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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- iRobot just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following years of declining revenue.
- The company was acquired by Picea Robotics, a Chinese robot vacuum manufacturer.
- While Roomba users will still be able to use their robot vacuums, the future of the iRobot brand is very different today than what was envisioned years ago.
iRobot has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, an unsurprising decision after years of declining revenue. For Roomba owners, however, this is more of a restructuring move — not a shutdown. Picea Robotics, the current manufacturer of Roomba, has struck a deal to acquire iRobot outright, eliminating nearly $350 million in debt.
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What does this mean for iRobot? Picea now has full ownership of the robot vacuum household name, for one. The Chinese-based Picea Robotics is iRobot’s main contract manufacturer, but the company is also behind the fabrication of robot vacuums from brands like Shark and Anker, which operates Eufy robot vacuums.
Who is Picea Robotics?
Picea, also known as 3irobotix, is a major robot vacuum original design manufacturer (ODM) based in Shenzhen, a city often referred to as the Chinese Silicon Valley. The company has been in operation since 2016 and has grown into one of the largest manufacturers of robot vacuums.
You’ve probably heard of the company’s own 3i robot vacuum brand, known for its innovative features. This includes the flagship 3i S10 Ultra (pictured), which utilizes a dehumidifier to maintain a full clean water tank, and the more affordable G10+, which features a compactor inside the circular dustbin.
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Picea Robotics operates out of Shenzhen but has production and R&D facilities in other parts of China and Vietnam.
Why did iRobot file for bankruptcy?
iRobot’s demise has been years in the making, with declining revenue accumulating over time, but the company’s performance nosedived after the failed Amazon acquisition in early 2024.
After the Amazon deal fell through, iRobot outsourced manufacturing to Picea and moved its engineering operations overseas. Competition from cheaper Chinese brands and rising costs from new US tariffs put the final nail in the iRobot coffin in 2025.
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The company shocked the market in 2025 by releasing new Roombas that strayed entirely from its renowned high-end designs. iRobot transitioned from featuring genuine leather tabs on its charging docks to a cheaper plastic construction with a fabric-like texture — it was a desperate move.
iRobot’s Hail Mary pass didn’t work to bring the company’s bottom line to the black, and consumers continued to prefer better-performing robot vacuums from competitors for less money.
What does this mean for Roomba users?
While Roombas aren’t disappearing, they’re no longer the same as they used to be. However, Roomba users can rest assured that their robot vacuums won’t suddenly stop working because of iRobot’s bankruptcy status.
iRobot states that business will continue as usual during the restructuring period, including firmware updates and bug fixes. Roomba is no longer an independent brand, so its innovation may change direction, as we’ve already seen with its robots shifting away from software-led product development.
Things would look drastically different if iRobot were facing a shutdown instead of a buyout. Modern Roombas rely too heavily on cloud operations to function, so users would lose access to the Roomba app, smart mapping (including saved maps), geofencing, third-party integrations, and firmware updates.
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If iRobot shuts down, users will still be able to get their Roomba to function with the physical buttons on the robot. Robot vacuums could still turn on and off, complete a full cleaning cycle, and dock to recharge.
A Roomba without access to the cloud is like a flip phone that can only make calls; it lacks the ability to connect to the internet. This is a sharp contrast to the operations of other major brands, including Roborock, Dreame, and Eufy, which keep maps and room control locally.
Roombas won’t brick themselves because iRobot is getting bought by another company — the brand is likely to survive if it restructures and markets itself effectively for a comeback, so we may see new Roombas hit the market in the future.
Source: Networking - zdnet.com
