iRobot Roomba 205 vs iRobot Roomba 415X

The iRobot Roomba 415X, because it adds full mopping, a self-emptying AutoWash dock, and roughly three times the runtime per charge that the vacuum-only Roomba 205 doesn't have. The Roomba 205's real strength is its lower price and a smaller charging footprint.

Mopping. The Roomba 415X is a full vacuum-and-mop combo with an AutoWash dock that washes and dries its own mop pads, while the Roomba 205 is vacuum-only with no mopping, detergent compatibility or auto mop features at all.

No. Instead of a self-emptying dock, the Roomba 205 uses an internal DustCompactor that presses debris down inside the robot itself, so it needs emptying less often without the bulk of a bagged auto-empty tower.

About three times longer. The Roomba 415X is rated for 360 minutes against the Roomba 205's 120 minutes, a gap that matters most in larger homes.

Buyers on a tighter budget who only need vacuuming, prefer a compact charging base over a bulky dock, and are cleaning a smaller or single-level home.

Buyers who want mopping and vacuuming handled in one automated routine, a dock that empties, washes and dries itself, and enough battery to cover a full multi-room home in one run.