# iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock vs iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo

As of Nov 12, 2026, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock costs $300 and the iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo costs $430, so the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock is $130 cheaper. The iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo scores higher in our ranking (7.0 vs 6.0 out of 10). Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo for small homes with low sofas and beds.

Prices checked Nov 12, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty-vs-irobot-roomba-plus-515-combo/

## Side by side

| | iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock | iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $430 |
| 3 year cost | $300 | $430 |
| Our score | 6.0/10 | 7.0/10 |
| Rank in Floors | #46 | #26 |
| 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 US says 3x the suction of the Roomba Plus 505 Combo with four levels and gives no Pa figure; Just A Dad Approved lists 22,000 Pa; Lifehacker Japan instead says 3x the Roomba 105 Combo |
| 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 saved maps for multiple floors, works in the dark (iRobot); Gizmodo Japan reports the LiDAR moved to the front as a 120 degree integrated line laser; Just A Dad Approved found the map slightly off |
| Obstacle avoidance | LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) | Front line laser recognizes cords, shoes, pet bowls, toys, pets and people (iRobot); no camera (Just A Dad Approved), which scored clutter 7/10 but called avoidance weak |
| 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 | Yes, two DualClean spinning pads at 180 RPM that lift 10 mm on carpet, with PerfectEdge extension for 18% more edge coverage and a SmartScrub mode (iRobot) |
| Self empty | Yes, bagged AutoEmpty dock rated for up to 75 days (iRobot) | Yes, bagged auto empty into the dock; iRobot says up to 3 months hands free |
| Dock features | Auto empty and charging only; no pad washing (iRobot) | Empties debris, washes pads with hot water, dries pads at 113 F, refills clean water and takes in dirty water (iRobot). iRobot's page lists the wash as 167 F in one place and 140 F in another; Just A Dad Approved lists 140 F. No cleaning solution tank (Just A Dad Approved) |
| Runtime | Tek.no lists 120 min; iRobot lists a 3,000 mAh LFP battery but no runtime | Up to 295 min or 2,000 sq ft per charge with a 5,200 mAh battery (iRobot); one iRobot footnote cites 1,000 sq ft instead |
| Dustbin | Not published by iRobot | n/a |
| Height | 4.09 in (iRobot) | 3.29 in; robot is 11.73 x 11.93 in and 6.44 lb, 46% smaller by volume than the Roomba Plus 505 Combo (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 with schedules; works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant (iRobot); Just A Dad Approved reported repeated Wi-Fi drops and app freezes |
| Weight | 6.45 lb robot (iRobot) | n/a |
| Pet hair | n/a | Single brush roll with a comb; Just A Dad Approved scored its hair tangle test 5/10 with long hair wrapping, while Gizmodo Japan saw cat and dog hair picked up well |
| Threshold | n/a | 0.98 in (24 mm) per Just A Dad Approved; iRobot does not list a figure |
| Best for | simple daily upkeep in small homes | small homes with low sofas and beds |
| Skip if | you want real scrubbing or obstacle recognition | you need strong obstacle avoidance or have long hair at home |

## 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 Plus 515 Combo

- Just A Dad Approved (6.5/10): 3 month real world test: subscores Hassle Free 6.7/10, Mop Performance 7.2/10, Carpet Cleaning 6.4/10, Hair Tangle 5/10, Obstacle Avoidance 7/10. Reported repeated Wi-Fi disconnects that needed hard reboots, hair wrap on the single brush roll, a slightly off map and a filter that can only be replaced. Says the Amazon only 515X is the same robot. [Source](https://justadadapproved.com/product/irobot-roomba-plus-515-combo-review/)
- Lifehacker Japan: Hands on with the Japanese model: measured 8.4 cm tall, cleaned under low sofas and cabinet toe kicks earlier Roombas missed, and avoided a camera placed as an obstacle. The review lists no drawbacks and carries affiliate links. [Source](https://www.lifehacker.jp/article/2606-roomba-plus-515-report/)
- Gizmodo Japan: Reports 8.4 cm height against 10.6 cm for the 505 Combo, a front 120 degree line laser, and good cat and dog hair pickup with less long hair wrap. Figures come from iRobot's launch event, and the article is labeled PR. [Source](https://www.gizmodo.jp/article/roomba-plus-515-combo/)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock or the iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo?

The iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo scores higher in our ranking (7.0 vs 6.0 out of 10). Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock for simple daily upkeep in small homes. Pick the iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo for small homes with low sofas and beds.

### Which is cheaper?

The iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock at $300, versus $430 for the iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo, checked Nov 12, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $300 vs $430.

### What is the difference between the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock and the Roomba Plus 515 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 US says 3x the suction of the Roomba Plus 505 Combo with four levels and gives no… on the Roomba Plus 515 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 saved maps for multiple floors, works in the dark (iRobot)… on the Roomba Plus 515 Combo. Obstacle avoidance: LiDAR only, no camera (iRobot) on the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock, Front line laser recognizes cords, shoes, pet bowls, toys, pets and people (iRobot); no… on the Roomba Plus 515 Combo.

Full reviews: [iRobot Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-105-combo-autoempty/index.md), [iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-plus-515-combo/index.md)