iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock vs iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Oct 26, 2026
As of Oct 26, 2026, the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock costs $450 and the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo costs $470, so the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is $20 cheaper. The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #23 in our robot vacuums ranking; the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock for Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.
- Suction
- 7,000 Pa claimed
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR
- Mopping
- No
- Runtime
- Up to 200 min
The cheapest way into a LiDAR Roomba with an auto empty dock, and RTINGS picked the Roomba 105 as its best cheap robot vacuum. Vacuum Wars found good carpet deep cleaning but very weak pet hair pickup and heavy hair wrap. Pet owners should look at the Dreame D20 Plus or Roborock Q7 M5+ instead.
Full iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock review →- Suction
- iRobot claims 70x
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR
- Mopping
- Reusable microfiber pad
A space saving Roomba with no tall dock, good LiDAR navigation and a large compacting bin. TechRadar needed to empty it after 8 days rather than 60 and measured 78 dB. Mopping and obstacle handling are weak, so it suits small tidy homes.
Full iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo review →Side by side
| iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock | iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $450 | $470 |
| 3 year cost | $550 | $470 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 5.6/10 |
| Rank in Floors | #28 | #23 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 1 year limited (Amazon listing) | n/a |
| Suction | 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 | iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR with multi level maps, no go zones and room sequences (iRobot, Vacuum Wars) | ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) |
| Obstacle avoidance | None for small objects; Vacuum Wars and RTINGS both say to clear cables and clutter first | Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove and get stuck |
| Mopping | No, vacuum only; the separate Roomba 105 Combo adds a mop | Reusable microfiber pad with Carpet Detect to avoid rugs (iRobot); Tech Advisor found it mostly spread mess |
| Self empty | Yes, AutoEmpty dock with a bag that holds up to 75 days of debris (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 | Small charging base only (Tech Advisor) |
| 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 | Not published; iRobot says it covers up to 1,000 sq ft |
| Dustbin | Not published | About 1.5 L compacting bin (TechRadar, Tech Advisor) |
| Height | 4.1 in (Vacuum Wars) | 3.98 in (robot 14.1 x 14.09 x 3.98 in, iRobot) |
| Pet hair | Vacuum Wars measured 29% flattened pet hair pickup against an 81% average, and 79% of long hair wrapped the brush | No measured pet hair result published in the reviews we read |
| App | iRobot Home app with maps, no go zones, room settings and schedules; works with Alexa and Google Assistant (Vacuum Wars) | Roomba Home app; works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant (iRobot) |
| Threshold | Not published | Not published |
| Noise | n/a | TechRadar measured an average of 78 dB from five feet |
| Best for | Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets | small spaces with no room for a dock |
| Skip if | you have shedding pets or long hair in the house | you want real mopping or good obstacle avoidance |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
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
- 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
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
- 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
Pros and cons
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock
Pros
- Low price for LiDAR plus auto empty
- Bags hold up to 75 days
- Good embedded dirt pickup on carpet
- Familiar iRobot Home app
- Sold direct by iRobot and Amazon
Cons
- 29% pet hair pickup in Vacuum Wars test
- Long hair wraps the brush
- Low coverage per charge
- No obstacle avoidance or mop
- Owner went through Chapter 11 in 2025
iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo
Pros
- Compact charging base with no dock bin
- About 1.5 L compacting bin
- Reliable LiDAR navigation per Tech Advisor
- Good carpet cleaning per Tech Advisor
- Works with Alexa, Siri and Google
Cons
- Emptied after 8 days in TechRadar testing, not 60
- 78 dB average noise in TechRadar testing
- Weak mopping
- Gets stuck and pushes obstacles
- Out of stock at iRobot on 2026-10-26
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock or the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?
The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #23 in our robot vacuums ranking; the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock for Roomba fans with hard floors and no pets. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.
Which is cheaper?
The iRobot Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock at $450, versus $470 for the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, checked Oct 26, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $550 vs $470.
What is the difference between the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock and the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?
Suction: 7,000 Pa claimed (iRobot via GearBrain); Vacuum Wars measured 2.16 kPa sealed suction… on the Roomba 105 Vac + 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 with multi level maps, no go zones and room sequences (iRobot, Vacuum… on the Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock, ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. Obstacle avoidance: None for small objects; Vacuum Wars and RTINGS both say to clear cables and clutter first on the Roomba 105 Vac + 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.
Also consider
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All robot vacuums, ranked
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