A practical comparison
Roomba 105 Combo: charge-only or AutoEmpty?
The Roomba 105 Combo has two practical U.S. packages: Y314020 includes a charge-only dock, while Y354020 adds an AutoEmpty dock. iRobot also lists the Smoke finish as Y351420. The robot’s core mop routine remains a removable microfiber pad in every package; the station choice changes dust disposal, not mop washing.
Start with the job you want the dock to do
With Y314020, the dock recharges the robot and you empty the robot’s washable combination bin yourself. This is the simpler package if hand-emptying is acceptable and you prefer not to keep a dust bag at the dock. Y354020 and Smoke-finish Y351420 transfer dust to an AutoEmpty bag after the robot returns. iRobot advertises up to 75 days between bag changes, but household frequency and debris affect the real interval. When the bag fills, it still needs replacement.
Neither 105 Combo dock cleans the mop pad. For a wet run, you put water or a compatible solution into the robot’s combo bin, attach the microfiber cloth, and select mop-only or combined mode. Remove and care for the damp cloth afterward. An AutoEmpty label describes a dust task; it does not make the water side of the cleaning routine hands-free.
The robot still has to fit the path
Both 105 Combo pages list a 13.23 by 13.19 by 4.09-inch robot. The AutoEmpty product page lists a 6.45-pound robot; the charge-only page lists 6.27 pounds, so keep each item-page figure with its exact SKU rather than assuming every published weight is interchangeable. Measure the lowest fixed point along the route, including a sofa’s soft skirt, floor transitions and rug edges. A nominal 4.25-inch opening is more comfortable than a gap barely above the listed 4.09-inch body; it is not a route guarantee.
ClearView LiDAR maps rooms, while the app provides room targeting, schedules and keep-out zones. The 105 Combo can vacuum by itself, mop by itself or combine them. iRobot says it detects and avoids carpets during wet modes, but the U.S. materials reviewed here do not give a maximum carpet-pile height. If a thick or fringed rug determines the purchase, do not rely on the feature badge alone: set boundaries or supervise a test before scheduling wet cleaning.
A separate 105X listing is a reference, not a proven upgrade
iRobot also listed the distinct Y352020 Roomba 105X Combo + AutoEmpty offer. Its exact page describes the same broad flat-pad and bagged-dust arrangement, but does not explain what the X suffix changes or establish interchangeable parts with Y354020. That Y352020 offer was out of stock on the checked date. Use its separate 105X assessment to identify the exact SKU or an existing machine, not as evidence that it is a better-performing replacement for the 105 Combo.
Compare similar-looking machines by mop motion
The Roborock Q10 S5+ pairs its 3.9-inch robot with an Auto-Empty dock and a VibraRise 2.0 vibrating cloth. Like the 105 Combo AutoEmpty, its dock handles dust, not mop washing; its different cloth movement and body height may matter more than the shared word “AutoEmpty.” The Q10 S5+ also requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and its manual warns against high-pile carpet.
The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is a different answer if a continuously refreshed roller is the priority. Its 4.69-inch robot and tank-based dock are a larger arrangement, and the station washes and dries the roller. That adds water tanks and dock upkeep; it is not simply a more convenient version of the 105 Combo. The manufacturer’s manual also limits use on high-pile carpet. Compare the charge-only Roomba 105 Combo, 105 Combo + AutoEmpty, Roborock Q10 S5+ and Qrevo Curv 2 Flow for the complete tradeoffs.
Network and capacity are part of the choice
The 105 product pages require 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for robot setup and operation. A phone may return to a 5 GHz band after setup, but the robot itself is not documented for a 5 GHz-only network. iRobot’s support chart lists a 400 ml dry and 200 ml liquid capacity for the 105 Combo washable bin, up to three maps, five hours to recharge and up to 120 minutes of hard-floor runtime in the company’s Home Test Lab; real runtime may vary. It lists 7,000 Pa for the 105 series. These figures describe manufacturer specifications and conditions, not an independent comparison of pickup in your home.
Choose Y314020 if you are comfortable with manual dustbin emptying and want the same basic flat-pad cleaning modes. Choose the AutoEmpty package if bagged dust disposal is the specific task you want to reduce. Choose a different robot if your essential need is an automatically washed and dried mop, a documented thick-carpet allowance, or a 5 GHz-only setup. Before ordering, match the model and color code on the retail offer to the dock you intend to receive.
Manufacturer references: Y314020 Roomba 105 Combo, Y354020 Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty and the iRobot feature and compatibility chart.