Roomba vs Roborock 2026: Which Robot Vacuum Brand is Better?

<h2>The Two Biggest Names in Robot Vacuums</h2><p>iRobot Roomba and Roborock dominate the robot vacuum market from very different angles. Roomba built its reputation on reliability and brand trust over two decades. Roborock emerged from the Xiaomi ecosystem to become the innovation leader with aggressive pricing. In 2026, both brands offer compelling products, but they excel in different areas.</p><h2>Suction Power: Roborock Wins Decisively</h2><p>This is where the gap is most dramatic. The <a href="/robot-vacuums/roborock-s8-maxv-ultra">Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra</a> delivers 10,000 Pa, while the <a href="/robot-vacuums/irobot-roomba-combo-j9-plus">Roomba Combo j9+</a> offers approximately 2,200 Pa. Even Roborock budget models like the <a href="/budget-robot-vacuums/roborock-q5-pro-plus">Q5 Pro+</a> at 5,500 Pa exceed Roomba top suction. For deep carpet cleaning, Roborock has a clear advantage.</p><h2>Pet Hair Performance: Roomba Takes the Crown</h2><p>Despite lower suction numbers, Roomba dual rubber extractors are the industry standard for pet hair handling. The <a href="/robot-vacuums-for-pet-hair/irobot-roomba-j9-plus">Roomba j9+</a> virtually never tangles, even with long pet hair. Roborock rubber brushes are good, but Roomba design remains superior for pet households. Add in the P.O.O.P. pet waste avoidance guarantee, and Roomba wins this category.</p><h2>Navigation and Mapping</h2><p>Both brands use LiDAR for primary navigation, but they diverge on obstacle avoidance. Roborock uses ReactiveAI with camera plus structured light for detailed object recognition. Roomba PrecisionVision camera excels at identifying specific objects like pet waste and cables. In practice, both navigate efficiently with slightly different strengths.</p><h2>Mopping: Roborock Leads</h2><p>Roborock mopping technology is significantly more advanced. The VibraRise 3.0 system on the S8 MaxV Ultra provides 4,000 vibrations per minute with 20mm mop lifting. Roomba auto-retract system provides the best carpet protection but less effective actual mopping. If mopping matters, Roborock is the clear choice.</p><h2>App Experience: Both Excellent</h2><p>Both brands offer polished, feature-rich apps. Roborock provides more granular controls for suction levels, water flow, and room-specific settings. iRobot OS focuses on simplicity with smart features like Dirt Detective. Power users prefer Roborock; simplicity seekers prefer Roomba.</p><h2>Value and Pricing</h2><p>Roborock consistently offers more features per dollar. The <a href="/robot-vacuums/roborock-s8-maxv-ultra">S8 MaxV Ultra</a> at $1,799 outspecs the $1,399 Roomba Combo j9+ in most categories. At the budget level, Roborock <a href="/budget-robot-vacuums/roborock-q5-pro-plus">Q5 Pro+</a> at $429 offers LiDAR and self-empty capabilities that Roomba does not match at similar prices.</p><h2>Our Verdict</h2><p>Choose Roomba if you have pets and want the safest, most reliable pet hair cleaning with excellent customer support. Choose Roborock if you want the best cleaning performance, mopping capability, and value for money. Both brands make excellent products — the right choice depends on your priorities.</p>