Clean floors, clean carpets are what everyone needs. Having trouble with everyday cleaning chores with a busy work routine? Roomba 690 vs 890 is just for you.
- Its time to get a robotic vacuum cleaner but it may be difficult to choose from so many options.
Therefore this article brings you a comparison between two models of a popular robotic vacuum cleaner company, iRobot which makes a variety of cleaning robots from the high-end S series to the lower 6 series.
- Sleek, premium design complements your home décor; Includes 1 dual mode virtual wall barrier for more control over where your robot cleans
- Capacity volume: 0.62 liter; Power Lifting Suction delivers 5X the air power for improved pick up performance
There are other companies and products to choose from but in this article, we bring the match up Roomba 690 vs 890. Both these models come with affordable prices, consistent performance, and ease of use.
- There are better alternatives available, of course at a much higher base price tag.
If you’re looking for an economical solution but are unsure about what to choose and what to look for in an automated cleaner, we’ve got you covered in this review.
Roomba 690 vs 890 – A Quick Comparison
There are several aspects to look for when selecting a robotic vacuum cleaner, like appearance, size, cleaning ability, automated response, charging, battery timings, maintenance, and cost, controllability, and much more.
To start with, you can buy the Roomba 690 at a lower price than the Roomba 890. So, what does that mean? Will you get better features in Roomba 890 as compared to Roomba 690?
- Yes! You’ll get a few better features in the Roomba 890.
Though both utilize Dirt Direct Technology to generate strong air suction, 690 has slightly powerful motors allowing it to perform a bit better.
Furthermore, the iAdapt navigation system helps both vacuum robots to navigate around the designated space. However, the Roomba 890 has an upgraded version of iAdapt.
Moreover, both vacuum robots can utilize one virtual wall to define the no-go area and, additionally, can self-recharge by docking at the charging station.
Important: Additionally,
Roomba 890 features HEPA filters which can capture minute allergens in the air.
However, 690 utilize non-HEPA filters.
Moreover, Roomba 890 has a ‘bin full’ indicator, telling you to clean the bin, whereas for Roomba 690 you have to manually check the cleaning bin every now and then.
This sums up almost all the important features and comparative analysis points. However, if you still have any questions, dive into individual description and comparison with our Roomba 690 vs 890 review.
1. iRobot Roomba 690 – Cleaning smartly
Specs
Brand Name: iRobot | Model Number: R690020 | Weight: 7.8 lbs | Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches | Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer | Connectivity: WiFi | Navigation: iAdapt 1.0
With 3-Stage Cleaning System and Dirt Detect Technology, Roomba 690 can give you the most thorough clean-up of your living space. Check Price from Amazon
Review of iRobot Roomba 690
iRobot Roomba 690 is a modest solution for everyday cleaning.
It offers good performance for cleaning hard floors and carpets. The iRobot Roomba is shipped with a charging station, an AeroVac filter, a virtual wall barrier, and a cleaning tool, having Roomba’s iconic round shape and black/silver color.
The robot has a glossy finish with a round button in the middle and a retractable handle. Its size is 13in diameter and 3.7in height. It has built-in sensors and a bumper that detect obstacles and can find its way around them.
The Roomba 690 can be controlled via Google Voice Commands, Amazon Alexa, or with its companion iRobot app.
Day-to-day cleaning schedules and other management tasks may be performed via the iRobot HOME app.
Moreover, with a three-stage cleaning system and an edge-sweeping brush, Roomba 690 can take care of corners and edges easily.
On thicker carpets, the results are similar to light carpets. However, it struggles to completely clean the granular dirt particles that can get below the fiber and stick to it.
The Roomba 690 works on the Roomba iAdapt 1.0 navigation system. It comes with an invisible wall barrier that can be used to define a ‘no-go area’ and can detect and avoid falls, like stairs.
It does lack a memory feature so you may find it bumping into the same obstacles again and again.
Furthermore, the 1800mAh battery can be recharged in 2 to 3 hours after the robot arrives at the docking station. One charge can last for about 90 minutes depending on the use of the cleaning attachments.
Additionally, the Roomba 690 requires routine emptying of the dust bin. A clean bin would also lead to better battery management. It does not have a ‘bin full’ indicator so you’d pretty much have to check yourself.
Control and scheduling
- The Roomba 690 comes with wifi support.
- Supports google voice commands, Amazon Alexa, and iRobot companion app.
- The app allows you to schedule cleaning cycles, find it’s location, and communicate with the robot.
- There is no ‘auto-resume’ functionality on the robot, meaning you’d have to initiate the cleaning cycle manually or schedule it yourself.
Cleaning Ability
- With a three-stage cleaning system having an edge-sweeping brush, Roomba 690 can take care of corners and edges.
- It can sweep away granular dirt like rice grains, fine dust and sand, and more chunky debris like cereal from the hard-floor, nice and easy.
- Works equally well on thicker and light carpets.
- However, may have trouble with things that can get stuck in the carpet fiber, like sugar granules.
- The bristle brush requires frequent cleaning especially if you have pets that leave hair on the carpet and the floor.
- The AeroVac filter will clean most dirt, but it does not stop allergens.
Navigation
- The Roomba 690 works on the Roomba iAdapt 1.0 navigation system
- Has an invisible wall barrier that can be used to define a ‘no-go area’.
- It can detect and avoid falls, like stairs.
- It does lack a memory feature so you may find it bumping into the same obstacles again and again.
Battery and charging
- It comes with a 1800mAh lithium-ion battery.
- Can give a run-time for up-to 90 minutes.
- The robot automatically returns to the charging station when the battery falls below a critical level.
- The recharging will take from 2-3 hours depending on the use.
Maintenance
- The Roomba 690 requires routine emptying of the dust bin.
- A clean bin would also lead to better battery management.
- It does not have a ‘bin full’ indicator so you’d pretty much have to check yourself.
- Overall the maintenance and replacement could cost you around $35 a year.
2. iRobot Roomba 890 – Tangle-Free Rubber Brushes
Specs
Brand Name: iRobot | Model Number: R890020 | Weight: 8.4 lbs | Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches | Batteries: 2 AA | Connectivity: WiFi | Navigation: iAdapt 1.0 | Brushes: Edge-Sweeping | Filter: Aeroforce (HEPA)
The Roomba 890 can easily handle any kind of cleaning, including pet hairs, thanks to its tangle-free multiple-surface rubber brushes. Check Price from Amazon
Review of iRobot Roomba 890
The Roomba 890 comes with a few upgrades including the 5x power suction motor and bristle-less extractors.
The robot may also offer cleaning suggestions based on your schedule. The overall performance is good for everyday use with the HEPA filter that can stop allergens.
The iRobot Roomba 890 comes with its AeroForce filter, a charging station, and a virtual wall barrier. It has the same round shape, but the overall accent is black and brown. The 890 comes with a similar dimension of 13in diameter and 3.7in.
Furthermore, the Roomba 890 can be controlled with the wifi connection with the supporting voice control and Alexa compatibility. Moreover, Roomba 890 has a three-stage cleaning system. The vacuum motor has more power and we were satisfied with the results we got.
Dirt detection technology detects unwanted material on the floor.
Additionally, on the high-pile carpet, it also performs well in all the categories thanks to its 5x power from the motor. The brush-less collectors require less maintenance and work well with pet hair.
The iAdapt navigation system in 890 has received software updates, so it performs smoother than the 6 series Roombas. However, you may find some haphazard cleaning patterns at times. Nonetheless, the navigation can be coupled with the invisible wall barrier that comes with the robot.
As far as the charging is concerned, the robot comes with self-charging and can return to the charging station on its own as the battery levels fall below a critical value of 10%.
Connectivity
- The Roomba 890 can be controlled with the wifi connection with the supporting voice control and Alexa compatibility.
- The scheduling is simple and easy via the iRobot app.
Cleaning Power
- It can clean granular dirt like rice grains, fine dust and sand, and more chunky debris like cereal from the hard-floor.
- The more powerful motor does slightly better on the light carpet.
- It can clean dirt, cereal, and rice grain cleanly, and performs better on the sugar cleaning test, although it may still leave some.
- Additionally, it gives a reasonable performance on high-pile carpets thanks to its 5x power from the motor.
- The brush-less collectors require less maintenance and work well with pet hair.
Smart Movement
- The iAdapt navigation system in 890 has received software updates, so it performs smoother than the 6 series Roombas.
- You may find some haphazard cleaning patterns at times.
- The navigation can be coupled with the invisible wall barrier that comes with the robot.
Charging Method
- The robot comes with self-charging.
- One full charge can last for around 90 minutes.
- Therefore, it can return to the charging station on its own as the battery levels fall below a critical value of 10%.
- Recharging may take 2-3 hours.
Maintenance
- The Roomba 890 requires less maintenance.
- It comes with a handy ‘bin full’ indicator so you always know when to empty the 0.62-liter capacity bin.
- The cleaning rollers have no bristles so they require less frequent cleaning.
- Overall the maintenance and replacement could cost you around $40 a year.
Roomba 690 vs 890 – Common Features
Though Roomba 690 is an older version, it still has quite a few common things with the Roomba 890.
Both have the iconic round shape with a button in the center and a similar size. They can be connected and controlled via Amazon Alexa or google speech recognition engine.
Furthermore, they are also supported by a propriety iRobot HOME app and both models are shipped with default WiFi connectivity. Moreover, iRobot Roomba 690 and 890 are both shipped with automated charging docks.
The robot monitors it’s battery levels and moves to the charging dock automatically. They support similar lithium-ion batteries that are claimed to give 90 minutes of run-time.
- Depending on the usage the charging cycles usually range from 2.5 hours to 3 hours.
Moreover, thanks to Dirt Direct Technology, both vacuum robots can generate 5x air suction power as compared to other Roomba vacuum robots. Moreover, both utilize the iAdapt 1.0 navigation system, they perform similarly.
Furthermore, both vacuum robots are able to draw one virtual wall to define the no-go area. Additionally, both can sense the stairs and avoid fall-offs completely.
Roomba 690 vs 890 – Final Words
Our Roomba 690 vs 890 articles reviewed similarities and differences between the two robot vacuum cleaner models. We compared them in several categories, and here’s our final verdict for our readers.
The Roomba 890 looks quite similar to the Roomba 690 but has slightly more powerful motors and an upgraded the iAdapt navigation system. Furthermore, HEPA filters give Roomba an 890 an additional edge over its competitor.
However, the only drawback of the Roomba 890 that we came across is its higher price tag, but this was obvious given the better features it has.
Therefore, our final verdict goes to the Roomba 890 unless you are on a tight budget and require basic cleaning.
