# iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock vs iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock

As of Nov 11, 2026, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock costs $300 and the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock costs $280, so the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is $20 cheaper. The iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock has a published review score and ranks #46 in our robot vacuums ranking; the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock for Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets.

Prices checked Nov 11, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty-vs-irobot-roomba-105-vac-autoempty/

## Side by side

| | iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock | iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $280 |
| 3 year cost | $300 | $380 |
| Our score | 6.0/10 | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Floors | #46 | #57 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | 1 year limited (Amazon listing) |
| Suction | iRobot claims 70X the Roomba 600 series with 4 suction levels; Tek.no lists 7,000 Pa and found it lower than rivals | 7,000 Pa claimed (iRobot via GearBrain); Vacuum Wars measured 2.16 kPa sealed suction against a 0.83 kPa average but 12 CFM airflow, below average |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR, cleans in rows, up to 3 maps, about 10 min per 1,000 sq ft (iRobot); Tek.no saw it get stuck and take a long time | ClearView LiDAR with multi level maps, no go zones and room sequences (iRobot, Vacuum Wars) |
| Obstacle avoidance | LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) | None for small objects; Vacuum Wars and RTINGS both say to clear cables and clutter first |
| Mopping | Yes, microfiber pad with a micro pump, 3 water levels and SmartScrub; avoids carpet in mop modes (iRobot); Tek.no called it essentially a wet cloth | No, vacuum only; the separate Roomba 105 Combo adds a mop |
| Self empty | Yes, bagged AutoEmpty dock rated for up to 75 days (iRobot) | Yes, AutoEmpty dock with a bag that holds up to 75 days of debris (iRobot) |
| Dock features | Auto empty and charging only; no pad washing (iRobot) | Auto empty and charging only |
| Runtime | Tek.no lists 120 min; iRobot lists a 3,000 mAh LFP battery but no runtime | Up to 200 min (iRobot Amazon listing); Vacuum Wars estimated only about 630 sq ft per charge against a 1,015 sq ft average |
| Dustbin | Not published by iRobot | Not published |
| Height | 4.09 in (iRobot) | 4.1 in (Vacuum Wars) |
| App | Roomba Home app with schedules, keep out zones, suction and water settings; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only (iRobot); Tek.no found the map view weaker than rivals | iRobot Home app with maps, no go zones, room settings and schedules; works with Alexa and Google Assistant (Vacuum Wars) |
| Weight | 6.45 lb robot (iRobot) | n/a |
| Pet hair | n/a | Vacuum Wars measured 29% flattened pet hair pickup against an 81% average, and 79% of long hair wrapped the brush |
| Threshold | n/a | Not published |
| Best for | simple daily upkeep in small homes | Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets |
| Skip if | you want real scrubbing or obstacle recognition | you have shedding pets or long hair in the house |

## What reviewers found

### iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock

- Tek.no (Norway): Rated it mediocre. Vacuums well and LiDAR improved navigation over older Roombas, but it got stuck, took a long time, has lower suction than rivals and a basic wet cloth mop. [Source](https://www.tek.no/produkter/41949/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty)
- Just A Dad Approved (4.6/10): After about three months of home use it scored 5.5 of 10 for mopping, 6 for carpet, 5 for hair tangle and 1.5 for obstacle avoidance, running over items under about 3 inches. Only 2 of 6 marketing claims passed. The reviewer advised skipping it at full price. The page prints 4.6/10 in one place and 4.8 out of 10 in another. [Source](https://justadadapproved.com/product/irobot-roomba-105-combo-robot-vacuum-mop-autoempty/)
- Vacuum Chef: Hands on test with the AutoEmpty dock. Measured 395 FPM airflow on carpet against a 420 FPM category average, the best it has recorded for an entry level iRobot. Mapping was much faster than older non LiDAR Roombas. The mop only drags and does not lift, hair tangles on the roller and the firmware update took nearly an hour. [Source](https://vacuumchef.com/irobot-roomba-105-combo-review-7000-pa-power-smart-mapping-real-world-test-results/?amp=1)

### iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock

- Vacuum Wars (1.41 Vacuum Wars stars): Removed 82% of embedded sand, above the 75% average, but picked up only 29% of flattened pet hair and 79% of long hair wrapped the brush. Coverage was about 630 sq ft per charge and it has no obstacle avoidance. [Source](https://vacuumwars.com/roomba-105-vac-review-irobots-cheapest-self-emptying-robot-vacuum-in-2025/)
- RTINGS: Named the Roomba 105 its best cheap robot vacuum for smart navigation, long battery life and an optional self empty dock, but called vacuuming only adequate and obstacle avoidance weak. [Source](https://www.rtings.com/robot-vacuum/reviews/best/budget)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock or the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock?

The iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock has a published review score and ranks #46 in our robot vacuums ranking; the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock for Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets.

### Which is cheaper?

The iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock at $280, versus $300 for the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, checked Nov 11, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $300 vs $380.

### What is the difference between the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock and the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock?

Suction: iRobot claims 70X the Roomba 600 series with 4 suction levels; Tek.no lists 7,000 Pa and… on the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, 7,000 Pa claimed (iRobot via GearBrain); Vacuum Wars measured 2.16 kPa sealed suction… on the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock. Navigation: ClearView LiDAR, cleans in rows, up to 3 maps, about 10 min per 1,000 sq ft (iRobot)… on the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, ClearView LiDAR with multi level maps, no go zones and room sequences (iRobot, Vacuum… on the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock. Obstacle avoidance: LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) on the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, None for small objects; Vacuum Wars and RTINGS both say to clear cables and clutter first on the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock.

Full reviews: [iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty/index.md), [iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-105-vac-autoempty/index.md)