Is a Roomba Worth It in 2026?
A straight answer after iRobot's 2026 sale to Picea: which Roombas earn their place, which rivals beat them and who should skip the brand.
By , research by the BestBots team · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
A Roomba is worth it if your home is mostly carpet or you already live in iRobot's app: the Roomba Max 875 Combo has 35,000 Pa, a SealForce skirt that seals against rugs and a dock that lasts up to 90 days. For hard floors, tight budgets or the deepest owner track record, Roborock and eufy are usually the better buy.
iRobot Roomba Max 875 Combo4.2
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo4.0
Roborock Saros 204.6The short answer by buyer
| You are | Worth it? | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet heavy home | Yes | Roomba Max 875 Combo |
| Existing Roomba owner, happy with the app | Yes | Roomba Max 875 or the 105 Combo |
| Budget buyer who wants proven ratings | Yes, with care | Roomba 105 Combo (4.4 from 49,386) |
| Mostly hard floors, want the best mop | Usually not | eufy Omni E35 or Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow |
| Old house with tall door sills | Usually not | Roborock Saros 20 (3.46 in thresholds) |
| Want the most owner history on a flagship | Usually not | Roborock Saros 20 (4.2 from 4,507) |
Where Roombas win
- Carpet design. The Max 875's SealForce skirt seals against carpet, with 35,000 Pa and 20 L/s airflow. No rival flagship we track uses that approach.
- Dock interval. Up to 90 days in a carbon AllergenLock bag, longer than Roborock's 65 day docks.
- Simple budget robot. The 105 Combo maps with LiDAR in under 10 minutes per iRobot, empties for up to 75 days and skips rugs when mopping.
- App. Roomba Home rates 4.7 from 34,856 App Store ratings.
Where Roombas lose
- Owner history on new models. The Max 875 had only a handful of Amazon ratings at our check. Roborock's Saros 20 shows 4,507.
- Company risk. iRobot filed Chapter 11 in December 2025 and has been owned by its manufacturer, Picea, since January 23, 2026. Support continues, but the new ownership is young. Details in Is iRobot Still in Business.
- Missing specs. iRobot does not publish runtime for the Max 875 or suction in Pa for the 105 Combo.
- Thresholds and height. The Max 875 climbs 3.5 cm; the Saros 20 climbs 3.46 in double layer sills.
- Mop budget tier. The 105 Combo drags a microfiber pad; eufy's Omni C28 brings a self cleaning roller to a lower tier.
Roomba vs the alternatives
| Spec | Roomba Max 875 Combo | Roborock Saros 20 | eufy Omni E35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suction | 35,000 Pa | 36,000 Pa | 35,000 Pa |
| Mop | Roller, 300 RPM, heated mist | Dual spinning pads | Roller, real time self cleaning |
| Obstacles | 300+ object types | 300+ object types | 280+ object types |
| Dock | Up to 90 days | Up to 65 days | Up to 60 days |
| Runtime | Not published | Not published | Up to 180 min |
| Amazon rating | Few ratings at check | 4.2 (4,507) | Not enough at check |
On paper the three flagships are close. The Roomba wins on dock days and carpet design, the Roborock on thresholds and owner history, the eufy on runtime and mop design.
What a Roomba costs to own
BestBots does not list Roomba prices because they are sold on Amazon and prices change daily. After purchase, plan for dock bags, filters, brushes, the roller mop and StayClean concentrate on the Max 875, which the dock mixes automatically. The 90 day bag interval keeps bag costs lower than most rivals.
Our verdict
Buy a Roomba if you have carpet and want the longest dock interval, or if you already own one and like the app; the Max 875 Combo is iRobot's strongest robot yet. Otherwise, the Roborock Saros 20 is the safer flagship and the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow the better value mop, based on owner ratings and company stability. Full head to head: Roomba vs Roborock. Full rankings: Best Robot Vacuums.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Roomba worth it in 2026?
For carpet heavy homes, yes: the Roomba Max 875 Combo's 35,000 Pa and SealForce skirt are built for rugs, and its dock lasts up to 90 days. For hard floor homes or buyers who want the most owner history, a Roborock or eufy is usually the better buy.
Are Roombas still good?
The new ones are competitive on paper. The Max 875 matches Chinese flagships on suction and obstacle recognition. The entry 105 Combo has LiDAR mapping and a 75 day dock with 4.4 from 49,386 Amazon ratings.
Is it risky to buy a Roomba after the bankruptcy?
Less than it was. iRobot's sale to Picea closed on January 23, 2026, the app kept working and new models shipped through 2026. The remaining risk is long term support under new ownership, which is still young.
Is a Roomba better than a Roborock?
Roborock wins on owner ratings, app reviews and its top flagship (Saros 20, 36,000 Pa). The Roomba Max 875 beats Roborock's Qrevo Curv 2 Flow on suction, obstacle count and dock capacity. See our Roomba vs Roborock comparison.
Which Roomba is worth buying?
The Max 875 Combo for carpet and a long dock interval, the 105 Combo as a simple budget robot. iRobot's July 2026 Plus and Max models are new to North America and have little owner history yet.
Do Roombas last longer than other robot vacuums?
iRobot does not publish a lifespan, and no brand publishes tested figures. Industry guidance puts robot vacuums at about 4 to 6 years with parts replaced. See our lifespan guide.