iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – In-depth Comparison

iRobot and Neato Robotics are two big shots in the world of robot vacuum cleaners. This is why you should be excited about this iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 comparison.

Both brands are dedicated to designing and manufacturing robots. If you consider the focus, you will understand why these two are so good with their robot vacuums.

Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches

iRobot pioneered the robot vacuum industry in 1990 when it released the first robot vacuum dedicated for home use.

The success of this robot probably was the start of this industry as other brands started to spring up afterward.

The Neato D series are popular for their practical features and how well they clean. This brand has quite a number of firsts in the robot vacuum industry.

Neato is the first robot vacuum brand that lets you control your robot vacuum from your smartwatch. It is also the first to use a laser navigation system. With this, its robots will still clean as good even in the dark.

If you want to get the best out of this iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 comparison, you should be clear on what you need.

When you are sure, you will find it easier to decide between these two.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches
To get yours, click here
To get yours, click here

 

 

Comparison Overview – iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3

This is a battle of valuable robots in the medium range robot vacuum category. Of the two brands we are featuring, these two robots are at the bottom of their robot vacuum line.

These two, hence, this iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 comparison is meant for people who only need the basic feature of a robot vacuum.

If you want the high-end offerings, check out our iRobot Roomba 980 vs Neato D7 comparison.

These robot vacuums have their strengths and weaknesses which makes them suitable for users with different needs.

This is why we always tell you to be sure what you need from a robot vacuum before you proceed with our comparison reviews. It makes your decision a lot easier.

The Roomba 690 offers dirt detection technology and longer battery life. It is also easy to use and will get into corners and clean edges with its side brush.

The Neato, on the other hand, has a strong airflow, the like you will expect from the more expensive robots. It follows a definite pattern of movement and gets upgrades which keep making the robot better.

They both are in the same price range so their price tag might not influence your decision.

 

 

Comparison Table – iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3

Roomba 690 Neato D3
Available Models N/A Neato D3 Black, White, and Pro
Battery Life 90 minutes 60 minutes
Navigation iAdapt navigation Laser Smart technology
Filtration System Standard filter Standard filter
Dust Cup 0.2 liters 0.59 liters
Weight 7.8 lbs 9.03 lbs
Dimension 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches 12.7 x 13.2 x 3.9

 

 

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Who’s Each Best For?

Roomba 690 Neato D3
If you are allergic or asthmatic, the filtration system on any vacuum cleaner you want to go for is quite critical.

 

The Roomba 690 only has a standard filter which does not promise as much protection as a HEPA filter can provide but it will still trap some contaminants to some extent.

The Neato D3 too has a standard filter and will only trap in allergies and dust as best as it can.

 

However, the Neato D3 surpasses the Roomba 690 in one area. The high-performance and ultra-performance filters on the higher end D series can fit into the D3.

 

That way, you can buy a standalone ultra-performance filter to use on your D3 and you will get the type of protection you can trust.

 

In fact, some users have claimed to be lucky enough to find high-performance filters as spare with their D3.

The suction power of the Roomba 690 is at an average level of what you can expect from a robot vacuum in its price range.

 

Though it will still clean well on both hard floors and carpets, don’t expect something tremendous.

The Neato D3 knocks out the Roomba hands down in this area. It has airflow as strong as what you will get on the flagship model Neato D7!

 

Some tests show that the Neato D3 has 19 cfm which is even higher than that of the Roomba 690 in power boost mode.

The Roomba 690 has a patented technology that helps it detect where there is a concentration of dirt on your floor.

 

This is an amazing feature as it will do great if you have highly trafficked parts of your home. The robot spends more time an effort on this part of the floor to clean it better.

The Neato D3 does not have this feature but that does not make it any less.

 

With the serpentine pattern of movement this robot vacuum follows, it will surely cover your entire floor space.

 

The Roomba follows a rather random pattern across your floor which makes it cleaning performance not as efficient as this Neato.

The Roomba 690 comes with a device that lets you prevent your robot from getting to certain places in your home.

 

There are several reasons you might want to use this device which is why it is good thinking from iRobot.

The Neato D3 upon release could only create a virtual boundary with the use of magnetic tapes.

 

However, with an update in the robot’s app, you can now create no-go lines from your phone!

 

This works by you drawing lines on the floor plan the robot generates. These lines will keep the robot away from where you draw it.

 

The coolest thing about this feature is that the Neato D3 now has a feature it did not have before. Now that’s added value for money!

If you are keen on cleaning the edges and corners, the Roomba 690 can do that even though it is round and cannot get into corners.

 

It uses its side brush to sweep dirt and debris from corners and edges into the path of the brush roll so it can be vacuumed.

This is something that the Neato D3 lacks. Though it has a shape that lets it get smack dab into corners.

If you have black colored floors or there are lots of dark patches on your floor, you are better off with the Neato D3.

 

The Roomba 690, even the higher versions, have issues vacuuming on dark colored tiles or carpets. The reason is that, in simple terms, they are not that smart.

 

Their cliff sensor sees dark patches as deeper floor level. The Roomba assumes it is a fall and will turn back or get stuck.

 

The Neato, on the other hand, can differentiate. So, it does not have any problem with dark carpets. So, if you have lots of such floors in your home, you will be better off with this Neato D3.

 

Common Features – iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3

Navigation System

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-ChargingBoth robot vacuums use a navigation system that helps them find their way around your home.

They both scan their surroundings to sort of get a general idea of their environment.

The Roomba 690 does not go about its cleaning in any definite pattern. If you spend some time to watch it, you will notice that it just moves around haphazardly. However, it still does great covering your floors.

The Neato D3, on the other hand, follows a definite logical pattern. It first follows the perimeter of the room, afterward if follows a serpentine movement vertically and then horizontally.

With this, you can rest assured it will cover your entire floor space without leaving any patch of dirt. This style of movement also makes it do its things a lot more efficiently.

The navigation technology that makes the Neato D3 work so well is the laser-guided system it uses. This is how it maps your space and find its way around.

One good thing about this technology is that it does not need light to do its thing. This is unlike other robots that use camera which needs a well-lit room to work.

 

The Sensors

Both of these robot vacuums have sensors on them that help them detect obstacles.

One of these sensors helps them notice changes in the depth of the floor. This is quite useful if the robot is cleaning where there are stairs. Once the robot gets close to a stair the sensor notices the fall and the robot turns back.

Both robot vacuums are capable of cleaning around obstacles too. This is good so they can vacuum around the legs of furniture and even get under it.

 

Virtual Barrier

Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, SmartwatchesThere are several reasons why you wouldn’t want your robot vacuum to get to certain parts of your home.

It could be so they don’t get stuck or knock something over and cause more mess.

This is why both robots can allow you to create boundaries that curb their movement.

The Roomba 690 comes with a device that creates a sort of virtual wall. To the robot, the boundary is a wall and it simply acts as such.

As for the Neato D3, there was a software upgrade to the smart app in the Fall of 2018. This allows users of the Neato D3 to create no-go lines for the robot on their smartphones.

All you have to do is draw as many lines as you want in the app and the robot moves in response to the boundaries. The coolest part of this is how accurate the boundaries are.

Another nice benefit of the no-go lines is that when you schedule the robot to clean when you are not there, you won’t come back to meet it stuck having not vacuumed much.

 

Smart Home Compatibility

The world has become so advanced that home appliances are now getting smart. So, why shouldn’t your robot vacuum join them?

Smart homes are now getting popular. If you already live in one, you can add either of these robot vacuums to the list of devices on your smart home hub.

They are both compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Once these vacuums are connected, you can issue voice commands to them.

“Alexa, tell Roomba to start cleaning”. “Alexa, ask Neato where it is”.

 

Wi-Fi and Smart App

Robot vacuums with Wi-Fi capabilities are now commonplace. What differentiates this feature in robot vacuums is what you can achieve with them.

Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, SmartwatchesThe Wi-Fi capability of your robot helps you get a better experience with it and we will tell you how.

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

These robots have a dedicated app that you need to download on your phone (available for both Android and iOS).

Once downloaded, 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 to issue commands to the robot remotely.

That way, you can have the robot clean your floors before you get back home. You can also monitor the status of the robot and how much of the floors it has cleaned.

That’s not all, for both robots, you can also set a future date for your robot to do its job.

For instance, on both robot vacuums, you can schedule it to clean at certain times for every day of the week.

With this, you only need to remember to empty the dust cup. You certainly won’t have any babysitting duties with these robots.

The Roomba app won’t take up much space on your phone and it is quite easy to use. You can even name your robot. How’s that for a personal touch?

The Neato app too is quite easy to use and you will get regular updates too. Updates that add even more value to the robot.

 

Low Profile Design

By our standards, this is one of the most innovative features in robot vacuums. If you don’t regularly clean underneath your furniture, you can rest assured it will be dirty.

The Roomba 690 and Neato D3 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.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches
To get yours, click here
To get yours, click here

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – What’s Unique To Each Product?

Features Unique To Roomba 690

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-ChargingDirt Detection

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

 

Side Brush

The side brush on this Roomba is part of the 3-stage cleaning system iRobot praises its Roombas for.

The side brush is there to help the Roomba clean edges. As you might have known, even some upright vacuums still have problems with cleaning edges.

This fast spinning brush will sweep the dirt or hair close to the wall or corners into the path of the brush roll and suction.

 

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. We all know that cleaning a carpet takes a lot more effort.

The cleaning head of the Roomba 690 is underneath where the brush rolls are. This cleaning head 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 your floors pretty well.

 

 

 

Features Unique To Neato D3

Recharge and Resume

It is one thing for a robot vacuum to charge itself, it is another for it to resume where it stopped after charging.

All robot vacuums can do the former but only the higher priced ones can pull off the latter.

Not only will the Neato D3 resume after recharging, but it can also do it twice! This means that even if it did not complete its job the first recharge and resume cycle, it will do it again!

This is a feat that only the high-end robot vacuums can perform. Come to think of it, this is the lowest level Botvac in the D series and it can pull off high-end stunts.

 

Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, SmartwatchesInnovative Chassis Design

It is almost a standard that robot vacuums are round as most of them are. Although there are few exceptions and other shapes are getting common nowadays.

The Neato Robotics D3, however, is D-shaped. This is not because its manufacturers just want it to stand out, far from it. Its shape is actually part of what makes it perform so well.

If you have seen one of those round robot vacuums at work, you probably have noticed that some of them have issues cleaning corners and edges.

Now, imagine how the Neato Robotics D3 will fit into corners because of its shape.

It does not have a side brush though, but how well it fits into corners and its powerful suction help it do well with corners and edges.

 

Works on Black Surfaces

It is common knowledge that a lot of robot vacuums are “scared” of black surfaces. This is because of their cliff sensors. It sees black patches on the floor as a fall and avoids it.

Some will even shut down when they get on a dark colored carpet. This can become frustrating as you might have to tape over the sensor so the vacuum can ignore the “fall”.

However, the Neato D3 does not have such phobia. It can easily differentiate a fall from a black surface on the floor. How’s that for a smart little robot?

 

 

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Unique Pros

Roomba 690

i. Its dirt detection is useful for highly trafficked areas.

ii. It has a side brush that helps it with edges and corners.

iii. The cleaning head automatically adjusts to floor types.

iv. It has long battery life.

Neato D3

i. Its shape lets it fit easily into corners.

ii. You can now draw no-go lines on the app for virtual boundaries.

iii. It has powerful suction and great cleaning performance.

iv. It moves in a logical pattern.

v. The dust cup capacity is large.

vi. It uses a laser guiding system so it can also work in the dark.

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Unique Cons

Roomba 690

i. It moves in a random pattern.

Neato D3

i. It does not have a side brush and sometimes the suction alone might not be enough.

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Pros Common To Both Products

Roomba 690 Neato D3
The Roomba has a dual brush roll underneath it which helps it pick up all sorts of dirt on both hard floors and carpets.

 

It also has a self-adjusting brush head which aligns according to the floor type. This ensures that the robot cleans well regardless of the floor type.

The Neato D3 has a single brush roll, however, it covers a lot of ground. The brush roll is almost the entire length of the flat side of the D-shape.

 

This wide cleaning path and its logical movement helps the D3 clean faster and more efficiently.

 

As for its vacuuming ability, what more can we say? Its suction power helps it deep clean better than most robots both on hard floors and carpets.

The Roomba has a good battery life. It will keep going for up to 90 minutes. This is enough time for it to roam around your home and keep your floors clean.

 

Once the battery depletes to a certain point, it finds its way to its charging base and literally plugs itself in.

The Neato D3 does essentially the same thing but it will work for only 60 minutes. Don’t let this turn you off, though.

 

With its type of suction, deliberate pattern of movement, and wide cleaning path, it will get its job done on time.

 

Even if it doesn’t, this robot too can auto charge. That’s not all when it is done charging, it will go back to continue from where it stopped.

The Roomba 690 is pretty easy to use. The dust cup is easily accessible so you won’t have any issues with emptying it.

 

The app is also pretty straightforward to use and navigate around.

The Neato D3 is also similar with respect to this. The dust cup is also easily accessible.

 

The app too allows you to do all sorts of things with your robot.

 

One area the Neato D3 excels is that if you have a smartwatch, you can also use it to access the robot and issue commands!

Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Cons Common To Both Products

Roomba 690 Neato D3
The filter on this robot is not impressive. Though it will do all it can to trap allergens and dust but don’t expect complete protection. Same as the Roomba 690.

 

What makes the Neato different is that the better filters that you will find in the higher end D series can work with the D3.

 

So, you can buy replacement high or ultra-performance filters to use with the Neato D3.

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches
To get yours, click here
To get yours, click here

 

 

 

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – General Feeling Among Users

Roomba 690 Neato D3
There are some users who are happy with the scheduling feature of this vacuum.

 

You can set a future time you want the robot to vacuum your floors. This is one of those things you can do with the app on your phone and it is so convenient.

 

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 also said that the robot has not yet scratched her hardwood floor. So, this should reduce the worries of those concerned about this.

One user actually compared the Neato D3 to the Roomba 960! She said that she returned the Roomba to get this Neato. That alone is proof this robot is impressive at its price point.

 

She indicated that she talked about how the D3 will go into a room and finish the cleaning before leaving but the Roomba goes in there and comes out several times before getting the job done.

 

 

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.

Some other users were really impressed with the Neato. One of them said that even though the battery life was not as long compared to other robots, he is happy that the robot will resume from where it stopped.

 

Another said that he likes the fact that you can change the low-end filter that comes with the D3 to a much better one.

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.

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging

 

iRobot Roomba 690 vs Neato D3 – Bottom Line

Roomba 690 Neato D3
The Roomba 690 gives you longer battery life and has a side brush that will help you clean corners and edges.

 

If these are important features to you, this is the vacuum you need.

The Neato D3 has proven to be more valuable than its price tag. It offers a number of features you will only find in the more expensive robot.

 

If you want the extra this robot offers and can live with its minor shortcomings, go for it.

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches
To get yours, click here To get yours, click here