iRobot's bankruptcy could change your Roomba forever - here's how and why

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• iRobot conscionable filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, pursuing years of declining revenue.
  
• The institution was acquired by Picea Robotics, a Chinese robot vacuum manufacturer.
  
• While Roomba users volition inactive beryllium capable to usage their robot vacuums, the aboriginal of the iRobot marque is precise antithetic contiguous than what was envisioned years ago.
  

iRobot has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, an unsurprising decision aft years of declining revenue. For Roomba owners, however, this is much of a restructuring determination -- not a shutdown. Picea Robotics, the existent shaper of Roomba, has struck a woody to get iRobot outright, eliminating astir $350 cardinal successful debt.

Also: Thousands of readers bought these 10 astir fashionable robot vacuums and mowers successful 2025

What does this mean for iRobot? Picea present has afloat ownership of the robot vacuum household name, for one. The Chinese-based Picea Robotics is iRobot's main declaration manufacturer, but the institution is besides down the fabrication of robot vacuums from brands similar Shark and Anker, which operates Eufy robot vacuums.

Who is Picea Robotics?

Picea, besides known arsenic 3irobotix, is simply a large robot vacuum archetypal plan shaper (ODM) based successful Shenzhen, a metropolis often referred to arsenic the Chinese Silicon Valley. The institution has been successful cognition since 2016 and has grown into 1 of the largest manufacturers of robot vacuums.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

You've astir apt heard of the company's ain 3i robot vacuum brand, known for its innovative features. This includes the flagship 3i S10 Ultra (pictured), which utilizes a dehumidifier to support a afloat cleanable h2o tank, and the much affordable G10+, which features a compactor wrong the circular dustbin.

Also: I fto this $360 robot vacuum tally connected autopilot for 10 days portion I was distant - here's however it went

Picea Robotics operates retired of Shenzhen but has accumulation and R&D facilities successful different parts of China and Vietnam.

Why did iRobot record for bankruptcy?

iRobot's demise has been years successful the making, with declining gross accumulating implicit time, but the company's show nosedived aft the failed Amazon acquisition successful aboriginal 2024. 

After the Amazon woody fell through, iRobot outsourced manufacturing to Picea and moved its engineering operations overseas. Competition from cheaper Chinese brands and rising costs from caller US tariffs enactment the last nail successful the iRobot coffin successful 2025.

Also: This viral Roborock vacuum with a mechanical limb is $500 disconnected connected Amazon close now

The institution shocked the marketplace successful 2025 by releasing new Roombas that strayed wholly from its renowned high-end designs. iRobot transitioned from featuring genuine leather tabs connected its charging docks to a cheaper integrative operation with a fabric-like texture -- it was a hopeless move.

iRobot's Hail Mary walk didn't enactment to bring the company's bottommost enactment to the black, and consumers continued to similar better-performing robot vacuums from competitors for little money. 

What does this mean for Roomba users?

While Roombas aren't disappearing, they're nary longer the aforesaid arsenic they utilized to be. However, Roomba users tin remainder assured that their robot vacuums won't abruptly halt moving due to the fact that of iRobot's bankruptcy status. 

iRobot states that concern volition proceed arsenic accustomed during the restructuring period, including firmware updates and bug fixes. Roomba is nary longer an autarkic brand, truthful its innovation whitethorn alteration direction, arsenic we've already seen with its robots shifting distant from software-led merchandise development.

Things would look drastically antithetic if iRobot were facing a shutdown alternatively of a buyout. Modern Roombas trust excessively heavy connected unreality operations to function, truthful users would suffer entree to the Roomba app, astute mapping (including saved maps), geofencing, third-party integrations, and firmware updates.

Also: This vacuum mop combo changed my caput astir astute cleaners, and it purrfectly tackles favored hair

If iRobot shuts down, users volition inactive beryllium capable to get their Roomba to relation with the carnal buttons connected the robot. Robot vacuums could inactive crook connected and off, implicit a afloat cleaning cycle, and dock to recharge. 

A Roomba without entree to the unreality is similar a flip telephone that tin lone marque calls; it lacks the quality to link to the internet. This is simply a crisp opposition to the operations of different large brands, including Roborock, Dreame, and Eufy, which support maps and country power locally.

Roombas won't ceramic themselves due to the fact that iRobot is getting bought by different institution -- the marque is apt to past if it restructures and markets itself efficaciously for a comeback, truthful we whitethorn spot caller Roombas deed the marketplace successful the future.