iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Which Should You Go For?

iRobot is the pioneer for domestic help robots. It was the first brand to succeed with merging robotics and vacuuming. It has a long list of robot vacuums which is why we give you the iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890.

The brand was established in 1990 and kick-started what has become the huge robot vacuum cleaner industry we have today.

iRobot has a series of mid-level to advanced robot vacuums. If you follow their release chronologically, you will have a good idea of how innovative and progressive this company is.

Talking about innovation and advanced robot vacuums, iRobot recently released the Roomba e5 robot, the Roomba i7, and the Roomba i7+. You should definitely check them out. The i7+ can empty its own dust cup!

Now back to the scope of this comparison, either of these robots will do a great job keeping your floors clean. They can also keep up with your pets’ and kids’ messes.

 

 

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iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Comparison Overview

The iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 comparison is between two of iRobot’s mid-level robot vacuums.

The Roomba 690  can vacuum on different floor types and has no problem transitioning from one floor type to another. It has a dirt detection technology that helps it keep your floors evenly clean.

It is also easy to use as there are no complications with its usage and its app and smart home connectivity is easy to use.

The Roomba 890 on the other hand, can do pretty much everything the 690 can. It also has a highly efficient filter that keeps in 99% of airborne contaminants.

Cleaning hair tangles is something most people do not like to do. If you are one of them, you won’t be doing that if you get this. It has rubberized brush rolls that prevent tangles.

Don’t jump to conclusions just yet, the Roomba 890 costs more than the 690. So, you might want to read further and be sure of what each has to offer. That way, you won’t be paying for features you don’t need.

If you want to see the Roomba 690 go head to head against another brand’s robot, check out our Shark RV750 vs iRobot Roomba 690.

 

 

Comparison Table – iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890

	Roomba 690	Roomba 890
Battery Life	Up to 90 minutes	Up to 90 minutes
Power	N/A	5X the power of the 600 series
Filtration System	Regular	High efficiency
Weight	7.8 lbs	8.4 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

What Situation Is Each Best For? – iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890

Roomba 690	Roomba 890
This Roomba can clean on both hard floors and carpets. Debris, dirt, and pet hairs are not a problem for the Roomba 690.	With more suction power, it is only expected that the Roomba 890 will handle a vacuuming job better than the 690 would.   This too will tackle dirt on hard floors and carpets and would even do a decent job on medium pile carpets.
If you have allergies or you are asthmatic, the filtration system of a vacuum would be important to you.   This Roomba has a good filtration system as it traps a good amount of allergens and dust while releasing clean air into your home.	If you need better protection from allergens and dust, the Roomba 890 is what you should go for.   It has a highly efficient filter that will trap up to 99% of allergens, pollens, and other airborne contaminants down to 10 microns.   With this, you can rest assured you will not be getting allergic or asthmatic implications as often anymore.
It is great if your robot vacuum can pick up pet hairs; this one certainly can.   However, it becomes a pain when you have to cut through hair tangles from the brush roll.   The Roomba 690 uses brushes underneath to perform its cleaning. So, it is inevitable that you will have to clean hairs off it. You can at least feel good about the fact that it cleans hairs well.	If you don’t want to put in the work required to clean out hair tangles from brush rolls, this might be your best bet.   Though it has a dual brush roll under it but they are of different design. These ones are rubberized rollers and not brushes with bristles.   This is a great approach considering the fact that they still pick up hair and dirt well and there is no chance for tangles.
The Roomba 690 has a dirt detection technology. This piece of tech makes the robot clean harder on areas that have a concentration of dirt.	You will agree that the dirt detection technology is a good feature. For one thing, it ensures that your floors are evenly clean.   It gets even better with the Roomba 890. This is because the dirt detection on it is more advanced than the one of the 690.

 

 

Common Features – iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890

It wouldn’t come as a surprise if you find out that these two robot vacuums have a lot in common, would it?

They were spawned by the same brand and they are the same vacuum type. Even though they belong to different series, a lot of similarities still abound.

In this section, we will walk you through the similarities between the iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890.

Appearance

When it comes to just the look, you can easily mistake one for the other. It is easy to think they are the same robot vacuum with different color themes.

The button and navigation sensor are located in exactly the same place. Apart from the color, one way you can visually tell them apart is the position of the logo. It is under the “Clean” button on the 690 while it is above it on the 890.

However, under the hood, there are quite a number of differences. We will touch on those differences later in this article.

 

Camera and Navigation

These two Roombas have a full suite of intelligent sensors. They help the robots scan the surrounding area and take notes of the walls, furniture, and obstacles.

The robot vacuums use the iAdapt navigation system to find its way around your home. Giving some time, these little buddies might get to know your home pretty well.

The Roomba 690 and 890 might not follow any precise pattern but with the sensors, they still get to cover your floor space. With these two, you don’t need to worry about patches of dirt being left behind.

There are also sensors on these robot vacuums that help them detect obstacles. One great thing about this is that they don’t just detect them, they will also clean around them the best way they can.

These robots can come in contact with the leg of a table, for instance, and still get under it to clean the space.

There is also a sensor under the robots that help it detect changes in floor heights. Once these robots get to a stair, for instance, the sensor detects the difference in height and it turns back.

 

Virtual Wall Barrier

There are times when you don’t want your robot vacuum to go to a particular area in your home. For instance, your baby is sleeping in a room and the noise might wake her up.

The virtual wall barriers will prevent the robot from going beyond where you set it. To the vacuum, the virtual barrier is a wall and it will turn back once it gets to it.

Both of these Roombas come with the virtual wall barrier device. If you need more than the one unit they both come with, you can easily get some more.

 

Wi-Fi and Smart App

Both vacuums have Wi-Fi compatibility. If you are wondering how Wi-Fi can make a robot vacuum cleaner better, you are about to find out.

Wi-Fi lets the robots connect to your smartphone so that you can use it to control and monitor it.

There is an app dedicated to these robots that you need to download on your phone. Afterward, you will then need to pair your robot vacuum with the app which is where the Wi-Fi comes in.

With this app, you can use your phone as a controller you can use to issue commands to the robot remotely.

That way, you can have the robot clean your floors before you get back home. Not anymore would you have to worry about a friend spontaneously asking to come home with you.

You can also monitor the status of the robot and how much of the floors it has cleaned.

 

Smart Home Capability

In this age of Internet of Things (IoT) where everything seems to become intelligent, this feature is a great addition.

If you already have a smart home, you can add these robot vacuums to the list of devices on your smart home hub.

It is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This allows you to talk to your robot vacuum.

These robot vacuums are not advanced enough to advise you on certain problems. That is not the kind of “talk” we meant. What we meant is that you can give the robot voice commands.

 

Automatic Recharge

Robot vacuums can clean autonomously and that is why they have become so popular.

When these robots set out to do their thing, they do so by themselves. So, it only makes sense that they return on their own when they are done.

There are times where their battery might run low while on a job. The Roomba 690 and 890 are designed to find their way back to their docking station when their batteries reduce to a certain level.

 

Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head

It is easy to assume that what it takes to clean a hard floor is different from what it takes to clean a carpet. More effort is required for carpet cleaning.

The cleaning head of these Roombas is underneath where the brush rolls are. The cleaning head on both robots can adjust based on the floor type that is being cleaned.

It adjusts to suit either hard floors or carpets. This might seem like just a little add-on feature but it isn’t. The clean head adjusting to the floor type only means that the robots will clean your floors pretty well.

 

Low Profile Design

By our standards, this is a really innovative feature in robot vacuums. If you don’t regularly clean underneath your furniture, you can rest assured it will be dirty.

The Roomba 690 and 890 are low profile enough to sneak under even your low profile furniture. At a height of less than 4 inches, these robots will get into places you normally won’t.

 

Dirt Detection

The Roomba 690 and 890 can detect where dirt is concentrated on your floors. This is a pretty useful feature because it makes the robots clean evenly.

Imagine there is a segment of your carpet that is heavily trafficked. Your Roomba is now on top of it to vacuum. If it vacuums the entire carpet the same way, it definitely will not clean the whole carpet well.

This is because the highly trafficked part will be dirtier than the rest. This is where the dirt detection comes in handy.

It will focus more on the area that has a concentration of dirt. That way, you can rest assured it will evenly clean the carpet.

 

Carrier Handle

There is a handle at the top of both of these Roombas that you can pull up and use it to carry them. The robot is not even heavy or bogus so, carrying it will not be a problem at all.

 

Dual Brush Roll

The double brush roll on this robot vacuum plays a significant part in the 3-stage cleaning process these iRobot Roombas are offering.

The brush roll in front loosens dirt and the one at the back picks it up while the powerful suction does the rest.

This is the process the robot follows to provide the deep clean it promises. Whether it is debris or pet hair, the dual brush roll will help you clean them all on both hard floors and carpets.

 

Edge Cleaning

Both robot vacuums have a side brush that lets them clean edges as they go. Some vacuums, even the full-sized ones, often have a problem cleaning edges.

These side brushes on both vacuums come in handy at clearing dirt close to walls. They simply sweep the dirt and hairs into the path of the robot’s brush roll and suction.

 

 

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iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – What’s Unique To Each Product?

Features Unique To Roomba 690

There are no features unique to the Roomba 690. Don’t jump to conclusions just yet. You need to understand that we are comparing it with another robot from the same brand and a successor at that.

It only makes sense that the iRobot Roomba 890 has everything on the Roomba 690 and then some.

The fact that the Roomba 890 has all the features the 690 has is the reason there are no features unique to the 690.

 

 

 

 

Features Unique To Roomba 890

High-Efficiency Filter

Filters are important to vacuums, there is no doubt about that anymore. So, the better the filter in a vacuum, the safer it is for allergic or asthmatic users.

The Roomba 890 has a highly efficient filter in it. This filter traps as much as 99% of the airborne contaminants the robot has vacuumed.

Normally, every vacuum uses the air that comes in to cool its engine and then release it. However, this air passes through at least one filtration system which purifies the air before it is released.

The highly efficient filter in the 890 will ensure that the air that is eventually released into your home is clean enough to breathe. That way, the sensitive ones will not have any problem inhaling deeply.

 

Rubberized Brush Roll

There are still two brush rolls underneath the Roomba 890 too but how it differs from the 690 is the material.

The 690 has a brush roll with bristles which is why you have to cut through hair tangles when cleaning it.

However, the ones on the 890 are made with rubber and have a serrated surface. This lets it comb through carpets as well but there won’t be any hair tangles to clean out.

 

 

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Unique Pros

Roomba 690

i. It is less expensive.

Roomba 890

i. It has a more efficient filter.

ii. It has rubberized brush rolls that prevent hair tangles.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Unique Cons

Roomba 690

i. Hairs tangle on the brush roll and you need to cut through it.

ii. It is not as powerful as the Roomba 890.

iii. The filter is not as efficient as the one on the 890.

Roomba 890

i. It costs a lot more than the 690.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Pros Common To Both Products

Roomba 690	Roomba 890
The dust cup of this robot is easily accessible. You just need to press the carved part of the base and then pull it out.   Take it to the trash can, open it up and pour out the content.	Same as the Roomba 690
This robot has two brush rolls underneath to help it deep clean carpets.   These brush rolls do great with debris and hairs and they will clean on both hard floors and carpets.	This one too has a double brush roll. But the brush roll has been redesigned to avoid hair tangles.
The Roomba 690 has a side brush that is used to clean dirt close to the wall. This brush is useful for cleaning dirt that the robot cannot get on top of. It simply sweeps it into the path of the robot and it does the rest.	Same as the Roomba 690.
The Roomba 690 goes on for quite a while. It will work for up to 90 minutes on a full charge.   Once the battery is getting too low, theoretically, it will find its way back to its docking station and literally plugs itself in.	Same as the Roomba 690.

 

 

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iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Cons Common To Both Products

Roomba 690	Roomba 890
One issue with this vacuum is its navigation software. The robot’s movement is not intentional at all. It follows a random pattern across the floor.   Even with the random movement, the aim is that the robot will cover most of the floor space. However, it gets stuck too often just because it moves around rather blindly.   This usually results in a waste of the time it should have saved for cleaning.	Same as the Roomba 690.

 

 

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – General Feeling Among Users

Roomba 690	Roomba 890
One user narrated how tough it was for them to keep their dog’s hair from littering the entire floor. It was a lot of work keeping up with the shedding dogs.   Then they got the Roomba 690, that seems to do the trick as they didn’t have to do any work vacuuming pet hair anymore.   That’s not all, they were really excited at how well the Roomba dealt with the pet hairs on both hard floors and carpets.	A pet owner was really happy at how well this Roomba kept up with her pets shedding.   She said she hardly finds any ball of hair lying around anymore. She has a combination of hard floors and carpets. So, for her to have said that, you can rest assured this Roomba works for her with hairs. Unless her pet now cleans up after itself.
There are users that love the app of the Roomba as well. Quite a number of them say that it is easy to use.   One user who uses her Roomba with an Alexa device enjoys the fun and convenience that comes with talking to your robot vacuum.	One user took her time to complain about people who gave bad reviews about this vacuum. She said that they lack patience.   Honestly, with some patience, you will come to like this vacuum. Afterward she mentioned how well the app works for her. She especially likes how she comes back home from work to clean floors.
The Roomba is also very easy to use. From set up to operation, there is nothing complicated about it.   Some other users even provide tips on how to get the best out of the robot vacuum. If you want the robot to work smoothly, be sure to clear your floors of clutter.   If you have a pet, it is best to house train it or keep it in another room when the robot needs to clean the floors.   Yes, this robot vacuum requires a procedure before you let it lose. It’s not just this one, it is every other robot vacuum regardless of how expensive or advanced.	One particular user is clearly having fun with her Roomba. She wrote a long review about her experience with the Roomba.   At first, she had issues with cords as she said that the robot “eats cords”. Instead of getting mad at that, she learned to keep cords out of the way when the Roomba needs to work.   If you follow procedures and learn to adjust to accommodate the functionality of the robot vacuum, you will find it not only easy to use but helpful too.
There are some users who are happy with the scheduling feature of this vacuum.   Another user said that she likes how well the robot transitions from floor to floor even if there are those ledges by the door.   The same user further said that the robot has not yet scratched her hardwood floor. So, this should reduce the worries of those concerned about this.	This Roomba gets more love from many of its users. A certain user still likes her Roomba despite its random pattern of movement. She says that it still covers her floor and keeps it clean.   Another user like how low profile it is and is happy that the Roomba gets under her coffee table and under her bed.   There was another user said that the robot is quieter than others she has used even though it picks up dirt and hair better.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs 890 – Our Verdict

Roomba 690	Roomba 890
If you need a robot vacuum to help you reduce how often you have to vacuum by yourself, this is a good choice.   It also will not cost you too much and it will surely keep your floors clean.	This is a more expensive model, however, it is also more advanced.   If you have allergies, this will be a better option because it has a high-efficiency filter.

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