iRobot slapped “Max” on this model and charged premium prices. Everyone’s pushing it as the future of hands-free cleaning. Here’s what the reviews actually reveal: the Roomba Max 705 is a genuinely impressive upgrade for owners of older Roombas, with LiDAR navigation that finally stops the bumper-car routine and cleaning speeds that embarrass the previous generation. But dig into verified owner experiences, and you’ll find a robot that loses WiFi connectivity at alarming rates, ships without a physical manual, and has a side brush that pops off mid-clean because someone decided screws were passé. At around $550-$600, you’re buying a capable vacuum with frustrating blind spots. Here’s the full breakdown from someone who believes you deserve the truth before spending half a grand.

The verdict? The Roomba Max 705 earns roughly 4 stars from verified owners, with passionate praise from upgraders and harsh criticism from those who hit connectivity walls. When it works, it’s remarkable. When it doesn’t, customer support sends you articles instead of solutions.

Conclusion

The Roomba Max 705 represents a genuine leap forward for iRobot. Users upgrading from S9+, i7, or 600-series models consistently describe it as “heads and shoulders” above their previous robots. The LiDAR navigation means it doesn’t bump into walls and furniture like camera-based predecessors. One owner watched it complete his apartment in 1 hour and 1 minute with 46% battery remaining—the same space took his S9+ three to four hours with multiple recharges. That’s not incremental improvement. That’s a generational leap.

But the Max 705 also inherits iRobot’s troubling pattern of software instability and parts unavailability. Multiple owners report WiFi disconnection that can’t be fixed through the app, requiring factory resets or, in one case, being told to change their entire network’s SSID and password. The side brush pops off during cleaning—a downgrade from the S9+’s screw-on design. And as of late 2025, replacement caster wheels simply aren’t available.

Key Strengths

LiDAR Navigation That Actually Works

The Max 705 uses LiDAR instead of camera-based navigation, and owners notice immediately. One reviewer described watching it scan their home, map it out, and clean the floors with surgical precision—no bumping into walls, no crashing into furniture legs. Another noted it “does not bump into things” unlike their previous Roomba, which apparently treated baseboards as optional obstacles. For homes with delicate furniture or dark rooms where cameras struggle, this is the upgrade that matters.

The mapping intelligence impresses consistently. The robot identifies rooms automatically and lets you name them in the app. One owner mentioned the live GPS-like tracking, which shows exactly where the robot is cleaning in real time. Multiple reviewers praise how the map stays accurate even after rearranging furniture. When a floor fan caused previous Roombas to get stuck, the Max 705 got stuck once, freed itself, and now avoids it entirely.

Dramatically Faster Cleaning

Speed improvements aren’t subtle. One detailed review compared the Max 705 directly to their S9+: the new robot vacuumed six rooms in 1 hour and 1 minute with 46% battery remaining. The S9+ took three to four hours for the same space with multiple recharges. Mapping completed in 10 minutes versus the S9+’s much longer process. Multiple owners confirm their floors get cleaned faster and more efficiently than any previous Roomba they’ve owned.

Significantly Quieter Operation

Noise matters when you’re running a robot while working from home. The Max 705 earns consistent praise for quiet operation, especially on smart mode. One owner called it “dead quiet” compared to their S9+. Even at maximum suction, it runs considerably quieter than previous generations. The self-emptying cycle remains loud—one reviewer learned this the hard way at midnight when it woke the entire house—but the actual vacuuming stays unobtrusive.

Strong Pet Hair Performance for Most Homes

Pet owners represent a significant portion of positive reviews. A household with three dogs praised never having to manually empty the dustbin, with the robot handling multiple emptying cycles per cleaning session. Owners with cats, golden retrievers, collies, and hound dogs report clean floors and significantly reduced visible pet hair. One reviewer with a German shepherd specifically noted it handles the shedding without trouble. The robot recognizes carpet transitions and increases suction automatically.

Self-Emptying That Works (Usually)

The auto-empty dock functions as advertised for most owners. Users appreciate not touching the dustbin for weeks at a time, simply replacing the sealed bag periodically. One owner described throwing away the bag every several weeks instead of emptying manually every day. For homes with moderate debris and regular cleaning schedules, this genuinely reduces maintenance.

Where It Falls Short

WiFi Connectivity Is a Gamble

This is the most damaging feedback pattern. Multiple owners report the robot working perfectly for weeks before losing WiFi connection permanently. One detailed review describes a $600 Roomba that worked for six weeks then couldn’t reconnect despite multiple attempts. Customer support’s solution? Change the entire network’s SSID and password to remove special characters. The owner refused, noting every other device connects fine. Another described spending two weeks troubleshooting a WiFi issue before being told it was their problem, only to miss Amazon’s return window.

When WiFi fails, the app becomes useless. Scheduled cleanings stop working. Room selection disappears. The “smart” features that justify the premium price become inaccessible. One particularly frustrated owner noted it’s the only device in their home that behaves this way.

The Side Brush Design Flaw

The S9+ secured its side brush with a screw. The Max 705 uses a snap-on design, and multiple owners report it popping off during cleaning. One review describes the brush falling off during the very first use, lost somewhere under furniture. Another notes the brush came off repeatedly, calling it an “unbelievably horrible design flaw” that should have been caught in testing. For a premium robot, requiring owners to hunt for lost parts is unacceptable.

No Physical Manual

Documentation exists only within the app. Multiple reviewers specifically criticize this decision. One noted the learning curve would be painful for first-time robot vacuum owners because “there is no hard copy of the owner’s manual.” Another had to call customer care just to get started, praising the support rep but questioning why setup required a phone call. For a $600 product, including printed instructions seems reasonable.

Multi-Floor Homes Suffer

The Max 705 struggles with multi-story homes in ways that border on unusable. One detailed review describes weeks of frustration: moving the charging dock between floors confuses the robot. It creates duplicate maps. Scheduled cleanings never work. The owner has to manually press the button every single time because the vacuum doesn’t know where it is. Another owner notes the robot won’t clean a sunken room (one step down) even when physically placed there, because it must navigate to each space on its own power to maintain location awareness. For multi-floor homes, you essentially need a dock on each level—and iRobot doesn’t sell them separately.

Replacement Parts Don’t Exist

This mirrors my experience with French car parts, and it’s equally frustrating. Multiple owners report the caster wheel isn’t available for purchase as of late 2025. Aftermarket options don’t fit. iRobot won’t sell direct replacements or provide availability timelines. One reviewer called it “very terrible customer service” despite loving the product. When parts wear out on a premium robot, owners expect repair options—not obsolescence.

Pet Hair Performance Varies

While many pet owners praise the Max 705, a notable minority report disappointing results. One owner with two dogs describes the vacuum rolling dog hair into clumps and leaving them on the floor instead of vacuuming them up. Another rates pet hair pickup as “0/10” specifically. Several mention the dustbin clogging, the auto-empty failing to actually empty, and finding the vacuum packed with debris after runs it claimed completed successfully. Heavy-shedding homes may need to clean the robot itself more often than expected.

Real-World Performance: What Users Actually Experience

The Good (Consistent Praise)

• Hard floor performance is excellent. Multiple reviewers with hardwood, tile, and laminate report their floors “look awesome” with regular runs.
• Mapping updates dynamically. The robot learns obstacles, updates room layouts, and maintains accuracy over time.
• Edge cleaning improved significantly. One owner notes it “takes its time and goes around chair legs a couple of times” for thorough coverage.
• App control works well when connected. Room selection by tapping the map, routine adjustments, and real-time tracking earn praise.
• Upgraders are overwhelmingly positive. Those coming from older Roombas (600 series, S9+, i7, J6) consistently describe massive improvements.

The Bad (Recurring Complaints)

• WiFi reliability is the dealbreaker. When it disconnects, recovery ranges from frustrating to impossible without factory reset.
• The app interface needs work. Multiple users find it less intuitive than previous iRobot apps, with confusing room division controls.
• Self-emptying clogs with heavy debris. One owner’s unit pretended to empty for weeks while the chute was completely blocked.
• Quality control concerns. At least one reviewer received a clearly used unit from Amazon with hair in the rollers and dirt in the bag.
• Robot starts randomly. One owner reports it activates at unscheduled hours with no way to stop it.

The Pattern

What emerges from verified owner reviews is a robot that delivers genuine innovation—when it works. The LiDAR navigation, cleaning speed, and mapping intelligence represent real advances. But iRobot’s software reliability and customer support haven’t kept pace with hardware improvements. Too many owners describe robots that worked perfectly for weeks or months before developing issues that support couldn’t resolve. Buying through Amazon for return protection is advice multiple reviewers offer.

Specifications at a Glance

Who Should Buy the Roomba Max 705

• Upgraders from older Roombas who want dramatically better navigation, speed, and mapping without learning a new ecosystem
• Single-floor homeowners where multi-level complications don’t apply
• Households with stable WiFi and no special characters in network passwords
• Pet owners with moderate shedding who can monitor and maintain the robot regularly
• Tech-comfortable users who don’t need printed manuals and enjoy app-based configuration
• Those already invested in iRobot with compatible consumables from previous models
• Buyers purchasing through Amazon specifically for the return policy if issues arise

Who Should Skip This One

• Multi-floor home owners unless you’re prepared to buy multiple docks or accept significant limitations
• First-time robot vacuum buyers who expect clear documentation and intuitive setup
• Heavy-shedding pet households that need reliable performance without constant maintenance
• Anyone with complex WiFi setups or special characters in network credentials
• Set-and-forget buyers who want zero intervention once scheduled
• Those who value repair options since replacement parts availability is poor
• Travelers who run vacuums remotely since WiFi disconnection may strand your robot
• Anyone frustrated by customer service runarounds as iRobot support receives mixed reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Roomba Max 705 better than the S9+?

Yes, significantly. Multiple owners upgrading from the S9+ report the Max 705 cleans faster (1 hour versus 3-4 hours for the same space), runs quieter, and navigates more intelligently with LiDAR. The S9+ bumped into furniture; the Max 705 avoids it. Battery efficiency improved dramatically, with owners reporting 40-50% charge remaining after full-home cleans.

Does the Roomba Max 705 work for pet hair?

For most owners, yes. Households with dogs and cats consistently report clean floors and effective fur pickup. However, some owners with heavy-shedding pets report the robot rolling hair into clumps or the auto-empty clogging frequently. Results seem to depend on hair type, floor surfaces, and how often you run the robot.

How loud is the self-emptying base?

Very loud for the 10 seconds it runs. One owner learned this at midnight when the emptying cycle woke their entire house. The actual vacuuming is notably quiet, but schedule cleanings when you can tolerate brief but intense noise during emptying.

Can I use the Max 705 on multiple floors?

Technically yes, but expect frustration. The robot creates maps based on dock location. Moving the dock confuses it, creates duplicate maps, and breaks scheduled cleanings. One owner spent weeks troubleshooting and still has to manually start every cleaning. iRobot recommends a dock on each floor, but doesn’t sell standalone docks.

What happens when WiFi disconnects?

This is a common problem with no consistent solution. Some owners factory reset successfully. Others spend weeks troubleshooting with customer support. One was told to change their entire network’s SSID and password. The “reconnect WiFi” feature in the app doesn’t reliably work. If your unit loses connection, prepare for potential hassle.

Why does the side brush keep falling off?

Design choice. The S9+ used a screw; the Max 705 snaps on. Multiple owners report it popping off during cleaning. iRobot apparently prioritized quick replacement over secure attachment. Check after each run until you know if your unit has this issue.

Should I buy through Amazon?

Multiple reviewers explicitly recommend this. Amazon’s return policy provides protection if you get a defective unit or experience the WiFi issues that plague some owners. iRobot’s direct warranty process receives mixed reviews for responsiveness.