Which Roomba
should you buy?
For most people, get the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty. The 105, Plus and Max lines differ in three ways that matter: whether it empties itself, how it mops, and how well it handles pet hair. We sorted the current lineup.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 14, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
For most homes, the Roomba 105 Combo with AutoEmpty Dock is the Roomba to buy. It vacuums and mops in one run, maps your home with ClearView LiDAR, avoids mopping carpets on its own, and empties into a bagged dock for up to 75 days. It costs a lot less than the Plus models, and it covers what most people actually need: clean floors without touching the robot every day.
Step up to the Roomba Plus 415 if you mop a lot: its AutoWash dock washes and heat-dries the spinning mop pads and refills the water, and the pads lift over rugs. The Plus 515 adds 22,000Pa suction and a hot 160°F pad wash. Homes with shedding dogs or cats who mostly have carpet should look at the Max 715 Pet, a vacuum-only Roomba with 30,000Pa, anti-tangle rubber brushes and AI obstacle avoidance. The Roomba 105 Vac is the budget pick: LiDAR mapping with no dock.
Skip the 105 Combo if you have mostly hard floors and want real scrubbing, not a light damp wipe: its single built-in pad can’t match the spinning, self-washing mops on the Plus models. And if you have cords and pet toys on the floor, the 105 line doesn’t list camera-based obstacle avoidance like the Max 715 Pet does.
How we picked: we compared the current Roomba models sold by Amazon, read what owners say after months of use, and checked each listing’s dock, suction, mopping system and navigation. We don’t claim hands-on tests. Picks and price bands checked October 14, 2026.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 5.
| Product | Best for Most Homes Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty Vacuum & mop, self-emptying |  Best Hands-Free Mopping Roomba Plus 415 Vacuum & mop, AutoWash dock |  Best Mopping Roomba Roomba Plus 515 Vacuum & mop, heated wash dock |  Best for Pet Hair Roomba Max 715 Pet Vacuum only, self-emptying |  Best Budget Roomba 105 Vac Vacuum only, no dock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 91 / 100 | 90 / 100 | 89 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 84 / 100 |
| Best for | Mixed floors on a sensible budget | Hard floors that get mopped often | Busy kitchens and heavy shedders on hard floors | Carpet and shedding dogs or cats | Small homes and apartments |
| Typical price (checked October 14, 2026) | $280–$330 | $450–$500 | $580–$670 | $480–$520 | $140–$180 |
| Suction | 70x vs Roomba 600 series (listing) | 2.8x vs Plus 405 (listing) | 22,000Pa | 30,000Pa | 70x vs Roomba 600 series (listing) |
| Mopping | Built-in pad, avoids carpets | Lifting spinning DualClean pads | Lifting spinning DualClean pads, lift 10 mm over rugs | No | No |
| Dock | AutoEmpty, up to 75 days | AutoWash: empties, washes, heat-dries at 113°F, refills | Empties, hot-washes at 160°F, hot-air dries at 113°F | AutoEmpty, up to 90 days, odor-control bags | Charging base only |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR | Smart obstacle avoidance | Smart obstacle avoidance | ClearView Pro LiDAR + PrecisionVision AI | ClearView LiDAR |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best for Most Homes
Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty
BeastScore 91 / 100Typically $280–$330 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)This is the sweet spot of the lineup. The listing pairs ClearView LiDAR mapping with a self-emptying AutoEmpty dock that holds up to 75 days of dirt in a sealed bag. It vacuums and mops in the same run, using a micro-pump to keep the pad evenly damp, and it detects carpets and avoids them while mopping so rugs stay dry. You can pick vac only, mop only or both, room by room, in the Roomba Home app. It is also one of the most-reviewed Roombas on Amazon, and owners like the value. The limits: a fixed pad is a light mop, not a scrub, and the dock does not wash it.
Pros- Self-empties for up to 75 days
- LiDAR mapping with room-by-room control
- Avoids carpets when mopping, no setup needed
Cons- Fixed pad is a light mop, not a deep scrub
- You still rinse and refill the mop by hand
- No camera-based obstacle avoidance listed
- 2. Best Hands-Free Mopping
Roomba Plus 415
BeastScore 90 / 100Typically $450–$500 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The Plus 415 is where Roomba mopping gets genuinely hands-free. Its AutoWash dock empties the bin for up to 90 days, washes the spinning DualClean mop pads, heat-dries them at 113°F to stop odors and refills the robot’s water. SmartScrub adds pressure for dried spills and muddy paw prints, and the listing says it has 2.8x more suction than the Plus 405. A body 46% slimmer than the 405 fits under more furniture, and extending brushes reach corners. Owners like not touching the mop for weeks. You do refill the dock’s clean-water tank and empty the dirty one.
Pros- Dock washes and heat-dries the pads after every run
- Spinning, lifting mops scrub better than a fixed pad
- Slim body reaches under more furniture
Cons- Big dock needs floor space
- Clean and dirty water tanks still need attention
- Suction is not given in Pa on the listing
- 3. Best Mopping Roomba
Roomba Plus 515
BeastScore 89 / 100Typically $580–$670 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The Plus 515 takes the 415’s idea further. Suction rises to 22,000Pa, and the dock hot-washes the pads at 160°F before drying them at 113°F, which the listing says helps stop odor. PerfectEdge extends the side brush and mop pad into corners and along baseboards, and the robot lifts its pads 10 mm when it detects carpet. A rubber-and-bristle brush and tangle-resistant design target pet hair. Owners like how fresh the floors and pads stay. It is the priciest model here, and the extra over the 415 mostly buys the hot wash and stronger suction.
Pros- 22,000Pa suction plus hot 160°F pad washing
- Mop pads lift 10 mm so rugs stay dry
- Edge-extending brush and mop clean along baseboards
Cons- Most expensive Roomba in this guide
- Large dock with water tanks to manage
- Hot wash is a nice extra, not a must for every home
- 4. Best for Pet Hair
Roomba Max 715 Pet
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $480–$520 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)If your problem is fur, not spills, the Max 715 Pet is the Roomba to get. It drops mopping and spends the money on cleaning: 30,000Pa suction, iRobot’s dual rubber anti-tangle brushes plus an anti-tangle side brush, and Carpet Boost to push harder on rugs. ClearView Pro LiDAR builds 3D maps, and PrecisionVision AI is there to steer around obstacles like cords and pet messes. The dock holds up to 90 days of debris in odor-control AllergenLock bags. Owners with heavy shedders like it. If you need mopping too, look at the Plus 515 instead.
Pros- Highest suction in the lineup at 30,000Pa
- Rubber brushes resist hair wrap
- AI obstacle avoidance plus 3D LiDAR maps
Cons- No mopping at all
- Uses replacement bags
- Costs as much as the mopping Plus 415
- 5. Best Budget
Roomba 105 Vac
BeastScore 84 / 100Typically $140–$180 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The 105 Vac is the cheapest way into a modern Roomba, and it still has ClearView LiDAR, which most cheap robots skip. That means it maps your home, cleans in neat rows, lets you schedule and target rooms, and supports keep-out zones in the app. The listing claims 70x the suction of the old Roomba 600 series, with a multi-surface brush and an edge-sweeping brush. It recharges and resumes where it stopped. The trade-off is maintenance: there is no self-emptying dock, so you empty the small bin after most runs, and it does not mop.
Pros- LiDAR mapping and room control at a low price
- Recharges and picks up where it left off
- Voice control with Alexa, Siri or Google
Cons- You empty the bin by hand after most runs
- No mopping
- Small bin fills fast with pet hair
All 5 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- SuctionRoomba Max 715 Pet · 9.6/10
- MoppingRoomba Plus 515 · 9.6/10
- Pet hairRoomba Max 715 Pet · 9.8/10
- NavigationRoomba Max 715 Pet · 9.4/10
- Hands-freeRoomba Plus 515 · 9.6/10
- ValueTie
Who wins where
The winner of each category, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Pick the rounds that matter to you.
- Round 1
Suction
Roomba Max 715 Pet winsThe Max 715 Pet lists 30,000Pa, ahead of the Plus 515’s 22,000Pa. The 105 models and the Plus 415 describe suction relative to older Roombas rather than in Pa.
- Round 2
Mopping
Roomba Plus 515 winsThe Plus 515 has spinning pads that lift 10 mm over rugs and a dock that hot-washes them at 160°F. The Plus 415 washes and dries too, without the hot wash. The 105 Combo uses a fixed damp pad, and the Max 715 and 105 Vac don’t mop.
- Round 3
Pet hair
Roomba Max 715 Pet winsDual rubber anti-tangle brushes, Carpet Boost and a 90-day bagged dock make the Max 715 Pet the best match for heavy shedding.
- Round 4
Obstacle avoidance
Roomba Max 715 Pet winsThe Max 715 Pet lists PrecisionVision AI obstacle avoidance with 3D LiDAR mapping. The Plus models list “smart obstacle avoidance”; the 105 models rely on LiDAR and bump sensors.
- Round 5
Value
Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty winsThe 105 Combo + AutoEmpty gets you LiDAR, vacuum-and-mop and a self-emptying dock for well under the Plus models. It is the best price-to-features balance in the lineup.
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
- You want a self-emptying robot that also mops
- You have mixed carpet and hard floors
- You want the best value
- You mop hard floors several times a week
- You never want to wash a mop pad by hand
- You want the strongest Roomba mopping
- Your kitchen sees daily spills and paw prints
- You have shedding pets and lots of carpet
- You don’t need mopping
- You have a small home or apartment
- You don’t mind emptying the bin yourself
Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty
LiDAR mapping, vacuum and mop in one run, and a dock that empties it for up to 75 days, for far less than the Plus models.
- ClearView LiDAR
- Up to 75 days hands-free
- Avoids mopping carpets
Quick tips before you buy
Rubber brushes resist hair wrap. Bristle-only brushes need cutting free more often in homes with long-haired pets.
A fixed damp pad lifts dust. Spinning pads with a washing dock handle sticky kitchen spills.
The Plus models are 46% slimmer than the models they replace, which helps under low furniture.
Mop-washing docks are big. Plan a spot with space in front and near a wall outlet.
Quick answers
Which Roomba should I buy in 2026?+
For most homes, the Roomba 105 Combo with AutoEmpty Dock. It has LiDAR mapping, vacuums and mops in one run, avoids carpets when mopping and self-empties for up to 75 days. Pick a Plus model for serious mopping or the Max 715 Pet for heavy pet hair.
What is the difference between the Roomba Plus 415 and Plus 515?+
Both have spinning mop pads and a dock that empties the bin, washes and dries the pads and refills water. The Plus 515 adds 22,000Pa suction, a 160°F hot pad wash, mop pads that lift 10 mm over rugs and PerfectEdge corner cleaning. It costs about $100 more.
Which Roomba is best for pet hair?+
The Roomba Max 715 Pet. It has 30,000Pa suction, dual rubber anti-tangle brushes, Carpet Boost and a 90-day self-emptying dock with odor-control bags. It doesn’t mop, so pick the Plus 515 if you need both.
Is the Roomba 105 Vac worth it?+
Yes for a small home on a budget. It has LiDAR mapping and room-by-room control, which most cheap robots lack. You do empty the bin by hand, and it doesn’t mop.
Do Roombas still need bags?+
Self-emptying Roombas like the 105 Combo with AutoEmpty and the Max 715 Pet use bags in the dock. That keeps dust sealed in when you empty it. Budget for replacement bags a few times a year.
Roomba vs Roborock: which is better?+
Roborock and Dreame often pack more mopping features for the money, while Roomba focuses on simple apps and anti-tangle rubber brushes. See our robot vacuum guides for the cross-brand picks.
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