iRobot Roomba 105 Combo · iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo

LiDAR and auto-empty at an entry price, with no independent test of the Combo yet.

Onboard compaction removes the auto-empty base, not the dock: the 205 still ships with and charges on a dock, and what it drops is the bag compartment and the bags. The saving is real but modest. iRobot’s Dirt Disposal Bags run about $17 to $20 for a 3-pack and each bag is rated at up to 75 days, so feeding a bagged model costs on the order of $30 to $35 a year.

Retractable mop reduces manual toggling, yet the arm mechanism adds mechanical complexity and scheduled maintenance that fixed-dual-tank combos avoid.

Buyers who want independent test results first

No hands-on review of the 105 Combo was found; the tested Roomba 105 models are the vacuum-only 105 Vac.

Rooms where carpets need mopping nearby

iRobot describes carpet avoidance while mopping, so rugs are skipped rather than vacuumed with the pad lifted.

Buyers wary of the maker's long-term future

iRobot filed for Chapter 11 in Dec 2025 with a planned acquisition by Picea Robotics, per HotHardware.

Owners wanting a dock that washes the mop

The optional AutoEmpty dock empties debris only; TechRadar reserves mop washing for the Plus 405 and 505 Combo.

Homes with extensive high-pile carpet or shag

Retractable mop design conflicts with high-pile texture. Compaction capacity is tuned for typical homes; excessive shedding on shag may exceed seasonal capacity.

Owners requiring same-day multi-room wet-cleaning depth

Single water tank and mop pad limit wet-pass coverage per charge. Multi-floor or large wet-surface cleaning needs dedicated floor-cleaning passes.

Pet homes with daily hair volume needing auto-empty

Onboard compaction reduces but does not eliminate hair entanglement. High-shedding households may benefit from auto-empty docks despite dock footprint.