7 Best Roomba Vacuum Cleaners of 2025

The iRobot Roomba 104 Combo is a game-changer for busy households craving a truly hands-free clean—it self-empties for up to 75 days and seamlessly integrates vacuuming and mopping in one sleek package. With 70x more power-lifting suction than older Roomba models, it obliterates embedded pet hair, fine dust, and crumbs across hardwood, tile, and low-pile rugs. Its LiDAR smart navigation maps your home with surgical precision, avoiding furniture legs and stairs while delivering consistent, room-by-room coverage—perfect for homes tired of missed spots and chaotic cleaning paths.

In real-world testing, the Roomba 104 Combo shines on hard-surface floors, where its SmartScrub mode delivers a 2x deeper clean thanks to a controlled micro-pump that keeps the mop pad evenly damp. It automatically lifts the mop when detecting carpets, ensuring rugs stay dry—a standout feature many rivals still struggle with. However, it’s not built for thick carpets or deep-pile rugs, and the suction, while strong, can’t match premium models on heavily soiled high-traffic zones. Still, for daily maintenance on mixed flooring, it’s impressively thorough and reliable.

Compared to the Roomba 105 Vac, the 104 Combo offers more value with mopping capability at nearly the same price point, making it a smarter pick for those who mop regularly. While the Plus 405 offers auto-wash mopping, the 104 Combo delivers a compelling middle ground with solid performance and stronger overall versatility. It’s ideal for pet owners and families seeking low-maintenance floor care without overspending—offering better feature balance than the basic 105 Vac, though not as powerful as high-end models.

The Roomba 105 Vac stands out as the most budget-friendly AutoEmpty robot vacuum that doesn’t sacrifice intelligence or reliability. It packs 70x more suction power than the aging 600 series, paired with a multi-surface brush and edge-sweeping tech that nabs debris along baseboards—making it a quiet powerhouse for daily upkeep. Its ClearView LiDAR navigation builds accurate home maps quickly, allowing for precise room targeting and obstacle avoidance, all while operating with a smooth, methodical row pattern that feels far more intentional than random bounce-style cleaners.

During testing, the 105 Vac proved its worth in medium-sized homes with hard floors and low-pile rugs, handling scattered cereal, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair with ease. The AutoEmpty Dock is a standout—keeping dust and allergens sealed in a bag for up to 75 days, eliminating the weekly chore of bin emptying. However, it struggles slightly on high-pile carpets, where suction doesn’t ramp up as aggressively as in higher-end models, and it lacks carpet boost or advanced AI obstacle recognition. Still, for homes with mostly hard flooring, it delivers consistent, set-and-forget cleaning.

When stacked against the Roomba 104 Combo, the 105 Vac trades mopping for a slightly cleaner design and dedicated vacuum focus, but loses versatility. It’s a better choice than the non-AutoEmpty 105 if you value long-term convenience over mopping, though it’s outclassed by the Max 705 in suction and obstacle avoidance. This model is perfect for first-time robot owners or small apartments wanting reliable, low-effort cleaning—offering better long-term hygiene than basic models thanks to the sealed AutoEmpty system.

The Roomba 105 Combo is a feature-packed entry-level hybrid that brings mopping intelligence and AutoEmpty convenience into one affordable robot—making it the best budget combo with self-emptying. It delivers 70x more suction power than older Roomba models, paired with a smart mopping system that uses a micro-pump to maintain consistent moisture, leaving hard floors streak-free and shiny. The real magic? It automatically detects and avoids carpets while mopping, so your rugs stay dry without manual intervention—no zoning or app toggles required.

In hands-on use, the 105 Combo excels in homes with open-plan hardwood or tile, where its LiDAR navigation ensures full coverage with minimal bumping. The dual cleaning mode (vacuum-mop combo) works well for light daily grime, and the included extra mop pad adds value right out of the box. However, like most budget combos, it doesn’t offer auto-mop washing or drying, meaning the pad must be cleaned manually after use to prevent odor. It also lacks advanced features like AI obstacle avoidance, so it may occasionally bump into chair legs or trip over cords.

Compared to the Roomba 104 Combo, the 105 Combo offers nearly identical performance and features, but often at a slightly higher price—making the 104 a better deal unless discounts apply. Against the Plus 405, it’s far less automated but much more affordable. It’s ideal for pet owners with mixed flooring who want mopping without complexity—delivering better convenience than non-AutoEmpty models while staying within budget.

The Roomba 105 Vac is the most wallet-friendly gateway into iRobot’s LiDAR-powered cleaning ecosystem, offering smart mapping and reliable performance without the AutoEmpty premium. It packs the same 70x more suction power as its siblings, a multi-surface brush, and edge-sweeping tech to grab dust from corners—making it a solid performer for daily maintenance on hard floors and low-pile rugs. Its ClearView LiDAR navigation builds accurate home maps quickly, allowing for room-specific cleaning and app-based scheduling, all while avoiding stairs and furniture with confidence.

In real-world use, the 105 Vac handles light to moderate debris with ease—think tracked-in dirt, pet hair, and crumbs—thanks to its three-stage cleaning system. It recharges and resumes cleaning when the battery runs low, ensuring full-home coverage even in larger layouts. However, without an AutoEmpty dock, you’ll need to empty the bin manually every few days, which can get messy if you have allergies or pets. It also lacks carpet boost and advanced obstacle detection, so it may struggle with tangles or getting stuck near clutter.

When compared to the AutoEmpty-equipped 105 Vac model, this version saves you money but sacrifices long-term convenience. It’s a better value than basic non-LiDAR robots, but falls short of the Max 705 in power and intelligence. Ideal for apartments, dorms, or secondary homes, it’s perfect for users who want smart cleaning on a tight budget—offering stronger navigation than entry-level bounce robots but requiring more hands-on maintenance than premium models.

The Roomba Plus 405 redefines what a self-cleaning combo robot can do, thanks to its revolutionary AutoWash Dock that empties, washes, and dries mop pads automatically—making it the best vacuum and mop combo for true hands-free operation. With 70x more suction power, DualClean spinning mop pads, and SmartScrub mode, it tackles both dry debris and sticky spills with impressive depth, especially on hardwood and tile. The downward pressure during mopping lifts grime other robots leave behind, while the auto-lifting mop pads ensure carpets stay dry—no user input needed.

In testing, the Plus 405 proved unmatched in long-term maintenance mode, where it can run weekly mopping cycles for up to four weeks without human intervention. The spinning mop pads agitate dirt far better than static pads, and the continuous pad refreshing during cleaning prevents redepositing grime. However, the dock is large and requires floor space, and the robot itself is slower on vacuum-only runs compared to dedicated models. It also doesn’t handle high-pile rugs well, though it navigates them safely thanks to LiDAR and smart sensors.

Against the Roomba 105 Combo, the Plus 405 is in a different league of automation—offering real self-maintenance versus manual mop pad care. While the Max 705 vacuums more aggressively, the Plus 405 delivers superior mopping with less effort. It’s ideal for busy families or tech-savvy users who want the cleanest floors with minimal upkeep—providing better mopping intelligence and automation than any other Roomba under $500.

The Roomba Max 705 is the undisputed king of robot vacuums in this lineup, combining extreme 180x power-lifting suction, anti-tangle dual rubber brushes, and PrecisionVision AI to deliver a deep, intelligent clean that leaves no mess behind. Designed for homes with pets and high traffic, it detects dirt in real time and automatically increases cleaning passes, obliterating embedded fur, litter, and crumbs with surgical precision. Its ClearView Pro LiDAR maps complex layouts flawlessly, while AI-powered obstacle recognition lets it dodge socks, cords, and even pet waste—something most robots still fail at.

In rigorous testing, the Max 705 dominated on all floor types, excelling on both hardwood and thick carpets thanks to its Carpet Boost mode and aggressive brushroll design. The 75-day AutoEmpty Dock keeps allergens sealed away, and the advanced Dirt Detect system ensures high-traffic zones get extra attention. However, its power comes at a cost—it’s noticeably louder than mid-tier models, and the AI features require strong Wi-Fi and app setup. It also doesn’t mop, so homes needing wet cleaning must look elsewhere.

Compared to the Plus 504, the Max 705 offers stronger suction and smarter navigation, making it better for large homes with pets. Against the Roomba 105 Vac, it’s in a completely different performance tier. It’s the best overall choice for users who prioritize cleaning power and intelligence over mopping—delivering superior debris pickup and obstacle avoidance than any other model here, even at its premium cost.

The Roomba Plus 504 is engineered for pet owners who battle fur, dander, and daily messes, combining 150x more suction power, anti-tangle dual rubber brushes, and PrecisionVision AI to stay ahead of shedding seasons. Its tangle-free design effortlessly pulls pet hair from rugs and corners without wrapping, while Carpet Boost ramps up suction on plush flooring for a deeper clean. With Advanced Dirt Detect, it identifies high-traffic zones and repeats passes until they’re spotless—making it a relentless defender against muddy paws and spilled kibble.

In real-world use, the Plus 504 shines in multi-pet homes, where its sealed filtration system traps allergens and its AutoEmpty Dock keeps waste contained for 75 days—a godsend for allergy sufferers. The LiDAR mapping is fast and accurate, and the app learns which rooms get dirty fastest, auto-scheduling cleanings where needed. However, it lacks mopping, and while the AI avoids large obstacles, it’s not as agile as the Max 705 in cluttered spaces. It also requires regular filter maintenance to sustain peak performance.

Versus the Max 705, the Plus 504 offers slightly less suction and no AI pet waste avoidance, but remains a more focused solution for pet hair at a lower price. Compared to the Roomba 105 Vac, it’s vastly superior in debris handling and intelligence. It’s the best choice for pet-heavy homes wanting power, convenience, and allergen control—delivering better fur pickup and automation than mid-tier models, though not quite matching the Max 705’s brute force.