Roomba’s New Entry-Level Robot Vacs Have 3 Premium Features, Upcharge Not Included
Roomba-maker iRobot has added four new lidar-equipped robot vacuum models to its 2025 lineup, bringing premium features to a more reasonable price. They include the Roomba 205 DustCompactor, the “world’s first” robovac equipped with a compacting bin, which mechanically compresses dust and debris to save space in the dock. Imagine it as being similar to the trash compactors in a garbage truck.
“The net benefit to the consumer is you are going to get 60 days of hands-free maintenance without the need for the separate auto empty dock,” Warren Fernandez, iRobot’s director of product management, said.
Roomba 205 can vacuum and mop.
Fernandez told CNET that this feature, exclusive to the Roomba 205, will target people who may want to hide their robovac under their sofa — meaning they don’t want a large dock in their homes — and avoid what some have described as the “jet engine noise” of an auto-emptying dock. The noise of the compacting bin won’t “elevate itself above the noise the robot vacuum is already making.”
The new lineup has entry-level, midtier and premium robot vacuums. But just because you opt for a cheaper model, that doesn’t mean you’ll be missing the best features.
Premium features are now standard
The Roomba 2025 lineup was developed based on an 18-month study of consumers across North America, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
“Our portfolio strategy in ’25 is really to enhance the Roomba family with a series of new products that are grounded in that consumer feedback, that 18 months of research, and that really carefully consider how to improve every aspect of the product experience,” Fernandez said.
The 2025 base and midtier models get new features along with ones that were previously reserved for iRobot’s higher-end vacuums. Those features include the proprietary ClearView lidar navigation, new to iRobot’s product lineup, which will allow the robovacs to better navigate homes and avoid obstacles, even in dark rooms.
Roomba 105 can tackle edges with its spinning brushes.
Entry-level: Roomba 105 and Roomba 205
The Roomba 105 comes in two models: the 105 Vac a vacuum-only model for $299 or the 105 Combo combination vacuum and mop model for $319. You can get either with an AutoEmpty Dock for an additional $150. The AutoEmpty Dock now allows for an estimated 75 days of vacuuming before it needs to be emptied.
The Roomba 205 DustCompactor will be available as a vacuum only (DustCompactor Vac) for $449 or as a combo model for $469 (DustCompactor Combo). Side note: the contents of the dustbin won’t resemble a cube — Fernandez said the emptying experience will be more traditional, similar to what you’re used to if you already have a robot vacuum.
These entry-level combination models can detect carpets but are limited in their autonomy when it comes to cleaning them. Fernandez recommended having the mop pads removed most of the time to allow them to focus on vacuuming, only adding them back on for mop jobs.
“If you leave the mopping pad attached, it’s only going to clean the hard floor surfaces in your home,” he said.
Roomba 505 is better at avoiding accidentally mopping your carpet.
Premium: Roomba Combo 10 Max
The Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock, launched in August last year, will retain its place as iRobot’s premium offering. Its costs $1,400, but is currently available on sale through iRobot’s website for $900. Its differentiating factor is the Auto-Retract Mopping System, which lifts the mop pad to the top of the robot when carpets are detected, as well as a dock that autonomously cleans both the robot and itself.
Price and availability
The following robovacs will be available in North America at prices ranging from $299 to as much as $999.
- Roomba 105 Vac: $299
- Roomba 105 Combo: $319
- Roomba 105 Vac + AutoEmpty Dock: $449
- Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Dock: $469
- Roomba 205 DustCompactor Vac: $449
- Roomba 205 DusCompactor Combo: $469
- Roomba Plus 405 Combo + AutoWash Dock: $799
- Roomba Plus 505 Combo + AutoWash Dock: $999
The new Roomba robovacs will be available for presale in North America starting March 18 on iRobot.com.
Roomba Combo 505 station.
The bottom two-thirds of the screen will feature a map of your home, which Fernandez said will be “actually actionable.” As an example, he said that if he dropped some granola on the way to the office from the kitchen, he could quickly order his robot to conduct a “directed room clean” where the mess is.
The new app will also better inform you of what your robot is doing at the moment, where it is and how much progress it’s made in its current cleaning task. Finally, the app will provide proactive maintenance and troubleshooting, reminding you to replace and order filters, check the debris bag or clean the brushes.
“We give the user the opportunity to decide when they want to do that kind of preventative maintenance,” Fernandez said.
The new app will be available for download on iOS and Android. Roomba’s 2025 lineup will be available across North America and select European markets beginning on March 18.