Roomba vs Roborock: which should Australians buy in 2026?

Roomba used to be the default robot vacuum. In 2026 iRobot is owned by China's Picea Robotics, distributed here by a Melbourne company, and competing on price. Roborock, meanwhile, has become one of the most recommended brands in Australia. Here's how they compare now. Prices checked 4 October 2026.

By Domestic Robot · Editor: Christian Ganaban · Updated 14 October 2026 · We may earn a commission from links on this page. Disclosure

Researched, not testedThis guide is based on manufacturer information, Australian retailer listings and independent sources, all linked below. We haven't used these robots ourselves yet.

Quick answer

For most Australians, Roborock is the better buy: more suction and better obstacle avoidance at similar prices, 24-month warranties on current models, and the top reliability rating from Australian owners in Finder's 2026 awards. Roomba still makes sense if you find a strong deal on a model with a 2-year warranty, such as the Plus 575 Combo at $999, or you prefer a simple app from a brand you already know. Read our full Roomba Combo review.

The short version

	iRobot Roomba	Roborock
Owner	Shenzhen Picea Robotics (since 23 Jan 2026); HQ still Bedford, Massachusetts	Roborock, listed on Shanghai's STAR Market; offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen
In Australia	Distributed by IXL Home (Melbourne); store at shopirobot.com.au; 1300 727 421	Roborock Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd; Roborock Store ANZ; 1800 413 621
Warranty	1 or 2 years depending on model; 30-day money-back at iRobot's AU store	24 months listed on current models such as the Saros 20
Example suction	Max 705 Combo: 13,000 Pa	Saros 20: 36,000 Pa
Navigation	ClearView Pro LiDAR plus PrecisionVision camera avoidance (Max 705)	LiDAR or StarSight 2.0 3D ToF and camera (Saros 20)
Owner ratings (Finder Awards 2026)	No category win	Most Reliable, Most Recommended

Prices by budget (4 October 2026)

Budget	iRobot (shopirobot.com.au)	Roborock (Roborock Store ANZ unless noted)
Under $700	Roomba 115 Combo + AutoEmpty $429 (was $599); Plus 415 Combo $679 (was $949)	Q7B+ $349; Q10V Plus (earlier price $499, recheck); Qrevo L $699 (unavailable on Amazon AU, 14 Oct 2026)
$700–$1,500	Max 705 Combo $849 (was $2,399); Plus 575 Combo $999 (was $1,699); Plus 515 Combo $1,499	Qrevo C Pro $799; Qrevo Edge 2 $1,099; Saros 10R $1,449; Qrevo Edge 2 Pro $1,499
$1,500+	Plus 675 Combo listed as new, no price shown	Saros 20 $1,999; Saros 20 Flow $2,499

“Was” prices are the stores' list prices. The Qrevo Edge 2 and Qrevo L prices were rechecked on 14 October 2026.

What changed at iRobot

iRobot filed for Chapter 11 in December 2025 and completed a court-supervised sale to Shenzhen Picea Robotics and Santrum Hong Kong on 23 January 2026. iRobot set up a US subsidiary, iRobot Safe, to govern consumer data, and its CEO told TechRadar the app, warranties and firmware updates would continue as normal. In Australia, IXL Home has kept distributing and supporting Roombas, and ChannelNews reported in June 2026 that a refreshed Australian range was coming in the second half of the year.

That makes the new-generation Plus Combos a reasonable buy, but there's no long-term guarantee about app and cloud support. If that matters to you, Roborock's position is less uncertain.

Cleaning and features

On paper, Roborock offers far more at the same price. At $1,099, Roborock's Qrevo Edge 2 competes with the $999 Roomba Plus 575 Combo; at around $2,000, the Roborock Saros 20 (36,000 Pa, AdaptiLift climbing over double thresholds) is a class above anything iRobot currently sells in Australia. Expert Reviews called the Saros 20's obstacle avoidance the best it had tested.

Roomba's current strength is its mopping hardware for the price: the Max 705 Combo has a PowerSpin roller mop and a heated washing and drying dock at $849. Reviews are split on its overall cleaning, and as a 2025 model it carries a 1-year warranty (see our Roomba Combo review). iRobot's newest flagship, the Roomba Max 875 Combo (35,000 Pa, heated mist), hasn't been confirmed for Australia.

Warranty, support and parts

iRobot's Australian store lists a 1-year or 2-year limited warranty depending on the model, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee, with support on 1300 727 421. Roborock lists 24 months on current models and has a service centre in Eastern Creek, NSW. Both sell genuine consumables locally. Your Australian Consumer Law rights apply to both regardless of the written warranty.

Which should you buy?

Choose Roborock for the best cleaning per dollar and the strongest reliability ratings. Start with our Qrevo review or Saros 20 review.
Choose Roomba if you want a roller mop under $1,000 with a 2-year warranty (the Plus 575 Combo) and you're comfortable with iRobot's new ownership.
Not sure? Compare Roborock with its other big rivals: Roborock vs Ecovacs and Dreame vs Roborock.

Common questions

Is Roborock better than Roomba?

For most buyers in 2026, yes: more suction and features at similar prices, and better reliability ratings from Australian owners. A discounted Roomba with a 2-year warranty can still be good value.

Is iRobot still supported in Australia?

Yes. IXL Home distributes iRobot in Australia, runs the local online store and handles warranty and support on 1300 727 421.

Who owns iRobot now?

Shenzhen Picea Robotics and Santrum Hong Kong, since 23 January 2026. iRobot's headquarters remain in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Will my Roomba app keep working?

iRobot has said the app, warranties and firmware updates continue as normal after the sale. There's no long-term guarantee.

Is the Roomba Max 875 available in Australia?

Not yet. iRobot hasn't confirmed Australian pricing or availability; the US price is US$1,199.

Sources

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