It might come as a surprise that “roomba” isn’t the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital “R” that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a generic trademark. Roombas are just robot vacuums made by iRobot, and looking for the best Roombas is a much more specific task than looking for the best robot vacuums in general. However, Roomba’s Band-Aid or Kleenex level fame really does prove just how iconic iRobot has become in the world of automated floor cleaners.
There’s a good reason for that: Not only was iRobot first to the robot vacuum party, but the company has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but if you’re looking for the best Roomba today, there are only a handful of models you need to know in 2025.
Meet the new 2025 Roomba lineup from iRobot
iRobot released four new Roomba series in March 2025, deviating from its (unofficial) summer release schedule. I think iRobot had two reasons to hurry: the spring release of the top robot vacuums from CES and the company’s rocky financial situation. As someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, I’ll be the first to tell you that Roombas were flopping in a sea of smarter, more fairly-priced robot vacs from the likes of Roborock and Shark.
The new Roomba 105, Roomba 205, Roomba Plus 405, and Roomba Plus 505 series are further broken down into eight total models, many with completely different physical designs that don’t scream “classic Roomba.”
iRobot is playing catch-up with its competition, and for the first time, you can buy Roombas that use LiDAR for smart mapping, Roombas with dual spinning mopping pads, and a Roomba that compacts its own dust rather than self-emptying. Despite such innovations, the new 2025 Roombas are surprisingly affordable, especially compared to past Roombas (which are now very easy to find on sale).
Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups
How to tell the difference between the Roomba models
The iRobot Roomba 105. The Roomba Combo i5+. The Roomba Combo j7+ (not to be confused with the Roomba j7). The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but we can teach you.
When shopping for a Roomba, you’ll choose from what I call iRobot’s core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series sold on iRobot’s website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 105, 205, or 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).
A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have “Combo” in the title. “Max” is a new Roomba term introduced with the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a hybrid Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, “Essential” means “most basic” in the Roomba family, meaning no smart mapping.
Testing the Roomba Combo 10 Max.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Testing the Roomba Combo j7+.
Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
So, which Roomba is best for you? I’ve tested nearly every Roomba released since 2019, and I regularly update this guide to the best Roombas vacuums throughout the year. (As for the newest Roombas, I’ve already gotten my hands on one series, with testing of the other three in the works.) After comparing suction, pet hair pickup, mopping, smart mapping, small obstacle detection, and price, I chose the Roombas that offer the best value.
UPDATE: Apr. 27, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT After testing the new Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, I’ve added it to this guide. iRobot also released the Roomba 105, Roomba Plus 405, and Roomba Plus 505 in March. I’m in the process of testing them, and will update this guide accordingly based on my hands-on reviews.