iRobot's First Manual Cleaner Signals Shift Away from Autonomy

iRobot launched the Roomba Electro Plus on 7 July 2026, a $399 cordless hard-floor cleaner that operates manually—the company's first non-autonomous product. The 5-in-1 device vacuums, mops, and disinfects using electrolyzing technology, which converts tap water into a 99.9%-antimicrobial solution. The move targets buyers wary of autonomous-system costs or unsuited to robot deployment: renters, small-space dwellers, and privacy-conscious households.