When I saw iRobot’s latest robot vacuums announced this week, my first thought was, “These don’t look like Roombas; they look like midrange models from Roborock, Ecovacs, and Dreame.” Of course, as the original robot vacuum manufacturer, iRobot’s products likely inspired the design of most of its competitors. But Roombas have always had a uniqueness that sets them apart from the crowd. 

With these new models, the company is capitulating to the homogeneity of the current crop of vacuums, sacrificing many of its signature features and moving from high-end to middle-of-the-road in a quest to recapture a bigger slice of the market.

Long known for its innovation in home robotics, iRobot is marketing its new line as “breakthrough new products.” But the only notable innovation I’ve seen so far is an onboard dust compacting bin. The rest is largely a reheat of every midrange robot vacuum on the market today. 

Then, a day after launching eight new robot vacuums — the biggest product launch in its history — iRobot warned that it was in such dire financial straits that it could shut down in 12 months. Suddenly, it all became clear. 

They don’t look like Roombas bec …

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