More Roomba Vacuums Get Matter Support for HomeKit Integration

[MacRumors]

Over the last few weeks, iRobot has added Matter support to more of its Roomba robot vacuums, allowing them to be integrated with the Home app and used with Siri voice commands.

Matter integration has been available for the Roomba Combo 10 Max since earlier this year, but existing Roomba Plus 500 Combo, Roomba Max 700 Vac, and Roomba Max 700 Combo vacuums can get Matter support through a firmware update. Matter has not yet been re-added for the Roomba Combo J7 and J9.

Matter-enabled Roomba vacuums can be added to the Home app on devices running iOS 18.4 or higher, as long as a Home hub is available (Apple TV or HomePod). The Home app doesn't support the full suite of features available with robot vacuums, but basic commands are available. Vacuums can be set to vacuum and mop an entire home, or a specific room or area with Siri voice commands.

Once added to the Home app, a Roomba vacuum with Matter can be set to clean automatically with automations and can integrate with other HomeKit devices. You could, for example, set the Roomba to vacuum whenever you leave the house, or at a certain time. Automations can be triggered by presence, time, sensors, or when an accessory like a light is activated.

Apple added support for Matter-connected robot vacuums in iOS 18.4 earlier this year. Several companies have since come out with Matter options, including Roborock, Ecovacs, Switchbot, and Roomba.

iRobot's added Matter support comes as the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in December. iRobot has been sold to Picea Robotics, a Chinese company that already manufactures some of the Roomba devices. The acquisition is expected to be completed by February 2026, and iRobot says there will be no disruption in app functionality, product support, or customer programs.

Going forward, iRobot will remain a private company owned by Picea, and the Roomba brand will continue with new models planned for the future.

(Thanks, Max!)

Article Link: More Roomba Vacuums Get Matter Support for HomeKit Integration

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

My wife wants a Roomba, but I told her they’re too expensive. So she told me to just suck it up!

 

[idmean]

No wonder they went into bankruptcy. Our roomba is so slow and dumb. We were even trying to sell it off but no one was willing to buy it at a reasonable price compared to what we paid originally.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

No wonder they went into bankruptcy. Our roomba is so slow and dumb. We were even trying to sell it off but no one was willing to buy it at a reasonable price compared to what we paid originally.

I’m not sure I’d ever go down the smart vacuum route. I find cleaning quite therapeutic, and love to see the difference to my carpets in real time. And it’s good exercise (especially dragging my Henry around!)

 

[B4U]

Had one from Costco years ago. It was so bad that we named it "lost my way". 🤣
Returned within weeks. 😑

 

[ELman]

Great way for the Chinese to map your house.

 

[Killbill2]

Great way for the Chinese to map your house.

Then sell it back to anyone who wants… just like Facebook, etc.

 

[1rottenapple]

Apple is late. Beening using voice control (start, stop, etc), for years now using alexa.

 

[1rottenapple]

I’m not sure I’d ever go down the smart vacuum route. I find cleaning quite therapeutic, and love to see the difference to my carpets in real time. And it’s good exercise (especially dragging my Henry around!)

Its a game changer for us with dogs. I can tell a big difference when I my roomba was down for a week waiting for parts to arrive. Having a German Sheperd they produce fur 365 days a year. Its a 2022 model with autoempty. I literally just let it run and cleans my whole house. I do mop, and clean and all that for therapeutic benefits lol though but it is nice to walk on clean floors.

 

[555gallardo]

I remember how we bought a Roomba for the first time in our office some 10 years ago and right after we turned it on, it went straight to the balcony and fell down to the pavement.

 

[HQuest]

Meanwhile I am running my two Roombas, a vacuum and a mopping, via Homebridge 3rd Party plugin, for about 2 years now. Neither will ever be officially integrated, but I think goes to show why iRobot has collapsed and the blame shifted to FCC and/or Amazon.

 

[coolfactor]

I remember how we bought a Roomba for the first time in our office some 10 years ago and right after we turned it on, it went straight to the balcony and fell down to the pavement.

I would label that user error. 🤣 Did they have cliff detection 10 years ago?

 

[coolfactor]

HUGE missed opportunity for Apple to snag up the iRobot branding. Why would they have passed on this? SMH

 

[coolfactor]

Got a basic Roomba. Works well. Gets dirt that I would never get myself.

I can start and stop it via Siri, but it displays a modal on screen that I need to manually dismiss.

iRobot really screwed the pooch with maintaining their lead, and then selling their soul.

 

[Killerbob]

I had a few Roombas and Scoobas, and they all ended up in the bin eventually. A year ago, I finally saw the light and got a Narwal, and I will never go back! Narwals are reliable; they vacuum and wash, and they accurately sense the floor type. They have a camera used to identify obstructions, and they do that relatively well, using some "AI". Fast and quiet as well...

 

[Polesky]

Deck chair rearrangement.

 

[Agent007]

We were even trying to sell it off but no one was willing to buy it at a reasonable price compared to what we paid originally.

Sunk cost fallacy.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Is the photo of a combined Roomba/microwave?

 

[HiVolt]

I like gadgets, but i draw the line at these kinds of things... No wonder people get fat and lazy, they can't even bother to vacuum their homes.