The iRobot Roomba 104 Vac, model Q311020, was reported at $130 through Amazon on November 27, 2025. Engadget described that price as roughly 48% below a stated $250 regular price and a record low at the time. However, this is a historical deal—not a price that should be treated as current without checking the Amazon listing.
The 104 Vac is an entry-level, vacuum-only robot. It may be a sensible first robot vacuum for everyday dust and hair, particularly in homes with hard floors, but it does not mop and should not be confused with iRobot’s more automated premium models.
What the Black Friday deal included
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Product | iRobot Roomba 104 Vac |
| Model | Q311020 |
| Historical deal price | $130 |
| Stated regular price | $250 |
| Reported discount | Approximately 48% |
| Retailer | Amazon |
| Deal date | November 27, 2025 |
Engadget’s original article reported $130, while some of its archive and index pages later displayed $150 for what appears to be the same promotion. That may reflect a price change, an update mismatch, or different listing information. The safest conclusion is that $130 was the price reported in the deal article, while $150 also appeared in related listings.
Black Friday 2025 fell on November 28. Any current promotion should be described separately and verified at checkout rather than presented as a continuation of the 2025 offer.
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#1 Best Overall
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION. Find, reach and eliminate messes with the combined power of 70X more suction*, multi-surface brush, 20% better edge and corner cleaning with an edge-sweeping brush, to devour dirt and dust bunnies, plus a microfiber mop pad to leave floors shiny.
- UP TO 75 DAYS HANDS-FREE CLEANING. Dirt and dust stay gone because it empties into the AutoEmpty dock with a bag that traps 99% of allergens as small as 0.7 microns. That means no mess or cloud of dust when you empty it. Just drop the used bag into the trash and put a new one in the base.
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- RUGS STAY DRY WHILE MOPPING. Unlike other cleaning robots, the Roomba 104 Combo Robot automatically detects and avoids carpets while mopping so your rugs stay dry – no complex programming required.
- FULLY CUSTOM CLEANING. Choose from settings including vac only, mop only, or combo vac-mop. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes, levels of suction power, and amount of mopping solution pumped onto the microfiber mopping pad.
What the Roomba 104 Vac can do
According to Engadget’s deal coverage, the Roomba 104 Vac offers:
- Vacuuming for dust and hair
- Four suction levels
- LiDAR-based mapping and navigation
- Room-specific cleaning and scheduling through the Roomba Home app
- Spot-cleaning functionality
- A brush designed to help clean corners
- Automatic return to its charging dock
- Offline cleaning and charging
These features make it more appealing than a very basic random-navigation robot. Mapping can help the robot clean rooms in a more organized way and lets users schedule particular areas instead of starting the entire home every time.
Rank #2
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION. 3-Stage Cleaning includes 70X more power-lifting suction*, a Multi-Surface brush, and Edge-Sweeping brush to devour dirt and dust bunnies and leave floors barefoot clean. *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots.
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and providea precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- FULLY CUSTOM & TARGETED CLEANING. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes and levels of suction power.
- EASY-TO-USE ROOMBA HOME APP. Simply tap to set a custom clean, get time estimates, check on the filter life, or create keep-out zones to avoid specific areas
- EXTRA DIRT - SPOT CLEANING IS ON IT. Easily target the places where your floors need extra attention, with spot cleaning, your robot repeatedly cleans in one area for up to 5 minutes.
“Offline operation” should be interpreted narrowly. The source says the robot can clean and charge without an app or internet connection; that does not establish that initial setup, room labels, scheduling, firmware updates, remote controls, or smart-home integrations all work offline.
What you should not assume it includes
No mopping
The clearest limitation is that this is a vacuum-only Roomba. It does not replace a mop, and it is not a Roomba Combo model. That is a disadvantage for shoppers seeking one machine for both dry debris and hard-floor mopping, but it can be an advantage for buyers who already own a mop and prefer a simpler robot with fewer wet-cleaning parts to maintain.
Rank #3
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION*. 3-Stage Cleaning includes 70X more power-lifting suction*, a Multi-Surface brush, and Edge-Sweeping brush to devour dirt and dust bunnies and leave floors barefoot clean. *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- FULLY CUSTOM AND TARGETED CLEANING. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes and levels of suction power.
- EASY-TO-USE ROOMBA HOME APP. Simply tap to set a custom clean, get time estimates, check on the filter life, or create keep-out zones to avoid specific areas.
- EXTRA DIRT- SPOT CLEANING IS ON IT. Easily target the places where your floors need extra attention, with spot cleaning, your robot repeatedly cleans in one area for up to 5 minutes.
No confirmed self-emptying dock
The deal coverage describes a charging dock, not a self-emptying base. Unless the exact Amazon package explicitly says otherwise, plan on emptying the robot’s dustbin manually. Do not assume that a Roomba with mapping also includes automatic dust disposal.
Mapping is not the same as obstacle recognition
LiDAR mapping can help with navigation and room layouts, but it does not by itself prove that the robot can identify and avoid cords, socks, toys, pet bowls, or pet accidents. The available coverage does not establish the 104 Vac’s full obstacle-avoidance system, camera-based object recognition, carpet behavior, multi-floor mapping, or virtual-barrier features.
Rank #4
- UP TO 75 DAYS HANDS-FREE CLEANING. Dirt and dust stay gone because it empties into the AutoEmpty dock with a bag that traps 99% of allergens as small as 0.7 microns. That means no mess or cloud of dust when you empty it. Just drop the used bag into the trash and put a new one in the base.
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION. Find, reach and eliminate messes with the combined power of 70X more suction*, multi-surface brush, 20% better edge and corner cleaning with an edge-sweeping brush, to devour dirt and dust bunnies, plus a microfiber mop pad to leave floors shiny.
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- RUGS STAY DRY WHILE MOPPING. Unlike other cleaning robots, the Roomba 105 Combo Robot automatically detects and avoids carpets while mopping so your rugs stay dry – no complex programming required.
- FULLY CUSTOM CLEANING. Choose from settings including vac only, mop only, or combo vac-mop. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes, levels of suction power, and amount of mopping solution pumped onto the microfiber mopping pad.
Who should buy it?
The Roomba 104 Vac made the most sense at $130 for:
- A first-time robot-vacuum buyer
- A home with mostly hard flooring
- Someone who wants automated daily pickup of dust, crumbs, and hair
- A user who values room scheduling but does not need mopping
- A household comfortable with manually emptying and maintaining the robot
- A buyer who prefers an established brand over an unknown budget model
It is best viewed as an affordable maintenance cleaner, not a replacement for occasional deep vacuuming. Performance may vary with thick carpet, high thresholds, dark surfaces, tight furniture, and cluttered floors.
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- UP TO 75 DAYS HANDS-FREE CLEANING. Dirt and dust stay gone because it empties into the AutoEmpty dock with a bag that traps 99% of allergens as small as 0.7 microns- That means no mess or cloud of dust when you empty it- Just drop the used bag into the trash and put a new one in the base.
- DEVOURS DIRT WITH 70X MORE POWER-LIFTING SUCTION. 3-Stage Cleaning includes 70X more power-lifting suction*, a Multi-Surface brush, and Edge-Sweeping brush to devour dirt and dust bunnies and leave floors barefoot clean *As compared to Roomba 600 series robots
- SUPER-SMART MAPPING AND NAVIGATION. ClearView LiDAR quickly maps your home to maximize coverage and provide a precise clean while steering smoothly around obstacles and specialized sensors prevent falling down stairs.
- FULLY CUSTOM & TARGETED CLEANING. Schedule and target rooms based on your daily routine and adjust the number of cleaning passes and levels of suction power.
- EASY-TO-USE ROOMBA HOME APP. Simply tap to set a custom clean, get time estimates, check on the filter life, or create keep-out zones to avoid specific areas.
Who should skip it?
Consider a different model if you need:
- Vacuuming and mopping in one device
- An auto-emptying dustbin
- Self-washing or self-drying mop hardware
- Advanced recognition of cords, toys, or pet waste
- Proven deep-cleaning performance on thick carpet
- A largely maintenance-free cleaning system
Pet owners should also be realistic about preparation. Loose toys, cords, bowls, and accidents can still create problems when a robot is sent out unattended, regardless of its brand or mapping capability.
What to check before buying the listing
- Confirm the model: The listing should identify the Roomba 104 Vac and model Q311020.
- Check the condition: Make sure it is new rather than renewed or refurbished if that matters to you.
- Review the seller: Check whether it is sold and shipped by Amazon, iRobot, or a third-party seller.
- Check the package: Confirm that the charging dock and expected accessories are included.
- Read the checkout price: Look for coupons, account-specific promotions, or prices that change after selecting a variation.
- Review returns and warranty: These are especially important for a connected appliance.
- Check support factors: Verify replacement brush and filter availability and compatibility with the current Roomba Home app.
iRobot’s financial difficulties were part of the context surrounding the original deal. That does not prove that this product is unsupported, but it makes current warranty service, app compatibility, software support, and replacement-part availability worth checking before purchase. The company’s official site is iRobot.com.
How it compares with the main alternatives
| If your priority is… | Look for… | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost basic cleaning | A simpler budget robot vacuum | Often less capable navigation and scheduling |
| One device for floors and spills | A vacuum-and-mop hybrid | More maintenance and potentially less attractive pricing |
| Less daily handling | A robot with a self-emptying dock | Higher purchase price and larger dock |
| Roomba ecosystem support | A current iRobot model or older refurbished Roomba | Older or refurbished units may have different warranties and features |
| Documented current features per dollar | A competing budget model with clearly listed specifications | App quality, support, and parts availability can vary |
Named alternatives and current prices require a fresh check. A product that was cheaper or more capable during Black Friday 2025 may not be the better choice now.
Verdict
At $130 on November 27, 2025, the Roomba 104 Vac was a potentially strong entry-level deal for buyers wanting branded vacuuming, mapping, and scheduling without paying for premium automation. Its limitations are equally clear: no mopping, no confirmed self-emptying dock, and no established evidence here for advanced obstacle avoidance or carpet performance.
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Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
