iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Review: The Cheapest Roomba With LiDAR
Our verdict: 4 / 5
The Roomba 105 Vac is a simple, sensible first robot. It maps with LiDAR, cleans in neat rows, lets you set keep-out zones and resumes after recharging. You give up self-emptying, mopping and camera obstacle avoidance, and 7,000 Pa is modest for thick carpet. For small homes with hard floors and low rugs, it does the daily job well for little money.
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Not everyone needs a robot that washes its own mops. Plenty of people just want the floor swept every day while they’re at work. That’s the job the Roomba 105 Vac is built for. It’s one of iRobot’s cheapest robots, but it gets LiDAR navigation, which used to be reserved for pricier models.
This review looks at what you get for the money, what’s missing compared with more expensive Roombas, and when it’s worth spending a bit more on the self-emptying version. We based it on iRobot’s published specs and design, not our own home testing, and we flag iRobot’s claims.
It helps to be clear about the trade-off up front. A robot like this replaces the quick daily sweep, not the deep weekly clean. Crumbs under the dining table, dust bunnies under the bed, sand by the front door: that’s its territory. It won’t pull ground-in dirt out of a thick shag rug, and it won’t wash a sticky kitchen floor.
Specs
| Model | Q312020 |
| Released | March 2025 |
| Suction | 7,000 Pa (maker rating) |
| Cleaning system | 3-stage: suction, Multi-Surface brush, Edge-Sweeping brush |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR, cliff sensors |
| Pattern | Neat rows |
| App features | Room targeting, passes, suction levels, keep-out zones, filter life |
| Spot clean | Up to 5 minutes in one area |
| Recharge and resume | Yes |
| Voice | Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant |
| Dock | Charging only (no self-empty) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What we like
LiDAR at a starter price
The biggest difference between a cheap robot and a good one is navigation. Bump-and-go robots wander and miss spots. Gyro robots do rows but lose track of where they are. The 105 Vac uses LiDAR, so it builds a real map, cleans in tidy rows and knows when it’s done. That’s what makes features like room targeting and keep-out zones work reliably.
The app gives you real control
Through the Roomba Home app you can pick which rooms to clean, set how many passes it makes and choose suction levels. Keep-out zones are handy around pet bowls or a tangle of cables behind the TV. The app also shows filter life, which is easy to forget. Our guide on replacing robot vacuum filters shows how to swap it.
Spot clean for the obvious mess
Spill a bowl of cereal? Spot cleaning keeps the robot working one area for up to five minutes. It’s a small feature that people end up using a lot.
Finishes big jobs
Recharge and resume means that if the battery runs low, it goes back to charge and then picks up where it stopped. In a larger home, that’s the difference between a finished clean and half a house.
Three ways to start it
Buttons on the robot, the app, or a voice assistant. That makes it easy for kids or older relatives to use without opening an app.
Easy to live with
There’s no water tank to refill, no dirty water to pour out and no bags to buy. The only consumables are the filter and, eventually, the brushes. For people who have never owned a robot and want to see whether it fits their routine, that low commitment is a real plus.
What could be better
- No self-emptying. You empty the small bin yourself after every run or two. The 105 self-empty version or the Roomba 104 2-in-1 handles that.
- 7,000 Pa is modest. Fine for hard floors and low-pile rugs, weaker on thick carpet.
- No camera. It steers around furniture but can’t recognize cords, socks or pet waste.
- No mopping. The Roomba 105 Combo adds a mop pad.
Who should buy it
- First-time robot owners on a budget
- Apartments and small homes with hard floor
- People who don’t mind emptying a bin
- Renters who want something simple and portable
Who should skip it
- Pet homes with heavy shedding. The bin will fill fast.
- Thick-carpet homes
- Anyone who wants hands-free self-emptying
Roomba 105 Vac vs Roomba 105 Combo
| Roomba 105 Vac | Roomba 105 Combo | |
|---|---|---|
| Suction (maker) | 7,000 Pa | 7,000 Pa |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR | ClearView LiDAR |
| Mopping | No | Yes |
| Self-empty | No | No |
| Best for | Dry vacuuming only | Vacuum plus light mopping |
| Check price | Roomba 105 Vac | Roomba 105 Combo |
The two share the same core. Add the Combo only if you want light mopping on hard floors. Otherwise, the Vac is the simpler buy.
Tips to get the most out of it
- Empty the bin after every run. A full bin cuts suction fast, as we explain in can a full dustbin reduce vacuum performance.
- Use keep-out zones around cables and pet bowls.
- Run it daily on hard floors. Little and often works better than long weekly runs for a small bin.
- Wipe the cliff sensors monthly.
- Lift light rugs with tassels, or mark them as keep-out zones.
FAQ
Does the Roomba 105 Vac empty itself?
No. The 105 Vac has a charging dock only, so you empty the bin by hand. iRobot sells self-emptying versions in the 100 series.
Does the Roomba 105 Vac have LiDAR?
Yes. It uses ClearView LiDAR to map your home and clean in neat rows.
Is the Roomba 105 Vac good for pet hair?
It handles light shedding on hard floors. For heavy shedders, a self-emptying model with rubber brushes is a better fit, because the small bin fills quickly.
Can you control the Roomba 105 Vac with Alexa?
Yes. It works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, as well as the Roomba Home app and buttons on the robot.
Final word
The Roomba 105 Vac is a no-fuss starter robot with the one feature budget robots usually skip: proper LiDAR mapping. It suits small homes with mostly hard floors and owners who don’t mind emptying a bin. If you have pets or a lot of carpet, spend more on a self-emptying model with stronger suction.