iRobot enters manual floor-cleaning market with Electro Plus, unveils five slimmer robot vacuums

iRobot has departed from its robot-only focus with the announcement of the $399 Roomba Electro Plus, a cordless, manually-operated hard-floor cleaner that vacuums, mops, and disinfects. The company is also unveiling five fresh robot vacuum models across its Roomba lineup, each priced lower and designed with more compact dimensions than their predecessors.

A new direction: manual cleaning with electrolyzed technology#

The Electro Plus marks iRobot's first venture into handheld floor cleaning. Unlike traditional wet-dry vacuums requiring separate chemical solutions, the device harnesses electrolyzing technology to convert ordinary tap water into a commercial-grade disinfectant capable of eliminating 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and germs—all safe for households with children and pets. The innovation stems from Picea, iRobot's parent company following its acquisition earlier this year.

The machine features a self-propelled motor that reduces physical strain during operation, along with a self-cleaning mop roller. A dock handles post-cleaning maintenance, using hot water and air to wash and dry the mop, though users must manually empty, rinse, and refill the water tank.

According to Adam Pope, iRobot's chief engineer and vice president, the product addresses customer demand for quick spot-cleaning solutions. "If they have a mess that they want to clean up, maybe they want to do that quickly with this type of handheld product," he explained, noting that homeowners can deploy robots for broader coverage while handling urgent spills themselves.

Roomba's shrinking, budget-friendly refresh#

The five new Roomba models target different market segments while delivering substantial price reductions. All feature enhanced suction capabilities and leverage innovations like dual-lidar sensing to achieve smaller footprints.

Premium tier: The Roomba Max 775 Combo ($999.99) succeeds the pricier Max 705. It amplifies suction to 30,000Pa, introduces hot-water mop washing and stain removal, and maintains the roller-mop design with anti-tangle dual brushes.

Upper-mid segment: The Roomba Max 715 ($699.99) replaces the Max 705 vacuum-only model, jumping suction from 13,000Pa to 30,000Pa while reducing cost by $200.

Mid-range: The ($799.99) represents a significant shift—replacing the 505 while shrinking to nearly half its size thanks to compact dual-lidar technology. At just 9 cm of ground clearance and narrower width, it fits under furniture more easily. It delivers 20,000Pa suction, incorporates camera-based AI for obstacle and dirt detection with "Smart Scrub" functionality, and handles 35mm thresholds. The dock provides hot-water mop cleaning and drying.