Roomba Max 705 UK Review: Is the Hype Real?

Short answer: the Roomba Max 705 is iRobot's flagship 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop, with LiDAR navigation, a self-cleaning roller mop and a dock that empties, washes and dries. It is a strong hands-free cleaner for daily dust, but like any robot it cannot deal with a wet spill on demand — which is where a cordless wet and dry cleaner comes in.

If you are thinking of upgrading from a steam mop or an older robot because it could not handle sticky spills or the edges, the Max 705 is the sort of high-end robot people talk about. Here is what the hype is actually about, and where it still leaves a gap.

Roomba Max 705: what you are actually getting

LiDAR mapping and AI obstacle avoidance for reliable navigation around a busy home.
A self-cleaning roller mop plus a dock that auto-empties debris and washes and dries the mop.
Dual rubber brushes aimed at pet hair and mixed floor types.
A premium price, and mopping that is a light wipe rather than active scrubbing.

Navigation and cleaning in real homes

iRobot has long had one of the better mapping and obstacle-avoidance systems, and adding LiDAR sharpens that further. For daily dust, pet hair and general upkeep across open rooms, a robot like this genuinely earns its keep by running while you are out.

The mopping caveat

Robot mopping suits light, everyday marks. It does not replace scrubbing a dried-on spill or lifting a wet mess the moment it happens. If your frustration with a previous machine was that a steam mop did not pick up crumbs, or a robot could not manage a sticky spill, that limitation still applies to even a flagship robot.

Reading the marketing honestly

Headline suction claims such as "175x more" are measured against much older Roomba models, not modern rivals, so treat them as marketing rather than a like-for-like figure. Launch prices on flagship robots are also high and tend to settle lower over time, so judge value at the real selling price.

Where a wet and dry cleaner fits alongside a robot

Many people keep a robot for the daily dust job and add a cordless wet and dry cleaner for the wet spills and stuck-on mess a robot cannot mop up mid-cycle. For the wider comparison see our best vacuum cleaner UK guide and our wet dry vacuum cleaner buyer's guide, and for pet-specific advice our robot vacuum and mop for pet hair guide.

The Dreame H12 Dual wet and dry floor cleaner

For the wet spills a robot cannot mop up on demand, the Dreame H12 Dual is a cordless wet and dry cleaner you push over the mess: it vacuums, mops, self-cleans and hot-air dries at 55°C in one pass, with 16000Pa suction and separate clean and dirty tanks. It suits sealed hard floors and low-pile rugs, costs £477.50 inc. VAT with free UK delivery, 30-day returns and a 12-month UK warranty, and is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 300 reviews.

Add the wet and dry cleaner a robot cannot replace

View the Dreame H12 Dual — £477.50

Free UK delivery · 30-day returns · 12-month UK warranty

Frequently asked questions

Is the Roomba Max 705 worth the hype?

For hands-free daily cleaning it is a capable flagship, with LiDAR navigation and a dock that empties, washes and dries the mop. Just remember its mopping is a light wipe, so it is best judged as a daily-upkeep robot rather than a deep spill cleaner.

Can the Roomba Max 705 handle wet spills?

Not really. Like any robot it keeps daily dust down and lightly mops, but it cannot scrub a dried-on spill or lift a wet mess the moment it happens. For that you want a cordless wet and dry cleaner you can push over the mess straight away.

Is the '175x more suction' claim meaningful?

It is a technically valid figure but is measured against much older Roomba models rather than current rivals, so it is more marketing than a like-for-like comparison. Judge any robot on real-world reviews and its actual selling price.