Roomba 677 vs 690 – Robotic Vacuum For Everyone!

If you’ve used a robotic vacuum cleaner or have a friend who does, you already know how handy these little things can be. Roomba 677 vs 690 introduces two such vacuums.

Buying a new one or deciding to spend money to get an upgrade can be challenging for us without knowing the full extent of features, especially when there are so many options to choose from.

This article brings you a comparative review of two robotic vacuum cleaner models that come from the same company and with an affordable price tag. We are talking about the Roomba 677 vs 690.

Roomba 677 vs 690 – Comparative Analysis

This comparison is a difficult one, as both models share similar features. Both are built on the famous Roomba 650 predecessor, with upgrades to the battery, sensors, and navigation system.

The Roomba 677 comes with a slightly lower price tag than the 690. So, are you missing out on something by not putting in some extra bucks?

• The answer lies in the ability to define a blocking path, which we’ll discuss in the coming sections.

Both the models come with Wi-Fi connectivity, an assistant HOME app for planning and scheduling, support for Google voice assistant, and Amazon Alexa.

Both utilize the iAdapt 1.0 system that offers an intelligent navigation system and an adaptive cleaning pattern. They can navigate around obstacles and avoid falling on stairs or falls.

The robots work independently and monitor the battery level. As the level falls below a critical value they can move to the charging dock. There is an option to forcefully dock the robot as well.

With these important features before us, let us move on to individual description and key comparison with our Roomba 677 vs 690 reviews.

1. iRobot Roomba 675 – Affordable Cleaner

Specs

Brand Name: iRobot | Model Number: R675020 | Weight: 7.8 lbs | Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches | Batteries: Lithium Polymer | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Navigation: iAdapt 1.0

iRobot Roomba 675 Review

iRobot Roomba 675 is an affordable all-around cleaning solution.

The Roomba 675 is an upgrade from the successful 650 models. It has a better navigation system, better battery technology, wifi connectivity, and increased performance.

The Roomba 675 is shipped with a charging dock, a cable, an instruction manual, an extra filter, and a cleaning tool. It has the iconic Roomba round shape and dimensions. The top comes with a glossy black finish.

The three-stage cleaning system is designed to break, extract, and clean most dirt and everyday debris. There is a side-sweep brush to brush along the corners.

• The dual roller and bristle brushes pick up pet hair and the powerful motor scoops the dirt into the bin.

It is run by a 1800mAh lithium-ion battery, which is an upgrade from the NiMh batteries from the previous models. Lithium-ion batteries provide longer run-time. A single charge can run the robot for up to 90 minutes.

You may find the robot stuck in some places from time to time, especially in a closed area like under the chairs or furniture, but it eventually manages to find its way out.

It does not come with a bin-full indicator. The bin has to be checked manually and emptied. The process is simple enough though, and you can unlatch the bin with a click on a button.

Connectivity

• The Roomba 675 comes with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

• There is support for Google voice assistant and Amazon Alexa connectivity.

• There is an iRobot companion app for scheduling, finding the robot’s location, and docking the robot.

Cleaning Performance

• The Roomba 675 performs well on hard-floor and carpets.

• It can remove pet hair so it can be pretty handy if you have pets.

• The three-stage cleaning system works with dual bristles to loosen the dirt particles and the powerful vacuum picks up the particles.

• The tests show that it can pick up larger debris, like cereal, and smaller particles like cat litter and sand easily.

• For carpets, it can work well for everyday dirt and pet hair but it may struggle with stuff that can get stuck to the carpet hair.

• It comes with the AeroVac filter that can filter most dirt but does not completely block allergens.

Navigation and Movement

• The Roomba 675 comes with the iAdapt 1.0 navigation, which although being an upgrade to previous models, is not the best around.

• The sensors on the robot detect obstacles and fall, like stairs so it is pretty safe to use without worrying about it falling.

• Lacks a memory feature, so it cannot remember specific cleaning details about the area.

Battery and charging

• Comes with a 1800mAh lithium-ion battery.

• Can run for up to 90 minutes depending on the usage.

• Automatically returns to the dock for the recharge that may take 2-3 hours.

Regular maintenance

• You need to keep a tab on the bin and empty it manually.

• The bristles get clogged with hair and require regular cleaning.

• Once a week is recommended but you’d have to figure out your frequency depending on the usage.

• The extra filters are available for purchase, but you can clean them with water every two months and leave them to dry.

2. iRobot Roomba 690 – Invisible Wall Barrier

Specs

Brand Name: iRobot | Model Number: R690020 | Weight: 7.8 lbs | Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches | Batteries: 2 AA | Connectivity: WiFi | Navigation: iAdapt 1.0 | Brushes: Edge-Sweeping | Invisible wall sensor: Yes

iRobot Roomba 690 Review

The Roomba 690 comes with similar features, but with the additional ‘invisible wall barrier’.

The Roomba 690 comes with similar powerful features, along with a dual-mode invisible wall barrier module.

• The module can project an invisible wall for the robot that blocks the path of the robot for up to 10 feet.

The second mode is the Halo mode that creates a 4-feet ‘stay out zone for the robot. The Halo model keeps the robot away from the items you want to protect, or don’t want the robot to come near.

The wall barrier limits the work area of the robot or helps you plan your cleaning zones better. The barrier is shipped with two AA-size batteries for the sensor that you can use right out of the box.

The Roomba 690 has the same dimensions as the 675, which is 13 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches in height. It can get under the most common furniture for a thorough cleaning, given that it has enough clearance.

The 690 has an overall black accent with a silver ring on the top. There are buttons in the centre for start-of-cleaning and docking the robot.

The navigation system is similar to the Roomba 675. There have been issues with haphazard cleaning patterns at times, but it can be combined with the dual-mode invisible wall barrier for better implementation.

The battery features are also similar to the Roomba 675. The robot monitors the battery for critical levels and goes back automatically to the docking station when the level falls below ten per cent.

Connectivity

• The Roomba 690 comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and supports google voice control and Amazon Alexa.

• The companion iRobot app can be used to set up schedules and cleaning cycles.

Cleaning Performance

• The cleaning performance is quite satisfactory. It can clean grains, fine dust and cereal from the floor and tiles.

• Works well with pet hair, although it may clog the cleaning brush that has to be cleaned.

• Does equally well with light and high-pile carpets.

• Removes most of the dirt efficiently, but some people have reported difficulty in cleaning dark-coloured carpet.

Smart Navigation

• The robot navigates sufficiently well indoors.

• The obstacle sensors and bumper take it through the apartment successfully.

• The dual-mode barrier module can be used to define ‘keep-away’ areas.

• The virtual wall mode can block a path such as the doorway to the kitchen when you are using it.

• The Halo mode can keep the robot away from unwanted areas, like pet feeding trays.

Charging Method

• The Roomba 690 can move to the charge station automatically.

• A full recharge may take 2-3 hours after which the batteries can last for up to 90 mins.

Maintenance

• The bristle brushes are required to be cleaned regularly.

• The bin has to be checked and emptied manually.

Roomba 675 vs 690 – Common Features

The Roomba 675 and 690 have many things in common.

Both come in similar shapes and sizes. They have a round button in the centre for the start of cleaning and force docking. Both are Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled by voice.

The Dirt Detect technology allows them to detect dirt and debris and clean effectively. Both have similar motors for suction that provide ample cleaning capability for floor, tiles, and carpets.

The navigation and movement patterns are similar. Although it is not as good as in the more advanced models, it still gets the job done in an average home with kids and pets.

Both robots have similar capacity bins and air filters. The filters aren’t as good as the new AeroForce filters but they work well with most of the dirt and fine particles.

The battery capacity is the same and so is the run-time. The battery is observed to last less on the areas with heavy carpets. The charging may take 2-3 hours depending on the use.

Roomba 675 vs 690 – Final Words

Our Roomba 675 vs 690 articles reviewed the key similarities between both the models. Although they have many similarities, here’s our final verdict for our readers.

The Roomba 675 offers a similar cleaning performance to the 690 for a slightly lower price tag. The key difference between them is that the Roomba 690 is shipped with the dual-mode virtual wall barrier.

The wall barrier can be used to define ‘stay-away areas for the robot, making it easier to plan cleaning zones. You can buy the barrier module separately for the Roomba 675.

The other difference is the opening of the dirt-bin hatch is a little non-identical, but this difference is non-functional as both work differently but equally well.

If you want to try out an affordable vacuum cleaner but don’t need barrier features, you may choose the Roomba 675. However, from our experience, the barrier is handy for everyday use, and the package deal from the Roomba 690 is worth it.