most advanced robot: SmartScrub back-and-forth mopping with an auto-retracting mop pad (the cleverest carpet-protection in the category), Enhanced Dirt Detect, PrecisionVision avoidance, and the first iRobot AutoWash dock. List $1,399, typical around $1,000.
Honest drawbacks: The value case collapses against Roborock and Dreame — expert aggregates rate it well below their flagships on cleaning performance, and the single fixed mop pad trails dual-spinning systems. We'd only buy it on a deep discount (think $700 or less), at which point the retractable mop and iRobot support start making sense.
Frequently asked questions
Is iRobot going out of business?
iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025 and was acquired by its Chinese contract manufacturer — but it continues to operate, sell Roombas, and honor warranties. "Out of business" overstates it; "a diminished company under new ownership" is accurate. The 2026 Max/Plus lineup is its attempt at a comeback.
Is it safe to buy a Roomba after the bankruptcy?
For the product itself, yes — the hardware is unchanged and existing models are well-reviewed with deep owner-rating histories. The residual risk is long-horizon: software support and parts availability years out. Mitigate it by buying proven models (j7+) at sale prices rather than paying full price for brand-new flagship tiers.
What's the difference between Roomba Max and Roomba Plus?
Tier positioning. Max is iRobot's flagship tier (strongest suction claims, best avoidance, SmartScrub mopping on combo models); Plus is the midrange tier (solid everyday cleaning, trimmed features). Within each tier, higher numbers mean higher trims. A Max 715 beats any Plus; a Plus 678 is the sweet spot for typical homes.
Which Roomba is best for pet hair?
The j7+ — specifically because of the P.O.O.P. guarantee and its camera-based avoidance of pet waste, which no spec sheet can substitute for. For raw hair pickup on carpet, Roborock and Dreame models at the same price clean better; see our Roborock vs iRobot and best robot vacuums for pet hair guides for that trade-off.
Are Roomba parts and bags still available?
Yes — replacement bags, brushes, and filters remain widely available at major retailers, and iRobot's installed base is large enough that third-party parts will exist for years regardless of the company's fate. This is the least of the bankruptcy worries.
| Situation | Buy |
|---|---|
| You want the pet-waste guarantee | Roomba j7+ on sale (~$500) |
| You want iRobot's best hardware | Combo 10 Max — only on deep discount |
| You want the best cleaning per dollar | Skip Roomba; see Roborock vs Dreame |
| You're buying your first robot vacuum | 105 series on sale, or a discounted j7+ |
Prices are approximate typical prices observed in September 2026; they change with sales.