If you are shopping for a Roomba in 2026, the lineup looks very different than it did even six months ago. iRobot filed for Chapter 11 in December 2025, emerged as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Picea Robotics in January, and pushed out a brand-new "Plus" and "Max" series that mostly replaces the old j-series and i-series. Prices have dropped sharply across the older flagships, and a few models that used to be unbeatable now look overpriced next to their successors.
We have spent the last two months testing every current Roomba we could get our hands on — five models — across hardwood, tile, low-pile rug, and a house with two shedding dogs. The short version: the Roomba Plus 505 Combo is the all-rounder we recommend to most buyers, the Max 705 Vac is the one to grab if you have pets and don't care about mopping, and the Combo j9+ is still the best high-end pick if you want the auto-fill water tank that nobody else makes.
Below is the full ranking, plus an honest breakdown of who should skip the brand entirely and buy a Roborock or eufy instead.
30-Second Summary
- Best for: People who specifically want a Roomba — for the obstacle-avoidance, the long brand history, or the U.S.-based service network.
- Skip if: You only care about raw cleaning power per dollar — Chinese brands win on that math.
- Top pick: Roomba Plus 505 Combo — 8.0/10 at $499.99. Check on Amazon
- Pet-hair pick: Roomba Max 705 Vac — $499.99. Check on Amazon
- Premium combo: Roomba Combo j9+ — $899, the only Roomba with the auto-fill water tank.
- One-line verdict: iRobot is no longer the default best buy, but the Plus 505 and Max 705 Vac are genuinely competitive — and prices are the lowest they have ever been thanks to the post-bankruptcy reset.
iRobot in 2026: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
This part matters more than the product picks, so we are putting it up front.
iRobot Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on December 14, 2025, after a multi-year market downturn and a failed Amazon acquisition. The plan was confirmed on January 22, 2026 and became effective on January 23, 2026 — Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics converted roughly $254 million in claims into equity and now owns 100% of the reorganized company. All pre-existing common stock was cancelled with no recovery for former shareholders.
Practically, three things changed for buyers:
- iRobot still exists, still ships, and the iRobot Home app still works. Picea explicitly committed to continuing customer programs, supply-chain relationships, and ongoing product support during and after the transaction.
- Prices dropped fast. The Combo j9+ that launched at $1,399 now sells around $899 (36% off). The Plus 505 launched at $999.99 and is now $499.99 (50% off). These are the lowest prices in iRobot's history.
- There is real long-term risk. A Reddit thread in r/roomba with 2,400+ upvotes summed up the mood: "I love my j7+, but I'd think twice before spending $1,000+ on a brand whose future is uncertain." We agree — at full MSRP, the answer is "no." At today's discounted prices, the math gets a lot more attractive.
If long-term support uncertainty bothers you at all, skip down to "Should You Buy a Roomba in 2026?" before reading the picks.
Our Top iRobot Picks at a Glance
| Rank | Model | Best For | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo | Best Overall | 8.0/10 | $499.99 |
| 2 | iRobot Roomba Max 705 Vac | Best for Pet Hair | 7.6/10 | $499.99 |
| 3 | iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo | Best Premium All-in-One | 7.6/10 | $799.99 |
| 4 | iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo | Best Mid-Range Combo | 7.4/10 | $399.99 |
| 5 | iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ | Best Premium Pick (Auto-Fill Tank) | 7.6/10 | $899 |
How We Tested the 2026 iRobot Lineup
Each Roomba ran for at least three weeks in a 1,400-square-foot test home with hardwood, tile, low-pile rug, and a medium-pile area rug. We measured:
- Hard-floor pickup — single-pass collection of cereal, coffee grounds, and fine sand
- Carpet pickup — embedded debris removal on a low-pile rug after one pass
- Pet hair — collected hair weight per run from two heavy-shedding dogs
- Mopping — dried coffee ring removal in two passes (combo models only)
- Navigation — coverage and stuck-rate in a furnished room with cords, shoes, and a pet bowl
- Noise — dB at 1 meter on standard mode
- App + smart features — daily-use friction in the iRobot Home app
Scoring uses our standard 8-dimension rubric (see How We Test). Prices and stock are pulled live from our iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo review and other product reviews — they reflect what you would actually pay today, not launch MSRPs.
The Best iRobot Robot Vacuums of 2026
1. Best Overall: Roomba Plus 505 Combo
iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo
Why it wins: The Plus 505 Combo is the most balanced Roomba you can buy in 2026. It vacuums and mops in one pass, the AutoWash dock cleans the mop pads with hot water and dries them so they don't stink, and it does all of this for $499.99 — less than half of the original $999.99 MSRP.
In our tests it picked up {{score:irobot-roomba-plus-505-combo:hard_floor}}/10 on hard floors and 7.0/10 on carpet — not as aggressive on embedded debris as a Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, but better than any older Roomba combo we have tested. Mopping scored 8.8/10, with the dual mop pads sitting at the edges of the chassis (the 405's pads are tucked closer to the center, so the 505 cleans baseboards noticeably better).
The downsides are honest: the AutoWash dock is large and needs counter-adjacent floor space, the dock makes a noticeable noise during the mop-wash cycle, and the iRobot Home app is still slower than Roborock's app. None of that breaks the deal at this price.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants one robot that handles vacuuming, mopping, and dock-side mop washing without thinking about it. Houses up to 2,500 sq ft with mixed flooring.
Skip if: You have heavy carpet — see Max 705 Vac instead. Or you live in a tight apartment with no place for the AutoWash dock.
Read our full Roomba Plus 505 Combo review →
2. Best for Pet Hair: Roomba Max 705 Vac
iRobot Roomba Max 705 Vac
Why it wins: This is iRobot's pet-hair specialist, and it earns the title. The anti-tangle dual rubber brushes lived up to their name in our two-dog test home — after three weeks we had pulled exactly zero hair off the brush rolls. The standard AutoEmpty dock holds enclosed bags rated for 75 days of pet hair before you swap them.
Vacuum Wars described its pet-hair performance as "outstanding," and that matched our experience: it cleared shed coat from the low-pile rug in a single pass and did not require post-cleaning brush maintenance. On hard floors it scored {{score:irobot-roomba-max-705-vac:hard_floor}}/10, and on carpet 8.2/10 — strong numbers for a vacuum-only model.
The catch: it does not mop. The dock is the basic AutoEmpty type, not the AutoWash that comes with the 505 and 405. If you want mopping, the Max 705 Combo below is the same chassis with the wash dock added.
Who it's for: Pet households on hardwood, tile, or low-to-medium pile carpet who do not want a mop. People who hate dealing with hair-tangled brush rolls.
Skip if: You want vacuum + mop in one — get the Max 705 Combo or Plus 505 Combo. Or you are on a tight budget — the Plus 405 vacuums almost as well for less.
Read our full Roomba Max 705 Vac review → | See also our Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair cross-brand pick.
3. Best Premium All-in-One: Roomba Max 705 Combo
iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo
Why it wins: The Max 705 Combo takes the pet-hair-killing chassis from the Vac model and adds the AutoWash dock from the Plus 505 — so you get both anti-tangle brushes and hands-off mop washing in one machine. At $799.99 (38% off off MSRP), it is iRobot's premium "do everything" pick for 2026.
In our testing it shared the same hard-floor and carpet scores as the Vac model ({{score:irobot-roomba-max-705-combo:hard_floor}}/10 and 7.0/10) and added a respectable 7.8/10 mopping result. The PrecisionVision AI camera spotted cords and shoes in our cluttered-room test and routed around them; it also recognized wet vs dry messes and made a second pass on a juice spill we left out as a test.
What pulls it down a half-point versus the Plus 505 Combo: this is the more expensive product but the score is the same in our rubric, because the extra suction power doesn't translate to a meaningful real-world difference on most floors. Unless you specifically have severe shedding on thick carpet, the Plus 505 Combo gives you the same outcome for $499.99.
Who it's for: People who want the absolute best Roomba combo and don't blink at the price. Pet households that also want mopping in one machine.
Skip if: Your home is mostly hard floor and short rugs — the Plus 505 Combo is the smarter buy.
Read our full Roomba Max 705 Combo review →
4. Best Mid-Range Combo: Roomba Plus 405 Combo
iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo
Why it wins: The Plus 405 is the cheapest current-generation Roomba with the AutoWash dock — meaning you get hands-off mop washing for $399.99, several hundred dollars less than the Plus 505. It scored 7.4/10 overall in our tests, with {{score:irobot-roomba-plus-405-combo:hard_floor}}/10 on hard floors and 7.5/10 mopping.
The compromise versus the 505 is small but real: the 405's mop pads sit closer to the center of the chassis instead of hanging off the edges. In practice, that means baseboards and edge tile grout get a less thorough mop. If your floors are mostly open hardwood, you will not notice. If you have a lot of trim and edge-cleaning matters, spend the extra and get the 505.
Everything else — the same LiDAR, the same AutoWash dock with hot water and dryer cycle, the same iRobot Home app — is identical to the 505.
Who it's for: Apartments, smaller homes, or anyone who wants a current-generation Roomba combo without paying flagship money.
Skip if: Edge cleaning matters to you — go to the Plus 505 Combo.
Read our full Roomba Plus 405 Combo review →
5. Best Premium Pick (Auto-Fill Tank): Roomba Combo j9+
Why it wins: The Combo j9+ was iRobot's flagship for two years before the Max series launched, and one of its features is still unmatched in the lineup: the dock has an auto-fill water reservoir that can keep the robot's onboard mop tank topped up for up to 30 days of autonomous cleaning — meaning you can leave it alone for a month at a time without touching the water. None of the new Plus or Max combos have this feature.
It also has the smartest pet-waste avoidance of any current Roomba — iRobot's P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise) actually pays out replacement units if it ever fails to dodge solid pet waste. We tested this with a deliberately placed obstacle and it correctly identified and avoided it every time.
Performance is slightly behind the Max 705 Combo on raw cleaning power — it scored 7.8/10 on carpet versus the 705's score — but the auto-fill dock is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade that the newer combos don't replicate. At $899 (36% off off MSRP) it is finally priced sensibly.
Who it's for: People who want full set-and-forget mopping — including not having to refill water — and don't mind paying for a feature unique to this model. Pet households that take the P.O.O.P. guarantee seriously.
Skip if: You won't use the auto-fill tank — the Plus 505 Combo gives you better cleaning numbers for half the price.
Read our full Roomba Combo j9+ review →
iRobot Models We Don't Recommend (and Why)
A few older Roombas are still on Amazon and Best Buy shelves. We tested the ones that mattered, and here is our honest read on which to skip:
- Roomba i3 / i3+ / i7+ — Discontinued generations. The i3+ still works fine, but it lacks LiDAR navigation and obstacle avoidance, and a current-gen Plus 405 costs about the same once you factor in the dock. Skip.
- Roomba 614 / 690 / 692 — Random-bounce navigation, no app intelligence, no self-empty. Acceptable as a "robot floor sweeper," but for anything more — skip.
- Roomba j7+ / Combo j7+ — The j-series predecessor to the j9. Still functional but the j9+ Combo is on sale for similar money and has meaningfully better suction.
- Roomba 105 Vac / 105 Combo — These are the post-bankruptcy entry-level models. Performance is fine, but they have no scoring data from major test labs yet and we have not finished long-term testing. We will update this guide once we have a full review.
How to Pick the Right Roomba: A 60-Second Decision Guide
- Are you a heavy pet household? → Get the Max 705 Vac for vacuum-only, or Max 705 Combo if you want mopping too.
- Do you want one machine that does everything for the lowest sensible price? → Plus 505 Combo. This is the answer for most people.
- Tight budget, want a current-gen combo? → Plus 405 Combo.
- Want the auto-fill water tank so you literally never touch the dock? → Combo j9+ (only model with this feature).
- You have hardwood-only and a small apartment → Honestly, look at a Roborock Q5 Pro or eufy L60 — they cost less and clean as well.
If you want to grab the top pick now: Check on Amazon. Or for pet households: Check on Amazon.
Should You Buy a Roomba in 2026? An Honest Take
This is the question we get most often, so here is the straightforward answer:
Reasons to buy a Roomba right now:
- You want U.S.-based brand support and the longest service history in the category — iRobot has been making robot vacuums since 2002.
- You have pet waste at home and want the P.O.O.P. guarantee on the j9+.
- You specifically want the anti-tangle rubber brushes (Max 705 series) — they really do work better than competitors on hair.
- You found a Roomba on deep discount (Plus 505 at $499.99, j9+ Combo at $899) and just want a good vacuum at a fair price.
Reasons to look at Roborock or eufy instead:
- You want maximum suction per dollar — Roborock Saros 20 (36,000 Pa) or Dreame X60 series will beat any Roomba on raw spec. See our Roomba vs Roborock and Roborock vs iRobot deep dives.
- You want the best mopping performance — the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame X50 Ultra both out-mop every Roomba in our tests.
- The Picea ownership uncertainty bothers you for a multi-year purchase.
- You want multi-floor mapping with auto-elevation switching — Roborock and Dreame both do this better.
We are not going to pretend iRobot is the obvious best brand anymore — Roborock has objectively caught up and surpassed them on most metrics. But Roomba is still a real product made by a real company with U.S. headquarters and U.S. service centers, and at the prices in this guide, the Plus 505 Combo and Max 705 Vac are competitive, full stop.
For more cross-brand options, see our flagship Best Robot Vacuums of 2026 roundup.
Common Roomba Problems (and Where to Fix Them)
If you already own a Roomba and are troubleshooting, these are the three most common issues we see:
- Won't connect to Wi-Fi after firmware update → see our Roomba Not Connecting to WiFi guide
- Mapping errors or "smart map" reset → see Roomba Mapping Issues
- Battery dies fast or won't charge → see Roomba Not Charging
You can also check the official Roomba support pages on the iRobot brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is iRobot still in business in 2026?
Yes. iRobot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 14, 2025, and emerged on January 23, 2026 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Picea Robotics. The iRobot Home app, customer service, parts supply, and warranty programs all continue to operate. However, all pre-existing common stock was cancelled with no recovery for former shareholders, and long-term product roadmap visibility is lower than it was before the bankruptcy.
What is the best Roomba to buy in 2026?
For most buyers, the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo at $499.99 is the best Roomba to buy in 2026. It vacuums and mops in one pass, the AutoWash dock cleans the mop pads automatically, and it sits at the sweet spot of price-to-performance in iRobot's current lineup. For pet households that don't need mopping, the Roomba Max 705 Vac is our top pick.
Is the Roomba Combo j9+ still worth buying?
At its original $1,399 MSRP — no. At today's $899 price (36% off off), yes — particularly if you want the auto-fill water reservoir feature, which no other Roomba has. The newer Plus and Max combos out-clean it slightly, but neither has the auto-fill dock that lets you go a month without touching the machine.
Roomba vs Roborock: which is better for pet hair?
The Roomba Max 705 Vac and the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both handle pet hair well. The Roomba's anti-tangle dual rubber brushes are slightly better at not getting hair-wrapped, while the Roborock pulls in more debris per pass thanks to higher suction. For shedding-only households, we lean Roomba; for shedding plus carpets and dust, Roborock. See our full Roomba vs Roborock comparison for a model-by-model breakdown.
Are old Roombas (i3, i7, j7) still worth buying in 2026?
Generally no. The i3 series lacks LiDAR navigation, the i7 is discontinued and parts are getting harder to find, and the j7 is out-priced by the j9+ which is on heavy discount. The only exception is if you find one of these models brand-new at a steep clearance price (under $399.99) and you are okay accepting that the model is end-of-life.
