Fact-checked: September 2, 2026. Prices, availability and announced features can change by market.
iRobot’s September 2 North American launch gives buyers two new hands-off vacuum-and-mop systems: the Roomba Max 875 Combo + AutoWash Dock for $1,199 and the Roomba Plus 678 Combo + AutoWash Dock for $899. Both were available through iRobot at announcement, with broader North American retail distribution planned later in September.
The extra $300 buys the Max 875’s SealForce skirt, 35,000Pa manufacturer suction claim, heated stain pretreatment, higher-pressure roller mop, more aggressive edge system and a dock that washes hotter. The Plus 678 keeps LiDAR/camera navigation, automatic emptying, mop washing and drying, but uses a simpler SprayForce and lifting-mop design.
The important qualification is that pressure and airflow figures are manufacturer measurements, not proof that one robot removes more debris on every carpet. Dock hygiene, obstacle behavior, consumable cost and software reliability often matter as much as headline suction.
At a Glance
| Key fact | Verified position |
|---|---|
| Max 875 price | $1,199 with AutoWash Dock |
| Plus 678 price | $899 with AutoWash Dock |
| Market | Available from iRobot in North America; wider retail later September |
| Max suction claim | 35,000Pa and 20 litres/second airflow—manufacturer figures |
| Plus suction claim | 30,000Pa and 18 litres/second airflow—manufacturer figures |
| Navigation | LiDAR plus camera-based object recognition on both, with model differences |
| Dock | Automatic emptying, mop cleaning and drying; Max uses hotter wash/dry claims |
| Matter | Certification pending at launch; do not describe Matter as available |
What the Extra $300 Changes
SealForce lowers a skirt around the cleaning zone to reduce air leakage and concentrate suction. The idea is mechanically sensible: a better seal can improve pickup without relying only on motor pressure. Real benefit will vary on uneven tile, deep carpet and threshold transitions, where the skirt must maintain contact without snagging.
The Max also combines ThermaMist heated pretreatment, a roller turning at a claimed 300RPM, 18N of mop pressure and DriLift protection intended to keep wet hardware away from carpet. The Plus uses 15N pressure, raises its mop by 10mm and adds SprayForce—a claimed 40,000Pa liquid burst. That SprayForce figure describes spray pressure, not vacuum suction, and should never be compared directly with the Plus’s 30,000Pa suction number.
Vacuuming and Mopping in Real Homes
Hard-floor homes with dried kitchen stains are the Max’s clearest target. Pretreating a mark, applying a continuously refreshed roller and extending toward edges could reduce manual follow-up. Carpet-heavy homes may care more about brush agitation, hair wrapping and whether the robot raises or shields wet components reliably.
No launch specification can guarantee pet-hair pickup, flour removal or stain performance. Pa is measured under a defined condition and does not capture seal geometry, brush contact or navigation coverage. Independent tests should use the same debris, flooring and number of passes. Until then, interpret 35,000Pa versus 30,000Pa as product positioning.
AutoWash Docks: Convenience With Maintenance
Both docks empty dry debris and manage mop cleaning, reducing daily contact with dirt. The Max dock advertises wash water up to 176°F/80°C, drying around 131°F/55°C, automatic concentrate dosing and a bag lasting up to 90 days. Those are maximum or conditional claims; household debris, humidity and cleaning frequency change intervals.
A self-cleaning dock is not maintenance-free. Owners still refill clean water, empty dirty water, rinse trays, remove hair, inspect seals and replace bags, filters, rollers and cleaning solution. Measure the dock footprint and lid clearance. A premium robot that cannot fit near plumbing-free floor space becomes inconvenient quickly.
Navigation, Obstacles and Privacy
The Max is about 9.98cm tall, uses LiDAR and a camera, and is marketed to recognize more than 300 common objects. It can reportedly cross thresholds up to 3.5cm under suitable geometry. Object counts are not success rates: cords, dark objects, mirrors, pet accidents and clutter remain difficult. First runs should be supervised.
Camera-equipped cleaners map private interiors. Review account security, image-processing policy, guest access and deletion controls. Segmenting smart-home devices on a guest or IoT network can reduce exposure, but the robot must still reach the internet functions its app requires. A product’s convenience does not remove the need for unique passwords and updates.
Alexa, Google, Siri and Pending Matter Support
At launch, iRobot lists integrations with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri shortcuts/voice workflows. Matter certification is pending. That distinction matters because a roadmap does not create current interoperability. Do not buy on the assumption that certification will arrive on a specific date or expose every app function.
Even after Matter support, complex map editing, no-go zones, consumable status and dock maintenance are likely to remain in the iRobot app. Matter may simplify basic start/stop and room commands; it does not eliminate the vendor ecosystem.
How They Compare With Roborock, Dreame and Narwal
| Brand direction | Potential advantage | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Roomba Max 875 | SealForce, heated pretreatment and established Roomba support footprint | Independent pickup, avoidance and dock-hygiene tests |
| Roomba Plus 678 | Lower price while retaining a full-service dock | Whether mopping justifies $899 versus discounted rivals |
| Roborock/Dreame | Mature premium docks, strong navigation feature competition | Model-specific privacy, parts and regional support |
| Narwal | Mopping-focused systems and competitive edge cleaning | Vacuum pickup, dock size and local consumable availability |
The rivals are relevant because they have already normalized hot-water washing, extendable mops and sophisticated docks. iRobot’s response is interesting, but brand familiarity alone should not outweigh current independent tests, return policy and parts availability in your country.
Which Roomba Should You Buy?
Choose the Max 875 if you have substantial hard flooring, recurring dried stains, demanding edges and a budget that makes the $300 gap secondary. The Plus 678 is the better value if you mainly want scheduled vacuuming, light mopping and a self-service dock. Carpet-heavy homes should wait for wet-zone reliability and hair tests.
Before buying, price a year of bags, filters, rollers and solution; measure the dock space; confirm the return window; and check whether replacement parts ship locally. A robot that needs proprietary consumables can cost more than its sale price suggests.
FrediTech verdict
The Max 875 has the more meaningful cleaning innovations, but they are still claims. The Plus 678 is the safer value choice for mixed everyday cleaning. Wait for independent tests if pet accidents, dark floors, thick rugs or perfect edge cleaning are deal-breakers.
Cleaning Schedules for Different Floor Plans
An open hard-floor apartment can use frequent combined runs at low water. A multi-level carpeted house benefits from vacuum-only schedules on carpet and manual movement only if maps remain reliable between floors. In a kitchen, schedule mopping after cooking rather than before, and let the dock dry the roller promptly. Bedrooms may need quieter hours and lower suction.
Do not let automation repeatedly wet the same floor because a map mislabels a rug or the robot becomes trapped. Review the cleaning history during the first month and adjust room order. Vacuuming before mopping reduces grit that can scratch surfaces. If the Plus leaves dried marks, a second slow mop pass may help; if that becomes routine, the Max’s pretreatment has clearer value.
Homes with stairs still require a handheld vacuum, and neither robot cleans skirting boards or upholstery. Budgeting should compare minutes of manual work saved, not only floor area. If a $1,199 robot saves ten minutes per week compared with the $899 model, the premium may be poor; if it eliminates daily kitchen scrubbing, the same premium can be reasonable.
Questions for Independent Reviews
- How much standardized debris is removed in one and two passes?
- Does SealForce help on grout, uneven tile and medium-pile carpet?
- How hot is water when it reaches the mop after plumbing losses?
- Does DriLift keep light and dark rugs dry?
- What percentage of cords and pet obstacles are avoided?
- How often does the dock leave odor or standing water?
- How loud are cleaning, emptying, washing and drying cycles?
- Can parts be replaced without discarding the whole dock?
A credible review should repeat trials and show failures, not only a sped-up successful run. It should distinguish airflow from sealed suction, spray pressure from vacuum pressure and maximum temperatures from typical cycles. Those details will determine whether the Max’s engineering translates into less human work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Roomba Max 875?
The Max 875 Combo with AutoWash Dock launched at $1,199 in North America.
What is the Plus 678 price?
The Roomba Plus 678 Combo with AutoWash Dock launched at $899.
Is 35,000Pa independently verified?
It is an iRobot claim. Comparable independent pickup testing was not available at announcement.
Does the Roomba Max 875 support Matter?
Matter certification was pending at launch, so it should not be described as currently Matter-certified.
Does the dock eliminate maintenance?
No. Owners still handle water tanks, trays, hair, bags, filters, rollers and cleaning solution.
Which is better for hard-floor stains?
The Max 875 has the stronger on-paper case because of heated pretreatment and its roller system, but wait for independent stain tests if this is your main reason to buy.
Related FrediTech Guides
- Internal-link opportunity: FrediTech best robot vacuums guide (URL to be assigned)
- Internal-link opportunity: FrediTech smart-home privacy guide (URL to be assigned)
- Internal-link opportunity: FrediTech Matter smart-home guide (URL to be assigned)
Sources and Verification
Launch pricing, pressure, airflow, temperature, object-count and runtime claims are attributed to iRobot. Matter was pending, and no comparative lab testing was available on announcement day.