Product · iRobot
iRobot Roomba 505 Combo: AutoWash dock, pet waste avoidance
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The Roomba 505 Combo packs iRobot's better navigation and avoidance into a robot sized for everyday homes, flats included. It combines ClearView Pro lidar for mapping with PrecisionVision AI that recognises cords, socks and pet waste. That last point is the one to note: few listings commit to avoiding pet accidents by name. Add an AutoWash dock that empties for 75 days and dries the pads with heat, and it is a strong choice for pet owners who mainly have hard floors.
- Dock
- AutoWash, 75-day emptying, heated drying
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- Suction
- Not stated
- Mopping
- DualClean pads, auto-lift on carpet
- Navigation
- ClearView Pro lidar
In its favour
- AutoWash Dock gives 75 days of emptying, pad washing and heated pad drying.
- Mop pads auto-lift when carpet is sensed, so rugs in a living room stay dry.
- PrecisionVision AI recognises cords, socks and pet waste and steers around them.
Good to know
- A washing and drying dock is bulkier than the compact self-empty bases here, and the listing gives no dock size.
- No suction figure in Pa is given, only a comparison with older Roombas.
Our take
Mopping with DualClean pads
The DualClean pads use PerfectEdge to extend outwards, which iRobot says adds 18% more mopping coverage than unextended pads. SmartScrub provides twice the scrubbing depth on coffee and grime. When the robot senses carpet ahead the pads lift automatically, and you can choose vacuum only, mop only, combo, or vacuum first then mop.
Dock and app
The AutoWash dock offers 75 days of auto-emptying, four weeks of mopping and pad washing, continuous pad refreshing and heated pad drying. The mopping supply is half the eight weeks quoted for the Roomba Max 705 Combo, so expect to refill more often.
The Roomba Home app lets you pick rooms or zones, four suction levels and repeat passes for busy areas, and the robot learns which rooms get dirty fastest. Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant are supported.
Suction and floor limits
iRobot quotes 70 times the suction of a Roomba 600 rather than a Pa figure, with a multi-surface rubber brush and an edge-sweeping brush. Recommended surfaces are hardwood, tile and low-pile carpet, so deep rugs are not its target. Battery life is listed at 120 minutes, which is plenty for a flat but may need a top-up in a larger house. Sensors stop it falling down stairs, and lidar mapping works day or night, so evening runs are fine.
How it compares
The Roomba Max 705 Combo upgrades to a heated self-cleaning roller and a longer dock supply. The Xiaomi 5 Pro claims recognition of over 200 objects but does not name pet waste. The 505 is the more compact way into iRobot's AI avoidance.
Verdict
The Roomba 505 Combo suits flats and family homes with hard floors and low carpet, where pets or clutter make smart avoidance valuable. If you want a roller mop and longer dock supply, step up to the Roomba Max 705 Combo. If you have deep carpets or want a stated suction figure, the Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro Omni is better documented.
Compared with alternatives in: Best robot vacuums for small flats, Best robot vacuums that avoid cables, socks and pet mess, iRobot Roomba models compared: Combo, j series and s9+
Amazon listing title: iRobot Roomba® 505 Combo + AutoWash Dock Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop Function