Matic Serene: a 52 dB robot vacuum for $1,695

Matic, the start-up behind one of the more unusual robot vacuums on the market, has launched its first new model since its 2023 debut. The Matic Serene has one headline upgrade: it is quieter. The company promises just 52 decibels at its highest suction level, which it compares to a running refrigerator, The Verge reports.

Price and availability

The Serene costs $1,695 and is available now in the US. That is $200 more than the original Matic, which stays on sale at $1,495 and runs at 55 dB. Matic has not announced European pricing.

Cofounder and president Mehul Nariyawala told The Verge the Serene is aimed at people "who are extremely noise sensitive", but that beyond noise it is "exactly the same Matic". The difference comes from a new hardware stack. "It's very quiet on carpets, on hard surfaces; you mostly hear brush roll now," he said.

Why 3 dB matters

Noise is one of the most common reasons owners stop using a robot vacuum: it gets switched off halfway through a clean because someone is on a call or watching TV. Most robots offer a quiet mode, but it usually works by cutting suction. According to The Verge, quiet modes typically run at around 55 to 60 dB, while most robots on full power are closer to 70 dB.

Matic's claim is that the Serene stays at 52 dB without lowering suction. Because decibels are logarithmic, a 3 dB drop is a noticeable change rather than a rounding error, though the real-world difference will depend on your floors and room. These are Matic's own figures; independent reviews will show how the Serene sounds in a typical home.

A different kind of robot

Matic does not look like the round lidar robots from iRobot, Roborock or Dreame. It is taller, uses its own vision-based navigation, and carries its dust bag and water tank on board instead of returning to a large self-empty dock. The company says it designed the robot around the "seven deadly sins of robot vacuums", including noise, getting stuck and dying under the sofa.

Upgrade path for current owners

Existing owners can request a Serene hardware upgrade in early 2027. The price is the difference between what you paid for your Matic and $1,695. Because the original's price has risen over time, early buyers who paid $1,095 would pay about $600, while someone who bought at today's $1,495 would pay $200.

If you are shopping for a robot vacuum, noise is worth checking alongside navigation and docks: our robot vacuum buying guide explains what matters most. Whichever model you choose, a quiet robot only stays quiet if its brushes and filter are clean, which our new guide on how to clean a robot vacuum covers step by step, and our setup tips help it avoid getting stuck.