# Roomba: what people say on TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, X

Read 693 posts and comments on 2026-11-14; 411 were about Roomba. Full report with links: https://sociallisteningai.com/samples/brand-roomba/

Roomba's biggest strength is durability and hands-off convenience: long-time owners report years of service, and self-emptying docks, anti-tangle brushes and extending mop pads win real enthusiasm. The loudest, most repeated problem is corner and edge cleaning — round robots leave dirt in 90-degree corners, and the 875's corner claim is called out repeatedly. A second cluster of complaints is about the company itself: bankruptcy, the sale to a Chinese supplier, discontinued cloud support for older models, and a privacy scare over leaked test photos have shaken trust and made people hesitate to buy. Many commenters say a broom or regular vacuum is simply faster, and rivals like Roborock, Dreame, Eufy and Ecovacs are named as better or cheaper again and again. The surprise is how much affection and nostalgia the brand still carries even among people who won't buy another one.

**How it feels** (411 on-topic): 33% positive, 33% negative, 8% mixed, 25% neutral.
- TikTok: 246 (48% positive, 30% negative)
- X: 38 (11% positive, 50% negative)
- YouTube: 59 (12% positive, 31% negative)
- Reddit: 68 (13% positive, 37% negative)

Not included this time: Instagram (the source did not answer).

## What people like

- **good with pet hair and cats** (12 mentions)
  - "From spills to pet hair it handles so much" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "This would be so helpful with cats around" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **strong suction and debris pickup impress viewers** (9 mentions)
  - "Looks super powerful for sure!" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "The suction power sounds crazy good" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **it saves time and replaces daily vacuuming and mopping** (9 mentions)
  - "This would save me so much cleaning time" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "I would literally use it to clean my home everyday" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **self-emptying docks, anti-tangle brushes and heated-mist mopping are seen as genuinely convenient** (8 mentions)
  - "I am on my second roomba in 15 years. The first one was used and lasted us about 10 years. It was an OG model and the brush rolls needed to be cleaned after every use and the bin emptied which was a huge barrier to use f…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/comments/1xl963m/cleaning_appliances_that_actually_help_you/
  - "Roomba just got HOT! 🔥 Meet the new Roomba® Max 875 Combo, bringing together powerful vacuuming and innovative 60°C ThermaMist™ heated-mist mopping for a smart…" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **long-time owners report years of reliable service from their Roombas** (7 mentions)
  - "How come Roomba is almost never recommended in this subreddit or anywhere that talks about robot vacuums?. I’ve owned a refurbished Roomba J7+ for about 3 and a half years now, and it’s still going strong with little to …" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/
  - "2500 hrs and climbing on my J7+! Not as efficient as our Roborock but still works just fine for single room runs. Just threw all new core parts into it to hopefully get another 2500." YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgxH2uK_qcgxL6qhLHt4AaABAg
- **extending mop pads that reach edges are a welcome improvement** (2 mentions)
  - "Replying to @kkmartin424 The NEW Roomba 415 understood the assignment. 👏🤖 200x of suction, extending mop pads that actually reach out toward those edges, and …" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thatmamakasey/video/7683514655716723999
  - "Those extending mop pads getting the edges are seriously impressive!" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thatmamakasey/video/7683514655716723999
- **easy to maintain and repair yourself, with parts easy to source** (2 mentions)
  - "My 960 was awesome but everyone else just beat them. What I absolutely loved about iRobot was how easy it was to perform maintenance and the local capabilities of the robot. That is what they had going for them. Oh your …" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgxthK91OHufWphK7Xt4AaABAg
  - "iRobot went bankrupt recently and was acquired by Picea, a Chinese company that started making their robots a little before the bankruptcy. They started lagging behind in innovation, so despite their best-in-class carpet…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofuzvoo/

## Complaints and problems

- **round robots leave corners and edges dirty; the 875's corner claim is called out repeatedly** (35 mentions)
  - "Why aren't they square?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
  - "it missed something" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
- **a broom or regular vacuum is faster and less effort than the robot** (16 mentions)
  - "A old traditional vacuum would’ve finished this job in ten minutes" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
  - "I would have cleaned that with a regular vacuum much faster" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
- **bankruptcy and sale to a Chinese supplier mean the old iRobot is gone and the future is uncertain** (10 mentions)
  - "iRobot really just pulled a BlackBerry by dominating the market for some time, not innovating, then going out of business" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgyKxJ7OaICfPrXUC-h4AaABAg
  - "iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner, has filed for bankruptcy. It has reached a restructuring support agreement that will hand control to its main supplier and lender Shenzhen PICEA Robotics, a…" X https://x.com/business/status/2000378023984422967
- **Roomba lags rivals on navigation and features for the price** (7 mentions)
  - "iRobot went bankrupt recently and was acquired by Picea, a Chinese company that started making their robots a little before the bankruptcy. They started lagging behind in innovation, so despite their best-in-class carpet…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofuzvoo/
  - "They’ve been lagging for years. You pay for the brand name." Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofv13ho/
- **reliability failures: units dying quickly, app glitches, auto-empty not reaching the bag** (6 mentions)
  - "I got the Irobot Roomba 2020 Dec 2025 for Christmas. My roomba worked great 2x and then had errors via navigation and going forward. I rebooted it, took out the battery and replaced it, did 3 hard factory resets to no av…" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=Ugysli0z3rHuERJLGj54AaABAg
  - "Saying iRobot’s apps will “keep working” is hilarious. Their apps are insanely glitchy. To the point I don’t even use my S9+ anymore." YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=Ugz-uGuDqlurFG6tNUB4AaABAg
- **new owners won't support older models or loyal customers; cloud services already cut for 900-series** (4 mentions)
  - "I purchased a Roomba 980, iRobot's top-of-the-line model at the time for nearly C$1,000. It worked flawlessly for years. Last month, without any prior notice to customers, iRobot quietly discontinued cloud services for t…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofuzk5i/
  - "This is an absolutely underrated point that most people skim over. After the bankruptcy, the new owners aren’t willing to support older models like yours anymore, and don’t really care how loyal customers feel about that…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofv29dt/
- **chokes on heavy pet hair and long dog fur, needing detangling after every room** (4 mentions)
  - "I gave up using my Roomba with my dog, he sheds so much the vacuum always ends up choking to death 🤣 it's faster for me to vacuum by hand than to unstuck all the hair stuck on the iRobot I too have to vaccum 3 times a d…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/germanshepherds/comments/1xsyqow/robot_vacuum/
  - "Had both, they couldn't go a single room without choking on that day's dose of Newfoundland floof. I had to detangle after every room - which is why I returned them (and their weird software issues). Note that your Shetl…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xmeumn/best_robot_for_long_floofy_dogs_no_carpet_between/

## Questions people ask

- **why aren't robot vacuums square so they can reach corners** (7 mentions)
  - "Why aren't they square?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
  - "is there any square robots?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
- **which model is the white one with the animal face, and which should I buy from the test** (6 mentions)
  - "what's the white one with the eyes on top, that dominated" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
  - "what brand is the square one with the cat face" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
- **why do people own so many robot vacuums** (6 mentions)
  - "Why do you have so many tho 😭" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
  - "Quick question… why do you have so many? 😂" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
- **is Roomba still worth buying given the bankruptcy and app support** (5 mentions)
  - "well they filed for bankruptcy last year so even if they had great machines i would think twice about buying an expensive product from a company with an uncertain future. but even before that, general consensus was that …" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/19sg0ksxn5iat/
  - "The filing is basically a handoff: iRobot’s Chinese manufacturer Picea Robotics will take 100% ownership via a prepackaged Chapter 11, wiping out roughly $190M of debt. iRobot says the app and product support will keep r…" X https://x.com/briefing_block_/status/2000451674637533353
- **why are Roombas rarely recommended, and what are the top brands that actually clean well** (4 mentions)
  - "can you elaborate why? And what alternative would fit our needs?" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/19sfzg15mbheo/
  - "can you elaborate why?" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/19sfzfldenzs5/
- **how much does it cost** (4 mentions)
  - "Let me check on the price!" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "How much is it?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **why did iRobot go bankrupt** (3 mentions)
  - "@grok explain why they go bankrupt" X https://x.com/EstebanCervi/status/2000650007003693250
  - "@grok explicame porque se fue a banca rota y que hace esta compañia" X https://x.com/homero13226028/status/2000652295290437884

## Buying signals

- **sale prices and discounts drive interest and purchase intent** (13 mentions)
  - "Don't wait for Black Friday. Robot vacuums and mops are already deeply discounted, including the lowest price ever on a premium Dyson and more than 50% off a top-rated Roomba. https://t.co/L1JzmmMnHd" X https://x.com/PCMag/status/2119101334989189615
  - "This Roomba robot vacuum and mop is 57% off for Prime Day, and it even empties itself. 🔗 https://t.co/DkWK11Os4B #Roomba #RobotVacuum #CNETDeals https://t.co/yWEgj5xWbm" X https://x.com/CNET/status/2105613708169011469
- **want it to cut daily cleaning time** (9 mentions)
  - "This would save me so much cleaning time" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "I would literally use it to clean my home everyday" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **want one for pet hair and multi-pet homes** (4 mentions)
  - "This would be perfect for my two cats" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
  - "Pet hair is my biggest problem too, I need to check on this" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@didemguneren/video/7706183858978311455
- **corner cleaning performance decides the purchase** (2 mentions)
  - "Ok let’s get down to business, which model can pick up dust from a corner ? Never had once so this will definitely sell me" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
  - "Great now I know not to buy it!!!" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
- **bankruptcy news makes people think twice or hold back** (2 mentions)
  - "well they filed for bankruptcy last year so even if they had great machines i would think twice about buying an expensive product from a company with an uncertain future. but even before that, general consensus was that …" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/19sg0ksxn5iat/
  - "And I really wanted one" X https://x.com/zulu_greyford/status/2000542645089611963
- **wants a vacuum-only mid-level model rather than a mop** (2 mentions)
  - "Are iRobot Roombas really a big NO these days? Looking for mid-level vaccum-only recommendations. Hi, we've had Roombas in the past (basic ones), but didn't have any for the last few years due to a variety of reasons. I'…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/
  - "Oh man, if only technology had progressed far enough for the industry to be able to offer one robot vacuum without mopping. But I guess not. Mopping is a gimmick, they just smear the dirt around on your floors, even the …" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLEYA2j1DWs&lc=Ugw2fGLWAJBPMZgVpwJ4AaABAg
- **viewers want to know which model to buy from the test** (2 mentions)
  - "This is the kinda review I need to see. Some are doing better than others 🙈" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
  - "Wow. What are the top three brands you have so far that do the job well?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717

## Compared with other brands

- **Roborock, Dreame, Eufy, Ecovacs and Narwhal recommended over Roomba** (11 mentions)
  - "Eufy, Dreame and Roborock are the best rated robot vacuums. Roomba might be the OG but they’re horrible for cleaning lol" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
  - "2500 hrs and climbing on my J7+! Not as efficient as our Roborock but still works just fine for single room runs. Just threw all new core parts into it to hopefully get another 2500." YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgxH2uK_qcgxL6qhLHt4AaABAg
- **traditional vacuums beat robots on speed** (4 mentions)
  - "A old traditional vacuum would’ve finished this job in ten minutes" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
  - "I would have cleaned that with a regular vacuum much faster" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717
- **Chinese brands out-innovated Roomba** (4 mentions)
  - "iRobot went bankrupt recently and was acquired by Picea, a Chinese company that started making their robots a little before the bankruptcy. They started lagging behind in innovation, so despite their best-in-class carpet…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofuzvoo/
  - "This was such a poor decision by executives. All they had to do was not double down on the camera tech and include LIDAR and they'd be a top favourite over the plethora of Chinese brands out there." Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofx12f8/
- **Shark Matrix chosen after a Roomba failed** (2 mentions)
  - "I got the Irobot Roomba 2020 Dec 2025 for Christmas. My roomba worked great 2x and then had errors via navigation and going forward. I rebooted it, took out the battery and replaced it, did 3 hard factory resets to no av…" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=Ugysli0z3rHuERJLGj54AaABAg
  - "Shark Vs Roomba Robot Vacuum (The Winner Shocked Me!)" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VzopJ2IaH0
- **Picea now makes Roomba and Dyson robots alike** (2 mentions)
  - "Picea is also behind the producer of the next generation Dyson robot. It seems Dyson has given up on development of their own robot line, instead they have opted to go down the Picea path, like so many others have." YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgybVilDvsE-v1eC2OF4AaABAg
  - "It probably won't change. Many Chinese manufacturers learned years ago to acquire defunct or devalued brands from the US and just use them as the label for their (now) vertically integrated products -- cutting out a larg…" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=Ugx3hmSdPurmBc7Ruul4AaABAg
- **iRobot's dual rubber roller rarely clogs compared with other brands** (1 mention)
  - "Had both, they couldn't go a single room without choking on that day's dose of Newfoundland floof. I had to detangle after every room - which is why I returned them (and their weird software issues). Note that your Shetl…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xmeumn/best_robot_for_long_floofy_dogs_no_carpet_between/
- **Dyson 360 Vis Nav picked as the brute-force pet-hair remover** (1 mention)
  - "I tried the Narwhal when we first got the Newfie, it failed somewhat less spectacularly than most. Newfie floof is spectacularly bad because the long guard fur doesn't stick to the rollers (or anything else) almost at al…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xmeumn/best_robot_for_long_floofy_dogs_no_carpet_between/

## What people want next

- **make a square robot or add an air-blow attachment that reaches 90-degree corners** (11 mentions)
  - "Why aren't they square?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
  - "is there any square robots?" TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663
- **support older models and keep cloud services running** (4 mentions)
  - "I purchased a Roomba 980, iRobot's top-of-the-line model at the time for nearly C$1,000. It worked flawlessly for years. Last month, without any prior notice to customers, iRobot quietly discontinued cloud services for t…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofuzk5i/
  - "This is an absolutely underrated point that most people skim over. After the bankruptcy, the new owners aren’t willing to support older models like yours anymore, and don’t really care how loyal customers feel about that…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofv29dt/
- **handle heavy pet hair without clogging** (3 mentions)
  - "I gave up using my Roomba with my dog, he sheds so much the vacuum always ends up choking to death 🤣 it's faster for me to vacuum by hand than to unstuck all the hair stuck on the iRobot I too have to vaccum 3 times a d…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/germanshepherds/comments/1xsyqow/robot_vacuum/
  - "I have a Newfoundland at 160 lbs, so the more waterproof version of a Great Pyrenees' floof, in a 2700 sq ft rambling ranch. And he roughhouses with our Labrador, and fur flies everywhere. Tried the Dreame (and Dyson, Ro…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xm6rl4/guidance_needed_looking_for_a_robot_vacuum_that/
- **add LIDAR instead of camera navigation** (2 mentions)
  - "they refused to use LIDAR for so long despite having all their competitors use it." Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofvsdix/
  - "This was such a poor decision by executives. All they had to do was not double down on the camera tech and include LIDAR and they'd be a top favourite over the plethora of Chinese brands out there." Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1sjwusi/how_come_roomba_is_almost_never_recommended_in/ofx12f8/
- **make no-go zones and edge detection actually work** (1 mention)
  - "I am on my second roomba in 15 years. The first one was used and lasted us about 10 years. It was an OG model and the brush rolls needed to be cleaned after every use and the bin emptied which was a huge barrier to use f…" Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/adhdwomen/comments/1xl963m/cleaning_appliances_that_actually_help_you/
- **heated-water mopping with working concentrate dispensing** (1 mention)
  - "I know it washes the mop at the station with heated water, but does the mop wash the floor with heated water? Do we have to activate the "mist" function for the mop to clean with heated water? When you push the concentra…" YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLEYA2j1DWs&lc=UgyDfcKqOVok8dKB-Y14AaABAg
- **full YouTube video of the robot vacuum race** (1 mention)
  - "🤣 omfg please tell me this has a full YouTube video poor rumbas." TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717

## Quotes

> Some floor situation and I love it. I just embrace the downsides of a well reviewed cheaper vacuum- between bad routing and okay suction it often misses hair, but it lowers the average so much that I can walk around in socks again, which is mostly what I need. Dogs love vacuums if you start it and immediately take them on a walk.
> -- u/General_Pitch9543 on Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/CleaningTips/comments/1v2vjpe/is_a_robot_vacuum_worth_it/oyyu6xn/

> is like a very dumb room mate, complaining all the time, gets nothing done
> -- u/bigbadoldoldone on Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/RobotVacuums/comments/1xsyqu3/are_irobot_roombas_really_a_big_no_these_days/19sfzorwi83q8/

> My roomba 960 has cleaned 580,000 square feet with a total runtime of 1700 hours and 2000 jobs. It has been a great machine and, for my purposes, will stay in use for as long as I can get parts for it. It's sad to see a company that made such good stuff going under, but I won't say they didn't ask for it. Hopefully they can get with the times engineering-wise and regain sight of what made them gre…
> -- @GiGA-BOB on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdDxHOV--Ms&lc=UgzIIHBWAEbEpuBDevt4AaABAg

> I purchased the 115x combo and do love it. BUT it won't auto empty, I have tried everything, unistalled it, factory reset etc. It goes through the motions but the dirt all stays inside the floor piece, it does not go into the bag. Then I unistalled it, and bought another one thinking maybe something was wrong, but the same thing happened. I must be doing something wrong. Both units, i set up as re…
> -- @xyz-p9b4f on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP9vqhpxMS8&lc=UgxBiP5Kdim_Uo51Nl94AaABAg

> Humans make everything rectangular but the thing that is suppose to clean said rectangles
> -- @_.theplante._ on TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@justadadvideos/video/7703198082007141663

> this actually made me never want to buy one of these
> -- @selenaaa.1529 on TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@wyattsworldofroombas/video/7688045285699816717