Tracked topic
iRobot Roomba is a line of robotic vacuum cleaners that navigate rooms and automatically recharge and resume cleaning.
… We explain how iRobot developed Roomba for nearly a decade, all the times it nearly fell apart, and the somewhat surprising reasons the product took off. We also look at the vast market that grew around Roomba, and the ways iRobot failed to keep up. …
… The new models will launch in mid-2026, rolling out in phases across North America and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with the Roomba 415 Combo and 115 Combo apparently arriving first, as they’re already listed on iRobot.co.uk as coming soon. iRobot has only provided The Verge with UK pricing… …
… Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Roomba-Family-Shot.jpg?quality=90&strip=all Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Roomba 775 5.jpg?quality=90&strip=all Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/R… …
… The first Roomba was a hit because it cost under $200 and vacuumed the floor. “Pet ownership costs” is a dizzyingly broad range. While Angle claims interest in the Familiar is “higher than what we saw with Roomba,” the lack of a clear purpose feels like a problem. …
… While Dyson has been developing robotic floor-cleaning machines since the early 2000s, it’s years behind Chinese competitors like Roborock and Ecovacs, and even US-based iRobot, maker of the Roomba. …
… For more on the topics in this episode, here are some links to dig into: Maybe I don’t want a Rosey the Robot after all Amazon left Roomba with a huge mess to clean up iRobot’s founder is working on a new kind of home robot Figure will start ‘alpha testing’ its humanoid robot in the home in 2025 I … …
… We also have some thoughts on the new Fitbit Air, the new in-home companion robot from iRobot founder Colin Angle, and the lawsuit over Apple’s Siri ads. …
… While Dyson isn’t likely to follow Roomba’s financial path, its latest model is clearly an attempt to keep up with the plethora of Chinese manufacturers in this space. …