# iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock vs iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo

As of Oct 31, 2026, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock costs $470 and the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo costs $470. The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo scores higher in our ranking (5.8 vs 5.6 out of 10). Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.

Prices checked Oct 31, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty-vs-irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo/

## Side by side

| | iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock | iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $470 | $470 |
| 3 year cost | $470 | $470 |
| Our score | 5.6/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Rank in Floors | #40 | #37 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | n/a |
| Suction | iRobot claims 70X the Roomba 600 series with 4 suction levels; Tek.no lists 7,000 Pa and found it lower than rivals | iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published |
| 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, up to 3 maps (iRobot) |
| Obstacle avoidance | LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) | Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove and get stuck |
| 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 | Reusable microfiber pad with Carpet Detect to avoid rugs (iRobot); Tech Advisor found it mostly spread mess |
| Self empty | Yes, bagged AutoEmpty dock rated for up to 75 days (iRobot) | No dock emptying; compacts debris onboard, claimed up to 60 days (iRobot); TechRadar needed to empty it after 8 days |
| Dock features | Auto empty and charging only; no pad washing (iRobot) | Small charging base only (Tech Advisor) |
| Runtime | Tek.no lists 120 min; iRobot lists a 3,000 mAh LFP battery but no runtime | Not published; iRobot says it covers up to 1,000 sq ft |
| Dustbin | Not published by iRobot | About 1.5 L compacting bin (TechRadar, Tech Advisor) |
| Height | 4.09 in (iRobot) | 3.98 in (robot 14.1 x 14.09 x 3.98 in, iRobot) |
| 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 | Roomba Home app; works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant (iRobot) |
| Weight | 6.45 lb robot (iRobot) | n/a |
| Pet hair | n/a | No measured pet hair result published in the reviews we read |
| Threshold | n/a | Not published |
| Noise | n/a | TechRadar measured an average of 78 dB from five feet |
| Best for | simple daily upkeep in small homes | small spaces with no room for a dock |
| Skip if | you want real scrubbing or obstacle recognition | you want real mopping or good obstacle avoidance |

## 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 205 DustCompactor Combo

- TechRadar (Performance 2.5/5): Measured an average of 78 dB from five feet. The roughly 1.5 L bin needed emptying after eight days. It pushed aside toys and dragged a phone cable. Called a crushing disappointment. [Source](https://www.techradar.com/home/robot-vacuums/irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo-review)
- Tech Advisor: Good carpet cleaning and LiDAR navigation, but mopping mostly spread mess and it got stuck on furniture bases and thin table legs. [Source](https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2837405/roomba-205-dust-compactor-combo-robot-vacuum-review.html)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock or the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?

The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo scores higher in our ranking (5.8 vs 5.6 out of 10). Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.

### What is the difference between the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock and the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?

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, iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. 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, up to 3 maps (iRobot) on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. Obstacle avoidance: LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) on the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove… on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo.

Full reviews: [iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty/index.md), [iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo/index.md)