Comparison · Cleaning
Roborock vs Roomba (2026): should you still buy a Roomba after iRobot’s sale?
Roborock is now the world’s No. 1 robot vacuum brand. iRobot survived bankruptcy under Chinese owner Picea. Here’s what that means for buyers.
Our pick: Roborock for most buyers; a discounted Roomba is fine if you value simple apps and US-based support
Roborock vs Roomba used to be challenger vs icon. In 2026 the roles have flipped. Roborock is the world’s best-selling robot vacuum brand, and iRobot went through bankruptcy and now belongs to its Chinese manufacturer, Picea. Searches for Roomba are down 19% year over year, while Roborock is up 22%. Here’s what changed and which to buy.
| Roborock | Roomba (iRobot) | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Roborock (Beijing, listed) | Picea Robotics (since Jan 23, 2026) |
| 2025 global rank (IDC) | No. 1, 17.7% share, 5.8M units | Outside top 5 |
| Navigation | LiDAR + AI obstacle cameras | ClearView LiDAR (2025 lineup) |
| Suction | 20,000–35,000 Pa (2026 models) | 7,000 Pa (2025 lineup) |
| Mopping | Rollers, spinning pads, sonic mops; arms on flagships | Rotating lifting pads (Plus 405/505) |
| Docks | Auto-empty, hot-water wash, dry, refill | AutoEmpty, AutoWash, DustCompactor |
| Smart home | Matter on recent models, Alexa, Google, Siri | Alexa, Google, Matter on supported models |
| US data handling | Roborock cloud | iRobot Safe US subsidiary |
What happened to iRobot
After Amazon’s acquisition fell through in 2024, iRobot struggled, replaced most of its lineup in March 2025, and filed for Chapter 11 in December 2025. It emerged on January 23, 2026 owned by Picea, which had already been engineering and building Roombas. iRobot keeps its Bedford, Massachusetts headquarters, says warranties and app support continue, and created iRobot Safe, a US-governed subsidiary for customer data.
Roborock models to consider
- Saros 10R: our top-rated robot vacuum, often about $900 vs $1,599 list.
- Qrevo Curv 2 Flow: 20,000 Pa with a self-rinsing roller mop, $999 list.
- Saros 20: 35,000 Pa flagship with a climbing arm for thresholds up to 1.77 in. Check current US pricing.
Roomba models to consider
- Roomba 105 Combo: entry LiDAR robot, with or without auto-empty dock.
- Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo: compacts dust onboard, no dock needed.
- Roomba Plus 405 / 505 Combo: lifting, edge-extending mop pads with an AutoWash dock.
Verdict
For most buyers, Roborock offers more cleaning and dock automation per dollar and has the market momentum. A discounted 2025-series Roomba is still a reasonable choice if you prefer iRobot’s simpler app and US-based data handling. Avoid paying full price for older pre-2025 Roombas without LiDAR.
Questions we get
Is Roomba still a good brand after the bankruptcy?
Roomba is still sold and supported. iRobot filed for Chapter 11 in December 2025 and emerged on January 23, 2026, wholly owned by its longtime manufacturer Picea. The company says app support and warranties continue, and its headquarters stays in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Who owns iRobot now?
Picea Robotics, a Chinese contract manufacturer that built Roombas for years. A new US subsidiary, iRobot Safe, overseen by an independent board of US citizens, handles US consumer data.
Which robot vacuum brand sells the most?
Roborock. IDC ranked it No. 1 worldwide in 2025 with 5.8 million units and 17.7% share of household cleaning robots, followed by Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi, and Narwal.
Is Roborock better than Roomba?
On specs and features at each price, usually yes: higher suction, more advanced mopping docks, and robotic arms on flagships. Roomba’s 2025 lineup closed some of the gap with ClearView LiDAR and 7,000 Pa suction across the range.