iRobot is launching a whole new portfolio of robot vacuums, replacing all current models in its lineup except the hybrid at the very top, the Roomba Combo 10 Max + Auto Wash Dock. Otherwise, the Roomba 105 and 205 models will replace the base-level Combo Essential, and the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 will succeed the company’s midrange i and j series.
All the new models are slated to go on sale starting March 18. To simplify its naming conventions, all of the brand’s budget-friendly models will be simply called Roomba moving forward, whereas midrange models will be called Roomba Plus, and the name Roomba Max will denote high-end robots. Each member of the new lineup features a grid pattern on top, making it easy to differentiate them from older models, which lack this design detail.
Notably, iRobot has announced the actual suction power of its new robot vacuums in pascals (Pa), the metric unit of pressure, a spec it has been mum about in the past. Most of its competitors already provide this information, but iRobot held off doing so until now, claiming the figure doesn’t tell the whole story of real-world performance (which our independent testing backs up). While a representative told me that those beliefs haven’t necessarily changed, the company is willing to meet consumers halfway and release the information, as it’s an expected spec many look for when making a buying decision.
Throughout the new hardware lineup, iRobot has increased the suction power of its vacuums, refined the navigation, and increased the capacity of its self-emptying base stations. Here’s a look at the specifics of each new model, broken down by price tier.
Budget-Friendly Models: The Roomba 105 and 205
iRobot’s new lineup arguably provides the biggest upgrades to its most budget-friendly model. The Roomba 105 has both LiDAR navigation and an optional, self-emptying base station; both features missing from the company’s last budget offering, the $274.99 Roomba Combo Essential. Both features are important, as LiDAR navigation allows the robot to save maps so you can direct it to clean specific rooms or stay away from certain spots, and a self-emptying dustbin saves you a lot of maintenance hassle and exposure to dust.
The Roomba 105 in action (Credit: iRobot)
The vacuum-only 105 starts at $299. It’ll cost $319 with an optional mop attachment, $449 for the vac-only version with the self-emptying base, and $469 for the hybrid with the base. While a clear upgrade to the Roomba Combo Essential, the Roomba 105 will face tough competition from the TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus, which includes both LiDAR navigation and a self-emptying base station for $299.99.
The Roomba 105 could make up the difference in performance, as iRobot says it has 250% more suction than the Combo Essential. Specifically, the 105 has 7,000Pa of suction, which beats the Tapo RV30 Max Plus (5,300Pa). iRobot has said that they don’t intend to share suction numbers from past models, but it’s easy enough to figure out that the Combo Essential had 2,800Pa.
iRobot has also redesigned the dust bags on all base stations with self-emptying capabilities. The bag can now hold up to 75 days of dust, up from 60 days on previous models, the company says.
The mop pad on the hybrid versions will have microfiber material and support smart scrub to spend extra time on sticky areas, a feature previously only available on higher-end models. Like previous budget-friendly models, you’ll need to attach the mop pad yourself and fill up a water reservoir in the robot’s dustbin before hybrid runs.
The Roomba 205 Features a Dust Compactor
The Roomba 205 offers most of the same features and specs as the 105, with one key difference. Instead of a self-emptying base station, the robot uses a built-in fin to automatically compact collected debris in its dustbin, so it only needs to be emptied manually every 60 days, a feature we have not seen before.
The self-compacting dustbin (Credit: iRobot)
If it works as promised, this might be the coolest innovation in iRobot’s new lineup, as that 60-day window matches the hands-off time of the company’s previous self-emptying models, without the need for a giant base station. The 205’s base is a compact rectangle meant simply for charging. The 205 costs the same as the self-emptying versions of the 105: $449 for the vac-only model or $469 for the vac and mop hybrid.
Midrange Models: The Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo
Both midrange models do away with different variants, as they are only offered as 2-in-1s and with self-emptying base stations. The $799 Roomba Plus 405 Combo and the $999 Roomba Plus 505 Combo both have 7,000Pa like their budget counterparts. The big upgrade with the Roomba Plus range comes from the mops and mop maintenance features.
Starting with the Roomba Combo j7+ released in late 2022, high-end Roomba hybrids have featured a unique retractable mop that mechanically lowers into position when the robot senses hard floors and lifts itself to the very top of the robot when it’s vacuuming carpet, a feature we have found effectively prevents cross-contamination. The 405 and 505 do away with iRobot’s retractable mop in favor of dual spinning mop pads that can lift up to 0.39 inches from the floor to clear the carpet. These models also support SmartScrub, a feature you can enable for more vigorous scrubbing action. The new mop design is similar to many high-end 2-in-1 models from other companies, like the Roborock Qrevo Curv ($1,599.99) and the Dreame X30 Ultra ($1,699.99).
The Roomba Plus 405 (Credit: iRobot)
The included base stations for Roomba Plus models support self-emptying and hold about 75 days’ worth of debris at a time, like the 105. They also support automatic mop pad washing and drying, and the new mop design could make it easier for the base station to keep the mops clean since they’ll reside on the bottom of the robot, not the top, when not in use.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max + Auto Wash Dock ($1,399.99) was the company’s first model to wash and dry its own mop pad, but I found the capability a little hit-or-miss in practice. That said, its retractable mop is the reason iRobot is keeping the Combo 10 Max in its lineup, so you can still get the feature if you want the most effective solution for eliminating contact between a wet mop and your carpet.
Heated dry on the 505 visualized (Credit: iRobot)
In addition to the 405’s capabilities, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo adds a more refined navigation system combining a single-line laser with a front-facing camera for better obstacle avoidance. Its mops can also extend to the side to better clean along the wall, and they dry with heated air instead of just ambient-temperature forced air.
App Updates: Streamlined Smart Controls
Along with the new robot floor cleaners, iRobot is redesigning its app to bring relevant information and controls front and center. Reps from the company called out competitors for putting a large picture of the robot front-and-center on the device page. Instead, the Roomba app will have a prominent dashboard with controls, and during a run, it will display a real-time map of the robot’s location and the estimated remaining cleaning time.
We’re excited to check out the revamped app and put all of iRobot’s new models through our rigorous real-world testing procedure as soon as we can get our hands on them. Until then, check out the best robot vacuums we have tested, along with the best self-emptying robot vacuums and the best affordable robot vacuums.
Get Our Best Stories!
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links.
By clicking the button, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
About Andrew Gebhart
Senior Analyst, Smart Home and Wearables
