iRobot would not take part in CES, so we do not usually get a lot new Roomba hype in late winter like we do for a few of its competitors.
However for iRobot this 12 months, skipping out on CES doesn’t suggest skipping out on that prime spring cleansing highlight. iRobot announced four new series of Roombas on March 11 — and it isn’t like a Roomba drop you’ve got ever seen earlier than. Costs vary from $299 to $999, with all fashions opening for preorder at irobot.com on March 18 and delivery starting on March 23.
iRobot was clearly over having blindspots in its lineup
Roombas have always been a staple within the robotic vacuum market as a result of iRobot is usually the primary model to convey progressive new robotic vacuum options to the mainstream. Everybody was wowed by a robotic vacuum that would keep in mind a map of your private home or empty itself with the i7+ in 2018, or a robotic vacuum that would keep away from telephone chargers with the j7 in 2021.
However iRobot tends to plateau after that rush wears off. Different large robotic vacuum manufacturers catch up and make these once-fancy options obtainable at cheaper price factors, and each the most affordable and the fanciest Roombas alike battle to be a bang on your buck. iRobot heard these qualms and did one thing — lots of issues, truly — about it.
I believe that this 2025 Roomba showcase has extra selection and depth than all Roomba drops from the previous few years mixed — you may in all probability go so far as to name it a full overhaul of the Roomba household tree. With round LiDAR laser towers sitting atop many of the new fashions and every coming in a white choice, there’s little resemblance to be seen to the older Roombas.
In complete, there are eight new Roombas falling beneath 4 completely different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505. White Roombas are lastly an choice now for anybody who simply would not vibe with the black plasticky look. Some mop, some self-empty, some do each, providing alternatives to combine and match the options you prioritize with a value level that feels comfortable. One essential robotic vacuum characteristic applies throughout the board, although: sensible mapping.
Let’s get into the variations between the 2025 Roombas.
New price range Roomba: Roomba 105 Collection
Credit score: iRobot
Credit score: iRobot
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Roomba 105 (standalone) — $299
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Roomba 105 with AutoEmpty dock — $449
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Roomba 105 Combo (standalone) — $319
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Roomba 105 Combo with AutoEmpty dock — $469
Whereas the mid-range to high-end Roombas at the very least begin off being groundbreaking, the low-end low-cost Roombas have had a historical past of being underwhelming from the bounce. For example, iRobot ushered in two new budget Roombas in April 2024 — neither of which had sensible mapping, each of which retailed at $250 or extra. The Combo 2 Essential, which does mop and self-empty however nonetheless would not sensible map, later debuted at $424.99. At this level within the sport, a robotic vacuum that simply bumps round and hopes to get to the appropriate spot is all however assured to be extra bother than it is price, particularly in the event you’re paying greater than, like, $100.
The brand new Roomba 105 collection is a a lot smarter choice for the $300 to $500 vary. All 105 fashions are outfitted with LiDAR-powered sensible mapping to wash particular rooms on command. In comparison with the older mid-range Roomba i3 and i5 fashions, the Roomba 105s use a four-stage cleansing system as an alternative of three-stage, providing as much as 70 occasions the suction energy in comparison with the previous base-tier 600 collection Roombas.
In the event you’re on a price range, there’s nonetheless lots of room for personalisation inside your Roomba 105 buy. The 2 with out Combo within the title do not mop, however one of many non-Combos does nonetheless supply automated emptying. Alternatively, you may lower your expenses and house by selecting a Combo model with out the AutoEmpty dock.
New mid-tier Roomba: Roomba 205 Collection
Credit score: iRobot
Credit score: iRobot
The Roomba 205 DustCompactor collection was blessed with the best innovation on this checklist, offering a much-needed different to cumbersome self-emptying docks for individuals who dwell in small areas. Slightly than attempting to squeeze a self-empty canister into essentially the most compact dock doable, iRobot discovered a method to merely compact the mud itself. As particles is sucked in, the Roomba 205 condenses it, sufficient to depart you off the hook from emptying the onboard mud bin for as much as 60 days.
With a dock no greater than your common field of tissues and the Roomba itself omitting the LiDAR tower to remain flat on prime, it is a uncommon choice that may be absolutely saved beneath a TV stand, credenza, or perhaps a mattress — with out having to surrender the comfort of automated “emptying.”
Mashable Offers
The Roomba 205 DustCompactor additionally makes use of the upgraded four-stage cleansing system and may be bought in a Combo or non-Combo model.
New premium Roombas: Roomba Plus 405 Combo and 505 Combo
The Roomba Plus 405 Combo.
Credit score: iRobot
The Roomba Plus 505 Combo.
Credit score: iRobot
These final two Roomba releases aren’t the primary time we have seen the AutoWash Dock from iRobot, however they do mark the primary time we have seen a Roomba with self-washing and drying mopping pads debut beneath $1,000 (or beneath $800, within the 405’s case). That is the meshing of premium upkeep options and sensible costs that we have been itching to see from iRobot for years.
Each the 405 and 505 ditch the retractable mopping arm that’s iRobot’s declare to fame on the Combo j7, j9, and 10 Max traces. Instead are two spinning mopping pads, or what iRobot is referring to as DualClean. In my briefing on these merchandise with iRobot, I realized that the corporate has discovered that clients discover this dual-spinning pad system to wash extra reliably than one large, flat pad.
One principal distinction between the 405 and 505 fashions is that the spinning pads on the Roomba Plus 505 use iRobot’s PerfectEdge expertise, which means they will swing out from beneath the round vacuum to mop alongside edges and in corners. This hinged pad design is one I’ve skilled in a couple of Roborock fashions now, and the eye to element has been a sport changer for me, particularly close to the kitchen counters. That is the true wall-to-wall robotic vacuum expertise.
The Roomba Plus 505 additionally incorporates one other navigational non-negotiable of mine: small impediment avoidance. As a result of robotic vacuums with this expertise can keep away from random litter on the ground like charging cords, free laundry, and pet waste, you can begin a spontaneous cleansing with out having to tidy up the ground first. I’ve examined a ton of robotic vacuums with this functionality previously two years, however iRobot’s PrecisionVision impediment avoidance has constantly been essentially the most correct. Whereas a number of Roombas at a number of value factors can already do that, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo is the one Roomba beneath $1,000 to supply this and the AutoWash Dock. The opposite choice is the Combo 10 Max, which retails for $1,399.
