As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. No extra cost to you.
If you are looking for a robotic vacuum cleaner, then iRobot will be one of the trusted robotic vacuums. Over the years they have released several best-selling products, where Roomba 650 and 690 are two of their most convenient robotic vacuums. In this article, I will evaluate the perfect one from Roomba 650 vs 690.
Consumers have been discussing iRobot for months. It’s because of their similar technology. But some features, designs and prices differ between the two models. Which creates difficulties to make their decision.
So, for us, it’s better to grasp which one offers more value to you.
Related Comparison Guides:
Let’s compare Five major aspects like technology, design, features, cleaning ability and customer care. So that you can find out the best one for you.
Table of Contents
Roomba 650 vs 690 [An In-Depth Comparison Guide]
Technology
The driving force behind any gadget is technology, this is what incites people to go out and purchase it. Technology sets a product apart, so every buyer will be eager to know what makes one gadget better than the other. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at both cleaners.
1. Connectivity
- It is activated manually, there is no Wifi or App control, so it can’t be accessed remotely.
- It uses the AeroVac vacuum technology which uses counter-rotating brushes to sweep dirt and debris into the center and then sucks it into the dust bin.
- iAdapt navigation technology is also utilized.
- It has Wi-Fi connectivity and uses a remote control system through the iRobot mobile App. This is super convenient because you can control it with your smartphone even when you’re away from home.
- iAdapt technology is the main navigation technology used while AeroVac is the supported vacuum technology.
3. Smart control
- The 650 has no voice command integration, you must use the buttons on the vacuum to put it in motion.
- Apart from App control, the 690 has a voice command feature, compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. When your phone isn’t within reach, you can use voice control to command the Roomba 690 to start cleaning, recharge or dock.
4. Battery
- The battery type is the nickel-metal hydride battery (Ni-MH) with a 1- hour battery life, it takes about 3 hours to fully charge. Similar to the 690 battery, it provides enough time for a full cleaning cycle.
- A Lithium-ion battery with a 1- hour lifespan that takes about 3 hours to fully charge. This battery is much more performant than the Ni-MH version.
Design
Like icing on a cake, the design is everything, people want their smart products to be functional and sleek looking. A classy and beautiful design will go a long way.
Consumers prefer products that look good in their homes, especially with gadgets like robots, the aesthetics must be eye-catching and on point.
1. Dimensions
- At 13.39 inches in diameter and 3.62 inches in height, with a weight of 7.9 pounds, this vacuum cleaner is slightly larger and covers more ground in terms of surface area.
- In terms of size, the Roomba 690 is 13.0 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches in height, weighing 7.8 pounds. Its small size is a plus because this means it can easily fit in tight corners and squeeze under low furniture.
2. Aesthetics
It’s a stylish black with a melon color ring accentuating the area where the control buttons are. At the center is a ‘‘CLEAN’’ button colored in grey for extra visibility. The sides and the rear end of the surface have 4 buttons labeled:
- Auto start/ Return home
- Bumper
- Lift handle
- Dustbin release
Visually this model is slightly different, its body’s black and silver in color with neon green accents pointing out important features like the dustbin release and lift handle buttons. It also has the following 4 buttons:
- Auto start/Return home
- Bumper
- Lift handle
- Dustbin release
3. Accessories
A Virtual Wall stops the Roomba from crossing a line marked by a beacon at about 10 ft, preventing it from going to specific areas of the house or close to certain objects. It works only in straight-line paths like through doorways for example. Other accessories include a charging station, battery, HEPA filter, and, a cleaning tool.
When it comes to accessories the major difference is that this model has a Virtual Wall Barrier with an advanced halo mode, that marks a radius of about 4ft around itself so the Roomba does not hit anything within that area. The barrier is dual, it goes both ways, straight paths and in diameter. It could do so around furniture or a pet area. It also comes with a charging station, HEPA filter, battery and a cleaning tool.
Important Features
The main reason why people buy gadgets like robots is for their performance, capabilities and unique features. Basically for the things they can do, that others can’t and how easily and fast they get these things done.
Let’s see how our two vacuums fit that bill.
1. Capabilities
- An Auto docking system allows the Roomba to find its way back to its docking station at the end of every cleaning session and a self-recharge option makes it capable of going to its charger when it runs out of power. All these can also be done manually if you choose to.
- Using acoustic sensors it locates areas that are particularly dirty and pays extra attention to them. These sensors help avoid risky zones like the edge of stairs and steep falls.
- With similar auto docking and self-recharging capabilities like the 650, the added advantage here is that the 690 can be remotely accessed via App and voice command to dock and recharge.
- As with the 650, the 690 is guided by acoustic sensors that lead it on a safe path and point out dirtier areas.
2. Setup
You can set it to clean using up to seven cleaning schedules but this has to be done manually on the device itself using onboard control buttons.
The setup is relatively easier and much more convenient, it supports up to seven cleaning schedules and the programming is done via the iRobot App or through Alexa and Google assistant which is convenient since it can be done from anywhere.
Cleaning Abilities
Given that the sole purpose of their existence is to clean, this is single-handedly the most important aspect to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner and the Roomba is no exception.
It goes without saying, the big question is Does it do what it’s supposed to do? And how well does it do it?.
1. Cleaning mechanism
- An optimized AeroVac technology uses counter-rotating brushes to sweep and gather dirt, dust and debris as well as spinning side brushes to clean edges and sidewalls. It works in a three-stage cleaning process of agitating dirt, brushing it to the center and then sucking it into the dustbin.
- The Roomba uses infrared light to scan the entire room to avoid bumping into furniture, and a set of proximity sensors at the front tells it to slow down when it comes close to any object or wall especially if it’s moving at full speed.
- Cleans with the same technology as the 650 using a three-stage cleaning process of spinning brushes, center brush roll and filtration system.
- In addition to the infrared light scan, both models have proximity sensors and spring-cushioned bumpers
- The spring-cushioned bumpers are found at the front of the device, the bumper is attached to a spring and its job is to cushion any impact with hard objects such as walls and furniture.
- When it comes to parts, both models are identical, they both have wheels and share the same body parts.
2. Usability
- Easy to setup and to use, it comes with a detailed user manual, all you have to do after setting it up is to press the ‘’CLEAN’’ button to get it started.
- It does not make a lot of noise when cleaning, the sound it makes is bearable. It emits 61 dB of sound
- For maintenance, you have to empty the dustbin and clean the filters and brushes every now and then.
- Spare parts for both models are readily available at affordable rates with third-party retailers.
- The setup process is easier since it’s programmed via the iRobot mobile App. There’s no need to pick up the device and do it manually.
- The Roomba 690 makes more noise than its counterpart, the noise is noticeably louder and can be irritating if you are in the same room when it’s cleaning. It emits 68 dB of sound.
- Equally maintained like the 650 with regular cleaning of the brushes, emptying the dustbin and changing filters.
Customer Care
1. Price
- The Roomba 650 is cheaper than the 690 and it is an older version. The price varies especially when dealing with third-party dealers, sometime you could get it on a discount or on promotion but generally, it is much more budget-friendly.
- Typically sold by third-party retailers
- Slightly more expensive than the 650, it’s considered the optimized version of the 600 series, it was created as a replacement for the 690 models. Upgraded with wifi connectivity, voice command and a dual Virtual Wall Barrier to justify the extra few bucks. Available discounts and promotions are possible but it’s always more costly than the Roomba 650.
- It’s one of the flagship models for the iRobot brand, sold on their website.
2. Value
iRobot is a company with a lot of positive reviews and high ratings. They provide adequate customer support and are generally very responsive to questions on their website. And many customers testify to their excellent customer support.
In terms of value, there are no red flags so far, iRobot seems to be a reliable and trustworthy company with a lot of positive feedback from its customers.
3. Warranty
The Roomba 650 has a 1-year warranty and a 30 days return policy that may vary depending on the retailer.
The 690 also has a 1-year warranty and a 30 days return policy, depending on the retailer.
Final Verdict
While both Roomba 650 and 690 are very similar, they have three visible differences, that add value to the 690 models. Created to replace the 650, the Roomba 690’s advanced features of a Virtual Wall Barrier, wifi connectivity and remote control, tips the scale in its favor.
These added advantages are arguably enough justification for its slightly higher price. However, if you are on a tight budget or are not keen on wifi, apps, software and voice command accessories, go for the Roomba 650.
But if you want extra value, more functions and can afford a few extra bucks, then definitely go for the Roomba 690, it will be worth your while.