What's in the Box and First Setup
The Roomba 1020 Combo is the same robot as the Roomba 105 Combo + AutoEmpty — iRobot sells it under a different model number through other retailers. I tested the whole Roomba 104/105 family as one robot, and everything on this page applies to the 1020 Combo.
In the box: the robot, the AutoEmpty Dock, and the microfiber mop pad attachment that clips on for combo runs. Setup runs through the Roomba Home app, and the first-time firmware update is mandatory — plan on 20–30 minutes. In my testing, one 105-family unit stalled on that update and had to be removed from the app and set up again twice before it finished. The app shows progress in two places that don't always agree, and some owners will need to reset Wi-Fi to recover.
Once it's mapped, the dock needs a hard-floor spot. The charging contacts barely touch when the robot docks, and the mop-version dock has prongs that look like they take a drip tray, but no tray comes in the box. A wet pad parks on the floor after every combo run, so keep it off carpet and rugs.
Cleaning Performance: What It Actually Picks Up
Hard Floor & Tile Performance
Hassle Free scored 5/10, mostly because of setup — once running, hard floors are where this robot is most comfortable. ClearView LiDAR under the dome maps the house quickly and accurately, and the robot vacuums in tight straight rows. It doesn't need a camera, so it cleans in the dark. LiDAR is the one spec where Roomba has finally caught up with the rest of the category.
Carpet and Pet Hair
Carpet Cleaning scored 6/10 — decent vacuuming for the tier. Hair Tangle scored 5/10. It's a single brush roller with no comb and no split design, and after the long-hair test I saw the standard Roomba wrap at the ends. There's a small cleaning tool with a cutter in the dock, but that's cleanup, not anti-tangle hardware. Split-brush Roborocks and tri-cut Dreame and Mova brushes handle long hair noticeably better.
Mopping Performance
Mop Performance scored 5.5/10. The pad drags across the floor — no lift, no down-pressure, no scrubbing motion. The water pump keeps it wet, and that's the extent of the mopping. Even so, the combo pulled up the muddy paw prints in the corner test better than I expected, so for light everyday wipe-ups it's serviceable. On a big mess it runs out of ability fast. Robots in the same and lower tiers routinely lift their pads now; this one can't.
Edge and Corner Cleaning
One side brush that doesn't extend, and a mop pad that doesn't reach out. On the corner test it was the mop that impressed, not the reach — edges get the basic treatment.
Obstacle Avoidance
Obstacle Avoidance scored 1.5/10 — the second-lowest score in my testing, and a Fail on Ad vs Reality. The front sensor is for docking, not obstacles. If something is taller than about 3 inches the LiDAR may catch it, and if it's heavy enough to trip the bumper the robot turns. Cables, small toys and low items get run over. There's no threshold-climbing system either. Pick up the floor before every run.
The Dock and the Real Maintenance Story
The AutoEmpty Dock is the 1020 Combo's best feature. It holds up to 75 days of debris in a bag that seals when you lift it out, and on the combo it emptied cleanly after the muddy paw print test — better than the Roomba Plus 405 and Max 705 did in my testing. There's no mop washing, no drying, and no solution tank; the pad gets rinsed by hand.
The robot's own dust bin is small — it shares the chassis with the water tank — and the paper filter is small too. The manual says clean it every two weeks. Cost to own lands Low–Moderate: dust bags are the main recurring cost, mop pads wash and reuse, and generic accessory kits cover bags, brushes and filters for less than OEM parts.
The Roomba App Experience
The redesigned Roomba Home app is a real step up from the old iRobot app. Voice prompts are clear, the room editor works (split, name, keep-out zones, no-mop zones), and clean zones are well supported. The app leans on routines and automations rather than manual settings. What's missing: no wetness setting for the mop, no room sequencing, and the suction profiles (light, normal, deep, smart) aren't explained in the app. Physical home and start buttons on top of the robot are a nice touch.
What I'd Change About the Roomba 1020 Combo
- Lift the mop pad — or add down-pressure. A drag pad is a generation behind at any price.
- Add real obstacle avoidance. The front sensor should see a cable, not just the dock.
- Swap the single roller for a split or combed brush, and put a drip tray in the box.
Roomba 1110 Combo vs the Competition
Roomba 1020 Combo vs Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen 2
My #1 alternative for this one is the Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen 2. It fixes the 1020's biggest weakness — the mop. 12N TurboPress pressure actually scrubs, the dock washes pads in 212°F hot water, and suction jumps to 26,000 Pa. It's a price tier up (Mid-Range), but the gap in cleaning is much bigger than the gap in price.
Roomba 1020 Combo vs Roborock Qrevo S Pro
The closest competitor at a budget score. Hot-water mop pad washing and hot-air drying — features the 1020's dock doesn't have at all — plus 18,500 Pa suction and Roborock's proven app and LiDAR. It still uses a single brush roller, so heavy long-hair homes should look at the Mova.
Roomba 1020 Combo vs Dreame D20 Pro Plus
The budget pick for pet homes. 13,000 Pa suction and a DuoBrush dual roller that resists hair tangling, with a bagged auto-empty dock that can sit on carpet thanks to its drive-up ramp. Like the 1020, its mop just drags — treat it as a vacuum-only robot and it beats the 1020 where it counts.
Roomba 1020 Combo vs Roomba 105 Combo
Same robot. If the 105 Combo + AutoEmpty is on a better sale than the 1020, buy whichever is cheaper that day — the verdict and the hardware are identical.