The famous 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 acquired by China’s Picea Robotics, which ironically, is one of the main reasons it ran out of business in the first place.
Chinese manufacturers such as Ecovacs, Roborock, and Dreame had flooded the market with cheaper, feature-packed alternatives, often offering advanced capabilities like LiDAR navigation and 2-in-1 mopping well before Roomba did. On top of that, there was the Amazon acquisition fiasco, initially valued at $1.7 billion and later revised to $1.4 billion, which fell through in early 2024 due to regulatory pressure from the European Union, fearing a monopoly. That left iRobot to weather its financial troubles alone, ultimately leading to its acquisition by a Chinese firm.
But here’s the good part. The company hasn’t pursued any rebranding so far and is, in fact, introducing new products under the same banner. Case in point, the recently released Roomba Mini. Measuring 9.5 inches in diameter, it’s roughly half the size of iRobot’s entry-level 105 series robovacs that launched last March, allowing it to access and clean spaces too narrow for larger robots.
The Roomba Mini was originally developed for smaller Japanese homes, but iRobot saw an opportunity to strengthen its presence in Europe, and so the device has received its much-anticipated UK and wider European release. It’s available for £379 in the UK and €399 across the rest of Europe, and comes in black, pink, white, and mint colors. As for a US release, The Verge reports that the company has no current plans to bring the Roomba Mini stateside.
From a technical standpoint, the Roomba Mini features a LiDAR-based navigation system to detect and avoid obstacles such as people, furniture, and rugs, depending on the mode it’s in. Its compact size allows it to glide under furniture that larger, bulkier vacuums simply can’t reach. According to iRobot’s press release, the device can function as a standard robot vacuum, picking up dust and dirt from hard floors and carpets using a spinning brush on its underside. Alternatively, users can switch to mopping mode by attaching a disposable wet pad that traps dirt and absorbs liquid spills.
On the connectivity front, the Roomba Mini works with iRobot’s Home app, which lets users schedule cleaning routines. It also supports voice control via Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant through compatible smart devices. For those who prefer to stay offline or don’t have access to Wi-Fi, the vacuum can be started manually with a single button press.
Also Read: Shark PowerDetect Robot Vacuum Uses UV Light to Hunt and Clean Hidden Stains
Unlike traditional robovacs that come with 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 need to keep them stocked, but it has enough capacity for up to three months’ worth of dust and debris.
Despite the acquisition, the road ahead for Roomba remains uncertain. The market is increasingly crowded with the likes of Shark, Dyson, Dreame, and SwitchBot commanding significant share. If iRobot intends to stay relevant in the home cleaning space, it may need to pull something truly extraordinary out of its hat.
