Don’t call it a comeback, unless you want to, because it kind of is, but then – by the time you’ve read the full story – you’ll find that maybe it isn’t… iRobot has taken the covers off of a new lineup of Roomba robot vacuums.
The big news is that the new range, which comprises of 8 new models, features LiDAR navigation for the first time in the brand’s history.
Sure, we’ve had LiDAR on iRobot’s Chinese rivals like Roborock, Ecovacs, Eufy and Dreame for a decade or more now, with the likes of the Roborock Saros 10R and Qrevo Slim moving on from LiDAR to StarSight Autonomous Navigation; and Dreame has managed to hide its LiDAR turret with the X50 Ultra… but this is still progress from the OG robo cleaner brand.
The new Roombas look a lot like the original iRobot models but have that tower on top, which iRobot is calling “ClearView Lidar Navigation.”
The range also features auto-empty docks, onboard dust compactors, and mopping on some models.
The new lineup starts from the lowest entry Roomba 105 Vac Robot, which is just $299 (but doesn’t actually have LiDAR) and goes right up to the flagship Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock (yes, that’s its real name), which costs $999.
The suction rating on the new models is 7,000Pa, and while there’s more to a robot vacuum than its sucking strength, that’s pretty bang average for 2025, to be honest.
It was two years ago that I described the Roborock’s S8 6,000Pa rating as “whopping” when it launched at CES 2023.
Fast forward to CES 2025 we saw numerous models hitting 20,000Pa or more, with Mova stealing the crown as the biggest sucker with a staggering 24,000Pa suction rating on its new flagship, the Mova V50 Ultra.
Another new addition to the Roomba mix is dual spinning mopping pads, like we’ve seen on the likes of the Eureka J15 Pro and the Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni. These can be found on the 505 top-dog, and also the next model down the hierarchy, the 405.
We’re told by iRobot that the new cleaners will feature modern colors, materials, and finishes and they’ll go on sale on 23 March in North America and select European markets, direct from iRobot – pre-orders open on 18 March.
All good news then, it looks as if iRobot has recovered from the Amazon acquisition collapse. Or maybe not… JPT over on The Verge is reporting that the brand might not last another year.
Oh dear. Still though… LiDAR navigation for the win.
