iRobot’s New Roombas Seal Themselves to Carpet—and Add Heated Roller Mops

iRobot has announced two new premium robot vacuum and mop combinations: the Roomba Max 875 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock and the Roomba Plus 678 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock. The September 2 launch introduces a new carpet-focused vacuuming system called SealForce, along with two different approaches to heated roller mopping.

The Max 875 becomes iRobot’s new flagship, while the Plus 678 offers many of the same core technologies at a lower price. Both models are available through iRobot now and are expected to reach retailers across North America later in September.

Vacuum Wars has not yet independently evaluated either robot. The specifications and comparative performance claims in this article come from iRobot’s announcement and should be treated as manufacturer claims until the robots undergo independent studio evaluations.

SealForce Takes a Different Approach to Carpet Cleaning

The central technology shared by both robots is SealForce Vacuuming Technology. Rather than depending on suction power alone, the robot lowers a skirt against carpet fibers to form a tighter cleaning zone beneath the chassis. The idea is to prevent airflow from escaping around the robot so more of it is directed through the carpet and into the vacuum.

That is an interesting approach because suction ratings by themselves do not necessarily predict how effectively a robot will remove embedded debris. Airflow, floorhead design, agitation, and the seal at the cleaning surface can all affect real-world carpet pickup.

iRobot lists the Roomba Max 875 at 35,000 Pa of suction and 20 liters per second of airflow. The company says the combination of suction, airflow, and SealForce produces three times deeper carpet cleaning. However, that comparison is against carpet vacuuming without SealForce—not against a competing robot vacuum.

The Roomba Plus 678 uses the same active sealing concept with an official 30,000 Pa suction rating and 18 liters per second of airflow. iRobot makes the same three-times-deeper carpet-cleaning claim for this model using the same comparison.

Roomba Max 875 Adds Heated Mist and a Larger Roller Mop

The Roomba Max 875 Combo pairs SealForce vacuuming with a new two-part heated mopping system.

First, ThermaMist Technology continuously applies an ultrasonic heated mist intended to soften dried-on residue before the roller reaches it. A PowerSpin Max Roller Mop then scrubs the floor using heated water. According to iRobot, the roller spins at 300 RPM and applies 18 Newtons of downward pressure.

iRobot describes this as its largest roller mop to date. The company claims that it is 44% larger than the standard PowerSpin roller, provides 1.2 times wider coverage per pass, and delivers 3.75 times deeper scrubbing than the Roomba Max 775. It also says ThermaMist produces twice the stain removal of mopping without the heated-mist treatment.

The roller can extend as far as 45 mm toward walls and baseboards through PerfectEdge Technology. An outward-moving side brush is intended to reach farther into corners, while a hair-cutting main brush and spiral side brush form the robot’s dual anti-tangle system.

DriLift Protects Carpet With a Mop Shield

The Max 875 also introduces DriLift Technology, which goes beyond simply raising the mop roller when carpet is detected. The system lifts the roller and lowers a protective shield around it, creating a physical barrier intended to prevent residual moisture from reaching rugs and carpets.

This could be particularly useful in homes with mixed flooring, where even a lifted roller may retain enough water to brush against carpet fibers. How reliably the robot identifies carpet and how well the shield contains moisture will be important areas to evaluate in real-world use.

AutoWash Dock Handles Hot-Water Cleaning and Drying

The Max 875’s AutoWash Dock is designed to automate most routine maintenance. It washes the roller with water heated to 176°F, dries it with 131°F air, dispenses iRobot’s StayClean mopping concentrate, refills the robot, and empties dry debris into a carbon AllergenLock bag.

iRobot advertises up to 90 days of hands-free debris storage, although actual bag life will depend on the amount and type of debris collected.

Navigation combines ClearView Pro Dual-Line LiDAR with PrecisionVision AI. iRobot says the Max 875 can recognize and avoid more than 300 common household objects. The robot has a stated height of 9.98 cm, or about 3.93 inches, and is rated to cross thresholds as high as 3.5 cm.

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Explore Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best robot vacuums, based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase every unit ourselves and have evaluated more than 150 models, giving us a deep benchmark for cleaning performance, navigation, battery life, and advanced features like obstacle avoidance and mopping.

Roomba Plus 678 Uses SprayForce AI Pre-Treatment

The Roomba Plus 678 Combo takes a different approach to stain removal. Its SprayForce AI system applies a concentrated burst of pressurized liquid before the PowerSpin roller scrubs the area with heated water.

iRobot describes the spray pressure as 40,000 Pa. Importantly, this number refers to the mopping pre-treatment spray—not the robot’s vacuum suction, which is officially rated at 30,000 Pa.

The Plus 678’s roller applies 15 Newtons of downward pressure. The company says the combination of pre-treatment and roller scrubbing can improve mopping efficiency by as much as 40% compared with mopping without SprayForce AI.

Unlike the Max 875’s enclosed DriLift system, the Plus 678 uses a more conventional 10 mm automatic mop lift when it detects carpet. It still includes PerfectEdge roller extension, dual anti-tangle brushes, ClearView Pro Dual-Line LiDAR, PrecisionVision AI obstacle avoidance, and an AutoWash Dock with hot-water washing and heated-air drying.

The Plus 678 also adds Dirt Detect Technology that, according to iRobot, can distinguish among different wet and dry messes and adjust suction, brush behavior, cleaning passes, and mopping pre-treatment accordingly.

Roomba Max 875 vs. Roomba Plus 678

Pricing and Availability

The Roomba Max 875 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock has an MSRP of $1,199, placing it at the top of iRobot’s current robot-vacuum lineup. The Roomba Plus 678 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock has an MSRP of $899.

Both models are available to order from iRobot as of September 2, 2026. iRobot says broader North American retail availability will follow later in September.

Vacuum Wars’ Initial Take

On paper, the Roomba Max 875 and Plus 678 represent a significant expansion of iRobot’s premium cleaning technology. Heated roller mopping, automated hot-water dock maintenance, extendable edge cleaning, higher threshold ratings, LiDAR navigation, and AI obstacle avoidance give the new models a much more extensive feature set than many earlier Roombas.

SealForce is the development we are most interested in evaluating. Its focus on controlling the seal and airflow at the carpet surface is more meaningful than simply advertising a larger Pa number. The Max 875’s DriLift shield is also a noteworthy attempt to solve the lingering problem of damp roller mops passing over carpet.

iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum Buyers Guide 2026

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Lisa Tatar

Since joining Vacuum Wars in 2020, Lisa has contributed to in-depth product reviews and educational content focused on vacuum cleaners and floor-care technology. She also plays a key role in website strategy, content optimization, and site management, helping ensure accuracy, clarity, and a high-quality user experience. With a background in communications and hands-on experience as a working parent and pet owner, Lisa brings both professional expertise and real-world perspective to her work.

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