iRobot has announced the Roomba Max 875 Combo, its new flagship robot vacuum and mop model, which it will showcase in Berlin as part of IFA 2026. The company will take part in a major technology trade show for the first time in years under its new owner, Picea Robotics. Picea Robotics, which acquired the bankrupt iRobot in January, operates as a contract manufacturer. The $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo and the $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo have gone on sale through irobot.com.
Both models feature iRobot’s new SealForce technology. When the system detects carpet, it lowers a component around the cleaning head to create a stronger seal and direct airflow deeper into the carpet. The new wing-type fan motor provides an airflow of 20 L/s, while the 875 model cleans carpets three times deeper with SealForce than when used without the feature. The model has a suction power of 35,000 Pa, the highest figure iRobot has announced to date. It uses a single rubber brush instead of dual rollers; navigates using lidar- and camera-based vision, detects obstacles, has a slimmer body than the Roomba 775, and can cross thresholds 3.5 cm high.
The Roomba Max 875 Combo features a self-cleaning roller mop, the ThermaMist heated steam function for pre-treating stains, a retractable mop cover that keeps the carpet dry, and a main brush that cuts hair to prevent tangles. The station washes the mop with hot water and dries it with hot air.
The 678 model also offers a roller mop and SealForce, but has 30,000Pa of suction power and airflow of 18 L/s. Instead of ThermaMist and a mop cover, it uses the SprayForce system, which pre-wets stains. The mop lifts 10mm on carpets. Both models are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Siri Shortcuts, while Matter certification processes are ongoing. Systems similar to SealForce are also found in the Narwal Flow 2 and Dreame X60 Max Ultra models.
Why it matters
The new models show that iRobot has repositioned itself under Picea Robotics following its bankruptcy and that the brand is continuing to compete not only through cleaning performance but also through changes in its manufacturing and ownership structure. For users, the key distinction is that although the two devices share the same SealForce approach, they differ in mop maintenance, stain pre-treatment, suction power and solutions for carpet use; this makes a home’s flooring and cleaning habits as decisive as price when choosing between them. The availability of systems similar to SealForce in other models leaves open the question of whether the technology is a differentiating factor on its own. In addition, the fact that Matter certification has not yet been completed is an issue worth monitoring for users who care about the scope of current smart home compatibility options.