iRobot Debuts Roomba Max 875 with New SealForce Tech

iRobot has unveiled the Roomba Max 875 Combo, a $1,199 flagship robot vacuum and mop showcased at IFA in Berlin, as The Verge first reported. The release comes under the company's new owner, Picea Robotics, the contract manufacturer that acquired iRobot out of bankruptcy in January.

According to reporting from The Verge, the 875 features a new "SealForce" system that lowers a skirt around the cleaning head upon detecting carpet. iRobot chief engineer Adam Pope states this creates a better seal to direct airflow deeper into the carpet, which, paired with a new vane-type blower motor moving 20 L/s, allows for three times deeper cleaning. To accommodate this seal, the 875 moves away from iRobot's signature dual rollers in favor of a single rubber brush.

For improved maintenance, the 875 is equipped with an anti-tangle side brush and a new main brush designed to cut hair. The unit also boasts 35,000 Pa of suction power—the highest the company has ever published—and can climb thresholds up to 3.5 cm.

On the mopping side, the 875 features a self-cleaning roller system with a "ThermaMist" heated mist feature to pretreat stains and a retractable mop cover to keep carpets dry. It pairs with an auto-empty/wash dock that uses hot water and hot air for cleaning and drying. iRobot also launched a mid-range Roomba Plus 678 Combo for $899, which includes SealForce tech but lacks ThermaMist and the mop cover, instead utilizing a "SprayForce" presoaking system.