The popular saying,”If you can’t beat them, join them,”seems apt for the consumer tech industry, too, as that’s apparently what iRobot has done after it filed for bankruptcy last December. It was subsequently obtained by China’s Picea Robotics, which ironically, is among the main reasons it ran out of organization in the very first location.
Chinese manufacturers such as Ecovacs, Roborock, and Dreame had flooded the marketplace with more affordable, feature-packed alternatives, typically providing innovative abilities like LiDAR navigation and 2-in-1 mopping well before Roomba did. On top of that, there was the Amazon acquisition mess, initially valued at $1.7 billion and later on modified to $1.4 billion, which fell through in early 2024 due to regulative pressure from the European Union, fearing a monopoly. That left iRobot to weather its monetary difficulties alone, eventually resulting in its acquisition by a Chinese firm.
However here’s the good part. The company hasn’t pursued any rebranding up until now and is, in fact, presenting new products under the same banner. Case in point, the just recently launched Roomba Mini. Measuring 9.5 inches in size, it’s approximately half the size of iRobot’s entry-level 105 series robovacs that released last March, permitting it to gain access to and clean areas too narrow for larger robots.
The Roomba Mini was originally established for smaller Japanese homes, but iRobot saw an opportunity to enhance its presence in Europe, therefore the device has actually received its much-anticipated UK and wider European release. It’s available for ₤ 379 in the UK and EUR399 throughout the rest of Europe, and comes in black, pink, white, and mint colors. As for a United States release, The Verge reports that the company has no current plans to bring the Roomba Mini stateside.
From a technical perspective, the Roomba Mini features a LiDAR-based navigation system to discover and avoid barriers such as individuals, furniture, and carpets, depending upon the mode it remains in. Its compact size permits it to move under furniture that larger, bulkier vacuums simply can’t reach. According to iRobot’s news release, the device can work as a basic robotic vacuum, picking up dust and dirt from tough floorings and carpets using a spinning brush on its underside. Additionally, users can change to mopping mode by connecting a non reusable damp pad that traps dirt and takes in liquid spills.
On the connection front, the Roomba Mini deals with iRobot’s Home app, which lets users schedule cleaning regimens. It likewise supports voice control via Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant through compatible wise devices. For those who prefer to remain offline or don’t have access to Wi-Fi, the vacuum can be begun by hand with a single button press.
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Unlike traditional robovacs that include a bulkier dock, the Roomba Mini ships with a compact docking station that matches its smaller footprint to handle both charging and bin emptying. The dock uses bags, so you’ll require to keep them stocked, but it has enough capacity for up to three months’ worth of dust and particles.
Despite the acquisition, the road ahead for Roomba stays uncertain. The marketplace is significantly crowded with the likes of Shark, Dyson, Dreame, and SwitchBot commanding considerable share. If iRobot means to stay appropriate in the home cleansing space, it might need to pull something truly amazing out of its hat.
< img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.homecrux.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Roomba-Mini-Robot-Vacuum-Mop-and-AutoEmpty-Dock-launched-in-UK-and-Europe_3.jpg"alt="Roomba Mini by iRobot"/ > Image: iRobot Image: iRobot