iRobot Unveils Manual Cleaner, Updates Roomba Line

Well, this is a bit of a departure for iRobot! The company, synonymous with robotic vacuums, has just announced its first-ever non-robotic floor cleaner. Meet the Roomba Electro Plus, a $399 device that tackles hard floors with a 5-in-1 functionality, combining vacuuming, mopping, and disinfecting. The catch? You'll need to put in the elbow grease yourself, as it's manually operated.

This move sees iRobot entering a space already occupied by brands like Dreame and Roborock, which offer similar manual wet-dry floor cleaners. iRobot is banking on its Electro Plus to stand out with its unique features, though details on what makes it distinct are still emerging.

But don't worry, robot vacuum enthusiasts, iRobot hasn't forgotten its roots. The company also revealed updates to its beloved Roomba robot vacuum line. Five new models are set to launch, promising higher suction power, smaller designs for easier navigation in tight spaces, and, importantly, lower price points. These new additions largely aim to replace the models that arrived in 2025, suggesting a push towards more accessible and efficient robotic cleaning solutions.

For those keeping score, this signals a strategic shift for iRobot, broadening its product portfolio to cater to a wider range of cleaning needs and budgets. It'll be interesting to see how the manually operated Electro Plus fares against established players and how these updated Roomba models will shake up the robot vacuum market.