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The Roomba 675 and the Roomba e5 models have replaced these two models. The Roomba 690 vs 890, I’m sure you are trying to decide which one is best for you!
These two vacuums are improved versions of the popular Roomba 650 and the Roomba 880 models. The main difference is these vacuums have wifi connectivity so they can be controlled from your smartphone.
The iRobot app comes with some nifty features that will make vacuuming a joy. If voice control is more your thing, both Roombas are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Are you In a Hurry? Lets get straight to it:
- Buy the Roomba 690 – The Roomba 690 is the entry level vacuum in the iRobot collection. If you are looking for a budget friendly vacuum that is efficient and you have only one or two rooms to vacuum this is your choice.It does not have as much cleaning power as the Roomba 890 and it uses a different vacuuming technology from the Roomba 890, but it will get the job done. This Roomba as well as the Roomba 890 have Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.This Roomba is great if you don’t have multiple rooms to vacuum and your apartment or house is small.
- Buy the Roomba 890 – If you are looking for a Roomba with more powerful vacuuming power, have pets and prefer to have less maintenance, the Roomba 890 is your choice.This Roomba has the latest vacuuming technology and has some of Roombas latest technology. This Roomba has Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Roomba 690 vs 890, Compared Side by Side
Roomba 690 | Roomba 890 | |
---|---|---|
Navigation Technology | iAdapt Technology | iAdapt Technology |
Vacuuming Technology | AeroVac | Aeroforce |
WiFi Support | Yes | Yes |
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible | Yes | Yes |
Remote Control | Via smartphone App | Via smartphone App |
Weight | 7.8 lbs. | 8.4 lbs. |
Dimensions | 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches | 13 x 13 x 3.6 inches |
Accessories | 1 Dual Mode Virtual Wall | 1 Dual Mode Virtual Wall |
Check Price | Check Price |
About the Roomba 690
- Automatically Recharges Itself
- Remote Control: Via Smartphone
- Comes with one dual mode virtual wall
- Compatible with Google assistant and Amazon Alexa
- Battery life: Approximately 60 minutes
- App: Yes
The Roomba 690 is basically an improved version of the Roomba 650 with wifi connectivity. This vacuum along with the Roomba 890 are the two latest additions to the Roomba collection.
If you are interested in controlling the Roomba with your voice this vacuums is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
This vacuum is based on Aero Vac vacuuming technology, this three stage cleaning system use counter rotating brushes to collect dirt and debris. This Roomba also has sensors to detect dirt and clean the area accordingly.
Most Roomba vacuums have a similar look and design. The Roomba 690 is approximately 13 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches high. This size is ideal for navigating those hard to reach areas in your house. An added plus is the side sweeper brush to clean the edges of your room.
The vacuuming technology of the Roomba 690 is the same technology utilized in all the Roomba 600 series. The vacuum power is not as strong as the Roombas in the 700, 800 or 900 series.
Actually iRobot states that the vacuuming power in the 800 and 900 series is five and for the Roomba 980 ten times as powerful as the vacuuming technology used in the Roomba 690.
All the vacuums in the Roomba collection except those in the 900 series use the iAdapt navigation system. These sensors allow the Roomba to do an exceptional job of navigating your room.
The Roomba 690 is a good entry level Roomba and is great for the price conscious customer.
PROS
- Good value for money
- Works on all floor types
- Ease of use
- Has Wifi Connectivity
- Compatible with Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa
CONS
- Cannot clean multiple rooms in one go
- bristle brushes prone to getting hair stuck in it
About the Roomba 890 (replaced by the Roomba E5)
- Automatically Recharges
- Remote Control: Via Smartphone App
- Comes with one virtual wall
- Battery life: Approximately 60 minutes
- Approximately 5 times cleaning power of the Roomba 690
- High Efficiency Filter
- Tangle Free Rollers
The Roomba 890 is a mid-range vacuum offered by Roomba. This Roomba is one of the latest vacuums introduced by Roomba and is based on the Roomba 880.
One of the main difference is this Roomba has wifi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The beauty of this feature is you don’t even need to be home to control your Roomba.
The main features that differentiates the vacuums in the 800 series is the vacuuming technology utilized. According to iRobot the Roomba 890 has five times the vacuuming power of those in the 600 series.
Instead of utilizing bristle brushes to collect dirt and debris, these Roombas use brush-less extractors to collect dirt and debris.
A plus of this new vacuuming system is it required less maintenance and provide greater vacuuming power. If you have pets you will find this feature helpful since you don’t have to be constantly cutting pet hair from the bristle brushes of the previous Roombas.
This Roomba has a brush-less extractor that grabs and breaks down the debris collected so you will have less maintenance.
You might also find our comparisons of the Roomba 890 with the Roomba 960 and with the Roomba 880 helpful.
PROS
- Tangle free dirt and debris extractors so you have less maintenance
- Stronger Cleaning Power than the Roomba 690
CONS
- Cannot recharge and resume cleaning job like Roombas in the 900 series
- Doesn’t have the carpet boost feature of the Roomba 980
The Showdown: Roomba 690 vs 890
1. Wi-Fi Connectivity and the iRobot Home App
Both the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 have WiFi connectivity. They are also both compatible with Google assistant and Amazon Alexa.
2. Price
The Roomba 690 is cheaper than the Roomba 890 by a few hundred dollars. The Roomba is a budget friendly, entry level vacuum while the Roomba is a mid-range Roomba.
3. Cleaning Technology
The Roomba 690 and the Roomba 890 use two different cleaning technologies. The Roomba 690 is based on the AeroVac technology used in the Roomba 650 model.
Aero Vac technology utilizes counter rotating bristle brushes to collect dirt and debris. The Roomba 890 along with the other Roombas in the 800 series uses Aeroforce vacuuming technology.
According to iRobot this vacuuming technology if five times as powerful as their previous vacuum technology.
Another interesting feature is the dirt detection technology. Roomba 690 uses acoustic sensors to detect dirt. The Roomba 890 uses acoustic and optical sensors which make it more efficient for detecting dirt and debris.
4. Design
You will find that the Roomba vacuums tend to have the same visual design and are usually similar sizes. In this case the Roomba 690 is 13 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches in height.
The Roomba 890 on the other hand is 13.9 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches in height. You could come to the conclusion that the Roomba 890 covers more room and is shorter so it should be able to fit under your furniture.
An arguing point for the Roomba 690 is that the smaller diameter means it can fit into tight spaces. Therefore we have decided to declare a tie!
5.How easy is it to maintain?
The Roomba 690 and the Roomba 890 use two different cleaning technologies. The Roomba 690 uses AeroVac vacuuming technology which uses bristle brushes.
These brushes are more prone to accumulating hair and other debris. The Roomba 890 on the other hand utilizes Aeroforce vacuuming technology which utilizes a brushless rubber extractor to collect dirt and debris.
The debris is broken down as it is extracted thus preventing clogs and in the process reducing maintenance time for your Roomba.
6. Battery Time/ Charging Time
Both the Roomba 690 and the Roomba 890 use Lithium batteries which provide better performance. Both batteries have the same runtime of up to 60 minutes and the same recharge time of approximately 3 hours.
7. Can it Recharge and Resume Cleaning (Sorry both models don’t have this feature)
If you have a large house this is a really nice feature to have. Basically what happens is if the Roomba is on a job and the battery power is running low, it will return to the home dock to recharge and then resume the cleaning job that it stopped.
Unfortunately neither the Roomba 690 or 890 have this feature. Once the Roomba returns to its home dock it cannot resume cleaning where it stopped its job. The only Roombas that have this feature is the Roombas in the 900 series.
8. What if I have Pets?
If you have pets we would recommend the Roomba 890. The Roomba 690 works well on pet hair; however the reason we recommend the Roomba 890 is the Roomba 690 has bristle brushes that are more prone to having pet hair wrap around it.
What this means for you is you will have to do more maintenance on your Roomba. The Roomba 890 on the other hand uses a tangle free rubber extractor brush which is less prone to hair wrapping around it.
What this means is you will have to do less maintenance on your Roomba. This feature is part of the Aeroforce technology and also results in more vacuuming power.
9. Navigation
Both the Roomba 890 and 690 use iAdapt navigation technology. This technology utilizes sensors that allows the Roomba to clean every section of your room, making multiple passes over the same area.
The Roomba mimics the way a human would clean. For example if we detect dirt in a certain area we tend to concentrate on this area. Since both Roombas use the same navigation technology this one is a tie.
10. Accessories
Both the Roomba 690 and the Roomba 890 come with one dual mode virtual wall barriers. This device allows you to prevent the Roomba from entering certain areas (for example a particular room). This device also allows you to create a halo mode around certain items you don’t want the Roomba to go near to.
11. Full Bin Indicator
A really handy feature of the Roomba 890 is it has a full bin indicator light so you will know when the dust bin is full. The Roomba 690 doesn’t have this feature.
Our Verdict Should I buy the Roomba 690 or 890
The Roomba 690 is a great budget level Roomba and will satisfy all your cleaning needs. The Roomba 890 offers more cleaning power and costs a little bit more.
You should buy the Roomba 690: If you have a small apartment or house and are looking for a budget friendly entry level Roomba that performs very well on all floor types.
You should buy the Roomba 890: If you are looking for a mid-range priced Roomba that has more cleaning power and is good at handling pet hair and performs well on all floor types.
If the increased cleaning performance is not an important factor stick with the Roomba 690 or Roomba 650. If you want the latest technology offered by iRobot we think you should bit the bullet and upgrade to the Roomba 960.