Customers are positive about the Roomba 105's mapping, cleaning performance, and navigation capabilities, with many praising its ability to efficiently clean floors and avoid obstacles. The strong suction and improved battery life also received favorable feedback. However, customers are negative about the noise level, particularly the loud emptying process of the auto-empty dock. The app's ease of use was also highlighted as a positive aspect.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Definitely worth it
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works great on shag/high pile carpet and medium pile carpet. Doesn’t dock on high pile carpet but docks fine on medium pile carpet. Got 3 dogs and keeps the dog hair down for about a week now. Long hair gets tangled in the brush easily but I just check everything after each run. Makes nice lines and the map in the app is super easy to setup. Keeps me to only vacuuming once a week instead of multiple times a week and if I miss a week I don’t get super behind on it with three long hair dogs that sheds like crazy.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Mapping
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Nice, Useful Appliance
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Quick Review:
I am using this in my small office. The Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum is easy to setup and, for the most part, easy to use. It also does a good job of cleaning the carpet. The charging/waste dock means I don’t have to worry about charging or emptying the waste compartment for months at a time. I do have some connectivity issues, i.e. – it loses connection at night and won’t run my programmed routine. Once I’m back in the same space, it connects and I can get it to work again. It can also get caught on objects on the floor so make sure you have things secured or picked up before starting. The app is fairly intuitive, at least for me. Scheduling routines is also easy. All-in-all, I’m quite happy with how it’s worked so far. I just need to get it to clean at night when everyone is out of the office.
Long Review:
Setup:
Setup is easy. There is a quick guide on the top of the interior packaging. There is no physical full manual in the box. You have to go online or into the app to get that.
Once you download the app, you need to setup the base and vacuum. Basically, plug in the base, remove 2 tabs and some protective plastic sheets from the Roomba, then back it into the dock so that it can charge and you can start the app setup.
You do need some room for the dock and vacuum. The guide states it needs about a foot and a half to either side of the base and 5 feet in front. It also needs to be 5 feet from stairs. If you have a small house like I do, finding the space might be a challenge.
After downloading the app, you will need to create an account, connect to the Roomba via Bluetooth and connect it to your WiFi. Suggestion: If you can, set up an Internet of Things (IoT) WiFi network to use to keep appliances off your main WiFi network. After that, you connect the Roomba to the internet and it will ask you to update. This said it would take 20 minutes but it got stuck on <1 minute for quite a while. I closed the app and restarted it and all was good.
Using the app:
Once that was done, the app asked if I wanted to Map my space. I said yes. Roomba took about 15 minutes to roam around my office to create a map and create rooms that can be used for scheduling. After the initial map is created, you can rename the zones created by the app. You can also divide spaces or join them if you do not like how the app created the zones.
After that, I went to the app and scheduled a full office cleaning to start at 10 pm. Unfortunately, the scheduled cleaning did not happen because the Roomba lost connection with our internet. Once I was back in the office, I followed the trouble shooting directions presented by the app. I restarted, the connection was regained. After this, I was able to manually start a cleaning session. This happened again the second night as well. This time, once back in the office, I didn’t restart the Roomba, I just stood next to it while I worked in the app to run a routine.
The Robot Vacuum:
The vacuum actually does a decent job of cleaning and does it fairly quickly. It did do a few things that had me scratching my head. It ran over the 1” thick base of a coat rack. It also somehow pulled a thin power cord, that was tucked under some wall base, and wound it around the sweeper. Once I did some additional straightening up, the Roomba did what I expected it to do and cleaned the carpet and vinyl floor. I am able to clean all the rooms in one routine or I can select specific rooms to clean. This worked flawlessly when I ran the various routines while sitting at my desk. The one thing it can't do is move chairs. If it can fit under the chair, it will clean under it. If you have chairs with casters, like most office chairs, or chairs with bracing low to the floor, those areas won’t get vacuumed.
The Roomba is not very loud while it does its thing. There is some driveline and vacuum noise while running but it’s not a harsh or distracting noise. The base is much louder when it is sucking the dirt out of the Roomba and into its internal bag. This is very noticeable. Thankfully, that noise only lasts a few seconds.
Maintenance is reasonable but certain parts need to be replaced after a certain amount of use. The edge brush about every 110 hours (about $6), the Filter every 55 hours (about $6) and the surface brush every 315 hours ($20) or so. Luckily, the app helps you track the use and when the parts need to be replaced. You also need to clean it up here and there and change the bag in the base when it’s full.
Verdict:
This is a nifty appliance. I wouldn’t call it a must have but it is certainly convenient and a good buy (especially if you can find it on sale). If someone is interested in one and has the room for it, I say go for it. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba !05. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Pros mentioned:
Mapping, Navigation
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Not Quite A Clean Sweep
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
TL;DR: The Roomba 105 adds LiDAR and an AutoEmpty dock, but also adds loud emptying, edge cleaning issues, and pricey disposable bags that make it hard to recommend unless convenience is your absolute top priority.
The Roomba 105 is a decent mid-tier vacuum with some improvements over models like the i5, but it doesn’t quite deliver the experience I hoped for.
Unboxing was typical for a Roomba (too much plastic). The 105 is slightly lighter than the i5 but similar in size. It requires a separate app that isn't backwards-compatible with older models and a 20-minute (on a 1 gig connection) firmware update out of the box. If you have multiple Roombas like I do, you may end up juggling two nearly identical (UI aside) apps. Additionally, the 105 had issues charging at first due to not being properly docked on the base and required fiddling to get it to dock properly, causing one of the felt grips on the bottom to pop off. Not a great start. I haven't had this issue since nor have I had issues with it docking itself.
I’ve owned several robot vacuums across price points. Bluntly, price doesn’t scale linearly with performance. Budget models bump about with minimal mapping. The i5 has mopping and smart zoning; the 105 iterates further to add LiDAR, both faster and more accurate, and enhanced smart map functions like "keep out" zones. You can now save multiple maps and set per-room routines and settings. The AutoEmpty dock is a major quality-of-life upgrade, too. But it doesn't clean better than the i5 or even the much cheaper i2.
Still, the 105 handles my two-cat home with both carpet and vinyl well. Cat fur, treats, and litter all get picked up, and it seems to bully the kitties less. Battery life is similar to the i5, with both managing our 170 sq ft living room with ~90% remaining.
But there are drawbacks. I assumed LiDAR would also improve its navigation, but it still bumps and drags itself along furniture. To its credit, it's better in this regard than the i5 and other models that use vSLAM, but it's far from the upgraded experience I was hoping for from a long-awaited iRobot LiDAR model.
Furthermore, it struggles with cleaning places that older models didn’t. It’s happy to lovingly scrape along the edges of furniture, but can't go under low furniture (like our couch, slightly above 4” from the ground) due to the new top-mounted LiDAR sensor. 4” is a pretty average height for couch legs! Depending on your layout, the 105 may thus be a slight *downgrade* in cleaning efficacy. No Roomba can fully replace regular vacuuming and the 105 does a decent job with most of the room, but this was still a mild disappointment.
Another downgrade is the move to a single brush roller. While suction and cleaning pass counts are customizable, the 105 may need multiple passes in certain homes. The default settings (normal clean and high suction) have worked well for us running it every other day.
Noise-wise, it's comparable to the i5 when vacuuming (~57dB) but jumps to 71-92dB when emptying into the dock. Not ideal for small spaces or early morning runs. My family has commented on its noise level, so although it is similar to the i5 in terms of average dB, it may qualitatively feel noticeably louder.
The AutoEmpty dock was the feature I was most anticipating. I have to empty my i5 after just about every clean cycle, and the convenience here is real...but I didn't realize that it uses single-use bin bags. iRobot claims they'll last 75 days, but user reports vary widely. At $20 for a 3-pack, the monthly cost for the bags alone could run ~$3 to ~$7, depending on how fast they fill. It's hard to determine that based on just a week with it.
That's the final major drawback here. Consumables are standard for robot vacuums, but having a single-use bag replaced every month or two adds up environmentally and financially. Understandably, a good seal, filtration, and durability require plastic for now, but it's a tough trade-off.
The 105's value hinges on how much you prioritize convenience. Although a solid performer, the 105 doesn't truly feel like a substantial upgrade. I don’t regret trying it, but I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it either unless you really want the AutoEmpty dock and are aware of what that entails in the longer run.
I took the liberty of making a little infographic on the consumables for this model as well as the environmental impact of the single-use bin bags. Hopefully, it helps people understand the price and eco-friendliness cost. Despite its flaws, I do like my 105 now that I’ve gotten a bit of time with it — but I would still love to see an update to the bag system that is less wasteful.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Obstacle avoidance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Simple and effective. Great entry option!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not a robot vacuum is “worth it” or something that you’d enjoy having, I highly recommend this model as a beginner robot vacuum.
There’s a lot to like about this vacuum starting with the sound level. My experience, although admittedly limited, is that most robot vacuums have a set suction level that’s overkill for bare floors like hardwood, tile, etc. This vacuum varies the suction level based on need so it’s much quieter than our previous robot vacuum of a different brand. Additionally, it doesn’t have nearly as much trouble as our previous vacuum did with small items on the floor such as dog toys, electrical cords, etc. Noise is a big consideration for me as even a small robot vacuum like this can be fairly intrusive sound wise if you’re wanting to relax, work, etc. while the vacuum is running.
It does a really good job with heavily dirty floors and can effectively clean multiple surfaces. In our house we have area rugs, entry mats, kitchen mats, hardwood, and tile. The vacuum cleans them all very effectively.
I was particularly impressed with the vacuum’s ability to get started immediately. It didn’t require any learning or “modeling” of our home before starting. Moreover, there’s no need to download an app if you just want to plug in the dock and start running it after some initial charge time (they recommend ~4 hours). The vacuum easily returns to its dock without getting lost and will do so if it needs to charge or senses that the canister is full. Part of the reason I recommend this model as a starter model is because of its ability to empty itself at the dock making it a bit more of a hands off experience. You can empty the canister manually if you’d like but it’s not required.
The app does feature several additional options and features that can be set up only through the app but, again, you don’t need it to use the product, particularly if you just want to use it on an “as needed” basis.
I really like the simplified looks of the product, the textured plastic has a fabric look to it without being actual fabric that would get dirty eventually. There aren’t any ridiculous logos or stickers.
This model is a great starter option because, in my opinion, it gives you all the features you’d expect without being overly complex or so feature rich that it’s overwhelming.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Mapping
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
More than an entry-level robot vacuum
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First impression:
My first impression of the Roomba 105 self-emptying Robot Vacuum is that it is a well-made vacuum. The plastics in the vacuum are very sturdy, and everything on the robot seems tightly connected. The vacuum is very well packaged, and when you open the box, there is a cardboard cover that has the setup instructions. I think this is genius. As a consumer, I don’t have to download anything or try to read a small quick start guide.
What’s in the Box:
• Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum
• LV Auto-Evac dock
• Extra Filter
Features:
• Self-Empty Vacuum
• Auto Docking and Recharging
• App Control
• Room-by-Room Navigation
• Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Cliff Sensor
• Standard Filter
• Protective Bumpers
• Self-Emptying
Specifications:
• Cleaning Width: 5.8 inches
• Vacuum Type: Robotic vacuums
• Bin Capacity: 0.1 gallons
• Product Weight: 6.24 pounds
• Floor Type: All floors
• Bagless: No
• Filter Type: Standard
• Multi Surface: Yes
• Color: Black
• Product Height: 4.1”
• Product Length: 13.2”
• Product Width: 13.2”
• Vacuum Voltage: 2.4 VDC
Roomba App:
The Roomba app is very easy to use. When looking for the Roomba vacuum, it finds it quickly and connects right away. Before going further, it found and installed a firmware update. The update took about 20 minutes. Once it was done, it sent a notification that it was done.
After the update, I used the app to map the area, followed by using it to configure and start the 1st run. This is my favorite app of the other robotic vacuums I have used.
Performance:
The Roomba started out mapping the 1000 sq. ft. area, divided up into 4 spaces. That is our downstairs area and is all tile except for a throw rug in the living room. From the launch to the finish of the area mapping took 13 minutes. This is amazing as the area has a lot of obstacles for it to avoid. I attribute this to Lidar. I didn’t scan the entire floor like the rest of them did (this isn’t my 1st robotic vacuum). My other vacuum, which is not an entry level vacuum, took over an hour to map the same space, starting by following the walls and finishing by covering the entire floor space.
Finally, we got to the main show, the 1st vacuum run. It took 47 minutes and dumped the tank at around the 30-minute mark. And the cool part is that I can watch the route of the vacuum in real time on the app. It did a great job on both tile and carpet.
The operation of the vacuum is very smooth. From the turns, starting and stopping, it does so smoothly, not using jerky or quick moves. The noise level at its loudest is a fraction of the sound of a regular vacuum. It did increase in noise when going over the carpet but reduced back when getting back on the tile. The Roomba also does a great job on the edges thanks to its spinning brush. When it is done, it docks back on its canister and dumps the tank.
Conclusion:
The Roomba 105 robotic vacuum is a nice entry-level vacuum. The setup with the app was very easy. The Roomba mapped out the floor and editing the room map to exclude areas is very easy. The Roomba 105 self-empties the debris after each use, and the bin can hold 75 days’ worth.
As an entry-level vacuum, I find it a better choice than some other higher-level robotic vacuums. The Lidar makes the mapping quick and perfect, and it handles obstacles much better than some of the other vacuums. In our home, we are going to leave our current vacuum downstairs and move the Roomba upstairs because we have a stairwell and more obstacles for the vacuum, and this vacuum handles those issues very well.
If you want an entry-level robotic vacuum that comes at a good cost and has features the others don’t, then I highly recommend the Roomba 105 Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
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Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Mapping, Navigation
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great auto emptying smart vacuum!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum + AutoEmpty Dock is such a massive upgrade to my “dumb” smart vacuum from another company, that I’ve been completely blown away by the differences. While this one only vacuums the other did have mopping ability, but I think I only used it once? This Roomba starts by getting some updates, then it maps the area that you want it to, and automatically makes room designations! On top of its fairly excellent mapping, it will test the edges of things to get all the way around, without completely disregarding an area like my old device. It’s also nice that while it's going, you can see where it has already gone on the map it created. Plus, if you have a larger floor area for it to clean, it will pause cleaning to empty (or charge) and then resumes right where it left off! My wife is excited because it, unlike me, doesn’t forget to vacuum if you setup a schedule! Plus, it’ll clean whichever rooms or areas you want for that schedule.
The only gripes I’ve had so far is that it doesn’t seem to have the best battery life, but since it will automatically recharge, that’s less of an issue. Also when it docks to empty, the dock REALLY sounds like a big standup vacuum so it may catch you off guard.
Otherwise, this is such a stellar smart vac, and works super well!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba !05. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Mapping
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Very Good & Efficient Vacuum
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Roomba 105
I would recommend the Roomba 105. It was very easy to set up with the Roomba Home app. It walked me right through everything I needed to do to connect it to the WiFi and my phone. After that the app seems to be pointless. There is no way for me to set up auto-empty, clean, or anything else but map. The mapping is a great feature but once it completes the run and returns home it does not empty. I have searched online for answers to the auto-empty and have only seen where the 105 doesn’t support the auto empty with the app. I’m guessing it doesn’t have the clean button on the app either.
When cleaning, I have to be careful because I have exposed wires on my floor, I set up roadblocks so when it mapped out the room it didn’t bother those areas. It seems to follow that well.
It didn’t have problems picking up dog hair and other debris that was on the carpet and hardwood floors. I didn’t find it too loud but didn’t get to hear it empty yet either. I will continue to figure out if I am doing something wrong or if it is the machine.
Right now I give it 5 stars despite the app. The machine itself and the cleaning it does is better than I expected. I would like to see the app redone to make it more user friendly.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Pros mentioned:
Mapping, Obstacle avoidance, Suction power
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Decent Robot vacuum with some quirks
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Over the years, I've become somewhat of an expert on robotic vacuums. I have a 3 story house with about 1000 sqft on each floor. My basement and upper floors are mostly carpet. The middle floor is mostly wood floors. It's a lot of area to keep clean. In order to help cut down on the amount of vacuuming we have to do, I've been using robotic vacuums for about a decade now. The early ones (from a company now out of business) were very basic, but they did the job. As those began to die, I moved over to the iRobot Roomba vacuums as they seemed to have the best reputation at the time in a sea of chinese knockoffs. I currently have two J7 vacuums with auto emptying docks and one i4 with emptying dock. They work pretty well as long as you understand their strengths and limitations. They are not forget it and go type of appliances. They need regular maintenance and if you go too long without running them, they can get overwhelmed with pet hair and break down. You have to run them often and maintain them once a week. The iRobot app used to run them is pretty nice.
When my I4 started acting up, I jumped at the chance to pick up one of the new designed models released by iRobot. I went with the Roomba 105 because it was cheap, had the tech I needed, had a emptying dock, and seemed good for the area i needed cleaned in my basement. I did not get the model with mopping function as it wasn't needed in my basement and I've had horrible experiences with other models with mopping.
Overall, the Roomba 105 has been a little bit disappointing. Unpacking it went fine. I plugged in the dock and let it charge overnight. I was disappointed to see the dock does not have a ramp that the robot pulls up on, it just backs up to the charging pins and the empty chute. Setup was just OK. I have 3 current Roombas and am familiar with their app. I was surprised to find out the 105 was NOT compatible with the legacy app. I had to download the new Roomba Home app. OK, I can do this. It'ss transfer my existing units over, right? Nope. The new 105 is incompatible with the old app and the older models incompatible with the new app. I need two apps to run the three units in my house. Dumb. After downloading the app, I went through the setup. The robot connected very quickly and the app was smooth until it needed an software update. The apps said the update would take about 20 minutes. It started the download and I waited. 3 hours later, it was still at the finishing download stage. I figured something hung up, so I killed the app and restarted it. It communicated with the robot just fine at that point.
I have run the 105 about 10 times now. It started with a mapping run that it completed very quickly and very accurately. During the vacuuming runs, it showed great obstacle avoidance and the app (which is MUCH more confusing than the legacy app) allowed me to set the rooms to be vacuumed and schedule. Vacuuming seemed good with nice suction and a really fast speed. Out of the 10 runs, it only got stuck twice to where I have to manually move it. Of the remaining 8 runs, all 8 completed, but only 4 managed to dock successfully. I have short carpet but a thick pad underneath. The dock was light and sat on top of the carpet. The heavier robot sank a little bit and while the robot returned OK, the charging pins and dock empty chute had issues lining up. None of my other vacuums had this problem, but they had ramps. When it did work, the emptying process went fine and the vacuum seemed to do a good job picking up dirt.
I'm on the fence on whether to keep the 105 or not. It seems to vacuum well, but the lack of a ramp makes docking iffy forcing me to intervene. I would also need to have two apps to run all my vacuums. I can see upgrading the app, but to make it incompatible with older units seems like a big miss. The new app does not seem like an improvement either. it's much more confusing to use.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
We appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback on the Roomba 105. We're sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing. Please reach out to https://homesupport.irobot.com/s/contact-support-info, so we may properly diagnose your issue.
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Updated Tech, More quiet cleaning
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
***PROS
-Auto empty feature
-Slightly lower profile
-Easier to replace modular pieces
-Auto mapping rooms
-More quiet cleaning
***CONS
-New loud voice (No Cute Sounds)
-One blade/ rubber broom on the bottom
-Auto empty action is very loud
I have owned older models of the base model Roombas in the past. I know people have issues with them getting stuck and the sensors not noticing certain low furniture until it bumps and calls out for help. Personally, I just learned to deal with those issues and work around them. Lucky this version and I am assuming the newer models above this one, do not have this issue. With the lower body profile this model will not get stuck. One thing I did find annoying was the new voices for the action the machine takes. They decided to change it to a voice explaining what the machine is doing instead of the cute noises the older models used to make. Another thing is that it only has one rubber broom/blade which makes me somewhat skeptical, but so far has been doing a good job at cleaning. I cannot really form an opinion on pet hair since I no longer have a dog (RIP Benny the dog). Some parts like the tri brush have been updated to be more modular. Now one can just pop off the piece compared to having to use a screwdriver on the older models. The mapping is more consistent with the newer technology so once the device has cleaned a few times it will get it right. I do like the fact that the machine is quieter than its predecessors, the only thing that is very loud is when the machine gets emptied into the tower. I live in a small space, so when it comes to bigger houses it probably won’t bump into furniture as often as it does on mine. Overall, I would recommend this Roomba as an entry robo vacuum, but I would also recommend comparing to other options and make a decision.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Nice little robot vac w/empty station.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I like this Roomba robot vac with the empty dock, My favorite feature is how it will go back to the base to empty its contents and then continue cleaning. Instead of trying to continue cleaning with a full canister like most robot vacuums do.
Unboxing and set up was pretty simple and straightforward setup requires registering a iRobot account and downloading the app. From there I let the robot vac charge for 6 hours straight before it's first use, one complete would be at only has two spinning bristles whereas most newer robot vacs have dual to get the crud and dust out of the corners.
On a single charge this vacuumed my entire 1500 ft² home with one return to the emptying dock to empty the contents of its collection container. I put this in the corner of my dining room out of the way where it doesn't take much space. I also like that the cord rolls up on the back of the emptying dock so you don't have a 6 ft cord lane everywhere in sight or behind a piece of furniture.
All in all I find this a nice single family robot vacuum to use for in between vacuumings. I would highly recommend this inexpensive vacuum that anyone on the fence about purchasing.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba !05. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
It's an upgrade to my S9 Roomba
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Roomba has long been in the forefront of robot vacuums. In the recent past iRobot has come out with the S9 which I use and is considered one of its flagship models. Other models have come and most notably with he addition of a bin. The Roomba has come out with the 105 and 505 models lately and this review would focus on the 105 variant.
Robot vacuum technology has mostly relied on Visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology for mapping rooms. While this has been the standard used by Roomba, it has been a long time coming that Roomba use LIDAR to map rooms. Let’s just say this technology uses lasers to map rooms more efficiently. The LIDAR can be found on the top of the Roomba unit.
The Roomba 105 is pretty much similar to the the 505 variant save for the fact that the latter has a mapping option. And since both use LIDAR, Roomba has the new Room Home app both available in Android and iOS. Setup of the Roomba 105 is pretty much simple. Obviously, you must charge the unit first. Like previous Roombas you would need map your house first. Like the older app, the setup process is similar but definitely has a different UI. Setup takes about thirty minutes. And like the older app, you can do the usual stuff of having the ability to clean the whole house or specifically rooms and also do programming or scheduling.
The unit self (as well as the 505) is fully round unlike the S9 which has a flat side. And like the J series has a bin as well. The bin itself acts as a charging station as well. On one side of the Roomba is a bumper with a sensor for obstacles. On the other side of the Roomba, you can find a removable bin which is can be found on all Roombas. But since this model has a bin, once the Roomba is finished and is docked, the dirt in the internal bin is sucked into the bin. One of my frustrations with my older Roomba is that the bin gets full for every room and often I have to empty the bin while my older S9 does its job negating the need for an automated vacuum. With the bin, I have more comfort that I can have emptying the internal bin every time the 105 docks. The bin itself has disposable bag to collect the dirt from the unit itself. Roomba claims that it can be months for you to empty the bin but my initial use may indicate otherwise. I have only owned the unit over a week, so I am still in the process of evaluating this claim.
Cleaning time of the Roomba 105 is similar to my older S9. But one thing I seem to notice is cleaning pattern seems to be more “organized”. My S9 is now gets lost in cleaning and remapping may be necessary. With the 105 it seems to be addressed and it is definitely due to the LIDAR technology incorporated. But time will only tell.
Overall, the experience of using this Roomba is pretty much the same as my older Roomba save for the convenience of having a bin. If you want to upgrade your Roomba this is a good choice.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great budget-friendly Roomba
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
For those who are familiar with other Roomba models like the J7+, J8+, and J9+, may notice
right off the bat that this Roomba 105 provides a noticeable change in design. As an owner of four Roombas, including the latest Combo 10 Max, I will say that this model is a budget-focused one. Upon unboxing, the 105 immediately felt lighter and has more minimalist design than its J-series models, with a compact auto-empty dock. My primary goal for this model was to vacuum my gym and the surrounding small areas, mostly due to its reliance on LiDAR technology for navigation rather than cameras because often camera-based models tend to pump into furniture. Adding the Roomba 105 to the app was a bit of a hassle. It requires the new "Roomba Home" app, which is a separate download from the classic iRobot app. Having to use two different apps for different Roombas is inconvenient, and the new app feels less intuitive and lacks some of the features found in the original.
After finally getting it set up and allowing it to charge for six hours, the 105's first task was to create a floor map. The LiDAR mapping was incredibly fast and significantly quicker than camera-based mapping, and I was able to observe the real-time mapping process on the app. Once the map was successfully created, I named the rooms and areas. When I ran the vacuum for its first cleaning mission, I noticed it was quieter than my other models and its navigation was impressive, with fewer bumps into furniture and walls. However, the cleaning performance wasn't as good as my J-series Roombas, it could be due to its single roller design. It still did a good job, but it needed to run twice, and it had to return to the dock for emptying and recharging, which took over an hour.
Docking turned out to be a bit tedious. It took about four tries before the Roomba 105 finally docked and started charging. The base was on a carpet with no obvious obstacles, so I suspect the issue was due to the lack of an extended base that some other Roomba models have for better alignment where Roomba runs and sits on. At first, I thought the carpet might be the issue, but after moving the dock around, the problem seemed to resolve itself. Overall, the Roomba 105 is a great budget-friendly option if you need a vacuum for small areas with great mapping that relies on LiDAR. Its compact self-empty dock is also a plus for small spaces.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
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Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Small Robot Vacuum, Great for Compact Rooms
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve been in the iRobot family for years now and I’m very pleased with my robots. However, this one misses the mark and does not collect as much debris as my larger bot. I tried it out on my landing for a few days and unfortunately it missed one string I had seen there on the first day I set it up.
Now, as for design and size it’s perfect for a compact area or dorm. There’s one thing that is important to remember and that is that a robot vacuum doesn’t replace standards vacuums but rather compliments your cleaning routine.
The color is a matte finish with some sheen, the dust box where it collects your mess is shorter and square which I found charming. It certainly isn’t an eyesore in any room.
Setup is really easy and I was cleaning my first and second floor within minutes of unboxing it. You’ll get a spare filter to install once you’re ready,
Overall and good robot vacuum for small spaces but be sure to use your family vacuum for larger messes. I’d definitely recommend this for small spaces.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
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Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Works Great
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Does everything I expected it to do. Picks up small crumbs and vacuums rugs and carpets effectively. The mapping feature is easy to implement and completes the daily routine without needing attention. The only suggestion I have for improvement would be to both charge and empty the dustbin when it returns to base. It makes separate trips now and spends a lot of time going back and forth from base to the cleaning site.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
4 of 5 stars
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love it! Picks up my dogs fur with ease. I'm giving it 4 stars because the battery isnt the strongest
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Mostly satisfied, but a couple of irritations
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am largely satisfied with my Roomba 105 ... just a couple of issues that kinda irritate me:
1 - a few times the robot has failed to get back to the home base before it loses battery power;
2 - the rotating brush seems to fall off fairly often;
Otherwise, I am happy with the robot and its cleaning.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Zoom Zoom Rooms
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Best decision ever! I haven’t had to vacuum in a week. So nice to remove one chore off of the list. Can go out for errands and return to a dirt free floor.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Roomba FTW!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Keeps the house clean. We have a large dog that constantly sheds his coat. This significantly reduces actual need for vacuuming.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Roomba Review
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This robot is great for cleaning around the house. It gets under my tables very nice.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cleaning performance, Mapping, Navigation
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Roomba 105: Good for Daily Cleaning, Not Perfect
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've used this roomba for awhile now. It does what it's supposed to - cleans floors without much work from me. Setup was easy: plug in the dock, connect to the app, and let it map the house.
The navigation works well most of the time. It moves in straight lines and avoids big obstacles, though it sometimes bumps into chair legs. The self-emptying feature is the best part. After cleaning, it empties itself into a bag in the dock. I only have to change the bag every couple months.
It picks up pet hair and crumbs fine on both hardwood and carpet. But it's not perfect - sometimes it misses bigger pieces of debris. The app lets me schedule cleanings or block off areas I don't want it to go. Battery lasts about two hours, enough for my main living areas.
The emptying process is loud - like a quick vacuum noise. It doesn't last long but might surprise you. Maintenance isn't bad. I clean the brushes every few weeks to remove hair. The edge brush works okay but doesn't get everything in corners.
It's good for daily cleaning but won't replace deep cleaning. If you want something to keep floors decent between proper cleanings, this works. The self-emptying is convenient if you don't want to empty the bin often.
Good:
-Self-emptying works well
-Good for pet hair
-Easy to use
Not so good:
-Loud when emptying
-Misses some debris
-No mopping
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from iRobot Team
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Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the Roomba 105. We’re thrilled you are loving your new robot. Three cheers for clean floors!