iRobot renamed its range, which means older model-number advice no longer maps onto what you can buy. The practical decision now comes down to three questions: do you want mopping, do you want the dock to empty itself, and how much dock automation are you paying for.
Below we compare the current Roomba models in our catalog on exactly those points, using manufacturer specifications and published reviews rather than in-house testing.
The quick answer
- Best Roomba OveralliRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo — Extending spinning mop pads plus a dock that empties, washes and dries.
- Best Value RoombaiRobot Roomba 105 Combo (AutoEmpty Dock) — LiDAR navigation and a long-interval self-emptying dock with simple mopping.
- Best Entry RoombaiRobot Roomba 105 Vac — Neat-row LiDAR cleaning without paying for mopping or a dock motor.
Our top picks
Researched and compared by our editors. Prices move constantly, so check the retailer for today's price.
Affiliate disclosure — As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. TopPremiumPicks may also earn commissions from other retailers. This costs you nothing extra and does not influence our recommendations.
Best Roomba Overall
iRobot
iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo
Best for: Households with pets
Key feature: AutoWash dock: self-empty, pad wash and heated drying
The Roomba Plus 505 Combo pairs vacuuming and mopping in one unit. The AutoWash dock empties the bin, washes the extending mop pads and dries them, while LiDAR handles mapping.
Premium ($$$$)Best Value Roomba
iRobot
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo (AutoEmpty Dock)
Best for: First-time buyers
Key feature: LiDAR navigation
iRobot's mid-range combo. LiDAR navigation, power-lifting suction and an AutoEmpty dock rated for up to 75 days, plus it avoids mopping your carpet.
Mid-Range ($$)Best Entry Roomba
iRobot
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac
Best for: Small homes and apartments
Key feature: LiDAR navigation with neat-row cleaning
iRobot's current entry-level vacuum and the successor to the long-running 600 series. It adds LiDAR navigation and neat-row cleaning at an entry price.
Budget ($)| Product | Our pick | Best for | Price tier | Key feature | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iRobot iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo | Best Roomba Overall | Households with pets | Premium ($$$$) | AutoWash dock: self-empty, pad wash and heated drying | |
iRobot iRobot Roomba 105 Combo (AutoEmpty Dock) | Best Value Roomba | First-time buyers | Mid-Range ($$) | LiDAR navigation | |
iRobot iRobot Roomba 105 Vac | Best Entry Roomba | Small homes and apartments | Budget ($) | LiDAR navigation with neat-row cleaning |
Price tiers $ Budget · $$ Mid-range · $$$ Upper mid-range · $$$$ Premium · $$$$$ Flagship. We show tiers rather than prices — check Amazon for the current price.
The picks in detail
Best Roomba Overall
iRobot
iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo
The Roomba Plus 505 Combo pairs vacuuming and mopping in one unit. The AutoWash dock empties the bin, washes the extending mop pads and dries them, while LiDAR handles mapping.
Why it stands out
The most approachable premium robot to live with — setup, mapping and maintenance are all simple.
Best for
Households with pets
Not ideal for
Value shoppers
Key features
- ◆AutoWash dock: self-empty, pad wash and heated drying
- ◆Extending spinning mop pads for edges
- ◆LiDAR navigation with multi-level maps
- ◆Obstacle recognition and avoidance
- ◆Straightforward iRobot app
Pros
- Spinning pads that extend to edges
- Heated pad drying keeps the dock fresh
- Reliable obstacle avoidance
- Strong US service and parts network
Considerations
- Costs more than similarly specified rivals
- Tall dock
Final verdict
iRobot Roomba Plus 505 Combo suits buyers who prioritise households with pets. Worth knowing: Priced above comparable Roborock and Dreame models with similar hardware.
Best Value Roomba
iRobot
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo (AutoEmpty Dock)
iRobot's mid-range combo. LiDAR navigation, power-lifting suction and an AutoEmpty dock rated for up to 75 days, plus it avoids mopping your carpet.
Why it stands out
Roomba reliability and self-emptying at a mid-range price.
Best for
First-time buyers
Not ideal for
Deep scrubbing needs
Key features
- ◆LiDAR navigation
- ◆AutoEmpty dock rated up to 75 days
- ◆Power-lifting suction
- ◆Avoids mopping carpet
- ◆Multiple cleaning modes
Pros
- Easy setup and app
- Self-emptying dock
- Accurate LiDAR mapping
- Wide parts availability
Considerations
- Basic mopping
- No pad washing at the dock
Final verdict
iRobot Roomba 105 Combo (AutoEmpty Dock) suits buyers who prioritise first-time buyers. Worth knowing: Mopping is a light wipe and the pad is washed by hand.
Best Entry Roomba
iRobot
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac
iRobot's current entry-level vacuum and the successor to the long-running 600 series. It adds LiDAR navigation and neat-row cleaning at an entry price.
Why it stands out
Real mapping navigation from iRobot at an entry-level price.
Best for
Small homes and apartments
Not ideal for
Anyone who needs mopping
Key features
- ◆LiDAR navigation with neat-row cleaning
- ◆Power-lifting suction
- ◆Multi-surface cleaning
- ◆Self-charging
- ◆Widely available replacement parts
Pros
- Systematic row-by-row coverage
- Easy setup
- Good carpet-to-hard-floor transition
- Parts easy to find
Considerations
- No mopping
- No self-empty dock on the base model
- Small dust bin
Final verdict
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac suits buyers who prioritise small homes and apartments. Worth knowing: No mopping, and the base version does not empty itself.
How the current Roomba models differ
The top of the range, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, is the only one of the three with spinning mop pads that extend towards edges and a dock that washes and heat-dries those pads. That dock is the reason for the price gap.
The Roomba 105 Combo sits a tier down: LiDAR navigation, a wipe pad that avoids carpet, and an AutoEmpty base rated up to 75 days by iRobot. The Roomba 105 Vac drops mopping and the dock motor entirely and keeps the neat-row LiDAR cleaning, which is the part most people actually notice day to day.
Which Roomba is best for pet hair
iRobot's dual rubber rollers are the brand's strongest argument in pet homes, because rubber resists the wrapping that binds long hair around a bristle brush. Pair that with a self-emptying dock so shed hair leaves the robot before it compacts, and the practical pick is the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, with the 105 Combo as the cheaper route to the same brush-and-dock combination.
Our dedicated guide to robot vacuums for pet hair compares these against other brands if you are not set on iRobot.
Where the value sits
If your floors are mostly hard and you would rather mop yourself, the entry model saves a lot of money for a small loss in convenience. If nobody in the house wants to empty a bin, the self-emptying tier is the upgrade that gets used every week.
The full omni-style dock is worth it in one specific case: you want the floors mopped often and you will not hand-wash a pad after each run.
Is a Roomba the right brand for you?
iRobot's advantages are brush design, parts availability and a long service history. Competing brands from Roborock and Dreame generally publish higher suction ratings and offer more configurable apps at the same price.
If you are weighing brands rather than models, our Roborock vs Roomba and Shark vs Roomba comparisons go through the trade-offs in detail.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Final verdict
Buy the Roomba Plus 505 Combo if you want the mopping and the dock automation, the Roomba 105 Combo if you want iRobot's brush design and a hands-off bin without paying for pad washing, and the Roomba 105 Vac if you only want vacuuming done well. All three share the brush design that makes iRobot a sensible choice in homes with pets.
Editorial Team
TopPremiumPicks Editorial Team
The TopPremiumPicks Editorial Team researches and compares premium products across multiple categories using manufacturer specifications, professional reviews and customer feedback. Our guides are research-based and do not represent hands-on product testing.