iRobot has announced a new flagship robot vacuum and mop, the Roomba Max 875 Combo, with a carpet-cleaning system built around creating a tighter seal against flooring. The Verge reports that iRobot plans to showcase the model at IFA in Berlin this week, while Tom’s Guide says the launch pushes the earlier Roomba 775 out of the top slot in iRobot’s lineup. The key feature is SealForce, a new iRobot system that lowers a skirt around the cleaning head when the robot detects carpet. According to both The Verge and Tom’s Guide, the goal is to direct airflow into carpet fibers rather than relying on suction alone. iRobot claims the setup delivers three-times deeper carpet cleaning than systems without SealForce. The reported specifications are notable for a company that, according to The Verge, previously avoided publishing detailed suction figures for years. Both outlets report that the Roomba Max 875 Combo is rated at 35,000 Pa of suction and 20 L/s of airflow. The Verge attributes the airflow figure to iRobot chief engineer Adam Pope and says the robot uses a vane-type blower motor. The design also changes some familiar Roomba mechanics. The Verge reports that the 875 uses a single rubber brush instead of iRobot’s signature dual rollers, with Pope saying the change accommodates the improved carpet seal. The same report says the robot uses lidar and camera-based vision for navigation and obstacle detection, has a slimmer footprint than the Roomba 775, and can climb thresholds up to 3.5 cm high. On hard floors, the Roomba Max 875 Combo adds a heated mopping system called ThermaMist. The Verge says it sprays ahead of the mop to pretreat stains, while Tom’s Guide describes it as an ultrasonic heated mist intended to loosen dried-on spills. Both outlets report that the robot uses a self-cleaning roller mop; The Verge adds that the dock can wash the mop with hot water and dry it with hot air. The sources disagree on price. The Verge reports the Roomba Max 875 Combo at $1,199 and says it is available now at irobot.com. Tom’s Guide reports the model at $1,119 at iRobot. Until iRobot’s own product page or updated reporting resolves the difference, that price should be treated as unsettled in this cluster. The Verge also reports that iRobot is launching a midrange version, the Roomba Plus 678 Combo, priced at $899. According to The Verge, the 678 keeps the roller mop and SealForce system but steps down to 30,000 Pa suction and 18 L/s airflow, and omits ThermaMist and the retractable mop cover. The launch comes as iRobot returns to a major tech trade show under Picea Robotics, which The Verge says bought the company out of bankruptcy in January. The same report notes that sealing-style carpet systems are not unique to iRobot, citing Narwal and Dreame as having variations on recent flagship models. The practical question is therefore not whether the feature is novel to the category, but whether iRobot’s version can deliver measurable cleaning gains in real homes. Who benefits: If iRobot’s claims hold, buyers with carpets, pet hair, and dried hard-floor stains are the direct beneficiaries. Picea-owned iRobot also benefits if the Max 875 helps reposition Roomba closer to newer premium competitors. Who's exposed: Premium robot-vacuum rivals such as Narwal and Dreame are the clearest competitive reference points in the provided reporting. Buyers are also exposed to an unresolved price discrepancy between early reports.