These are two very different Roombas which target different buyers.
The Roomba 690 is for someone who is looking for a budget friendly Roomba, while the Roomba 960 is the top of the line Roomba with all the new technological features to go along with it.
Are you In a Hurry? Lets get straight to it:
Buy the Roomba 690 if you want a budget friendly, efficient, entry level vacuum that has the features of the Roomba 650. You can think of the Roomba 690 as an improved version of the Roomba 650.It is great if you don’t have multiple rooms to vacuum and your apartment or house is small. This vacuum has Wifi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
This Roomba is almost half the price of the Roomba 960
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Buy the Roomba 960 if you are looking for a top of the line Roomba with all of the latest features. If you have a large house, want all the up to date technology available from Roomba or need to clean multiple rooms this vacuum is ideal.This Roomba has Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
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Roomba 690 vs 960, Compared Side by Side
| Roomba 690 | Roomba 960 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   | |
| Navigation Technology | iAdapt Technology | iAdapt 2.0 Technology |
| Vacuuming Technology | AeroVac | Aeroforce |
| WiFi Support | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Cheaper | More Expensive |
| Remote Control | Via smartphone App | Via smartphone App |
| Clean Map Reports | No | Yes |
| Advanced Dirt Detection Technology | No | Yes |
| Battery Time | 60 minutes | 75 minutes |
| Weight | 7.8 lbs. | 8.6 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 13 x 13 x 3.7 inches | 13.8 x 13.8 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
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The main difference between the Roomba 650 and the Roomba 690 is the fact that the Roomba 690 has Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The Roomba 690 is based on the older Roomba technology but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t perform well. The vacuums in the 600 series use Aero Vac technology.
The Roomba uses a patented 3 stage cleaning system with a spinning side brush that lifts and sucks dirt and debris from your floors.
The Roomba 690 also has acoustic sensors to let the Roomba know where there are areas of concentrated dirt and clean these areas accordingly.
The diameter of this Roomba is 13 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches high. This Roomba is a bit smaller in diameter than other Roombas which makes it ideal for accessing those low hard to reach areas.
Although this Roomba like all Roombas is circular in design it has a handy side brush sweeper to clean the edges and corners of your room. This vacuum uses iAdapt technology like most Roombas in the 600, 700 and 800 series. This full suite of sensors makes sure this Roomba will thoroughly clean your house.
This Roomba is one of the newer models introduced by iRobot. Like all of the new Roombas this one has wifi connectivity. So if you are at work and just remembered you forgot to schedule that cleaning job for your Roomba you can do so remotely.
If you are like me and simply love the idea of controlling the Roomba with your voice after a long day at work. You will love the fact that the Roomba 690 is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The Roomba 690 has approximately 60 minutes battery time. If the battery is running low it will automatically return to the home dock to recharge.
The Roomba 690 also comes with one dual mode virtual wall barrier. This accessory can act as a virtual wall preventing your Roomba from accessing certain areas. If the accessory is in halo mode you can prevent the Roomba from going near certain items.
It basically provides a barrier around certain items. For example if you have pets and you don’t want the Roomba to go near your dog bowl, the halo mode will prevent this from happening.
The Roomba 690 is a great entry level Roomba if you are on a budget. It offers the performance and features of the Roomba 650 but you get Wi-Fi connectivity. You also might be interested with the comparisons we do with the Roomba 890 and the comparison we do with the Roomba 980.
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
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About the Roomba 960
- Automatically Recharges & Resumes Cleaning Job
- Remote Control: Via Smartphone App
- Comes with one virtual wall
- Battery life: Approximately 75 minutes
- High Efficiency Filter
- Tangle Free Rollers
- Multi-room Cleaning
- App: Yes plus Clean Map Report & Custom Cleaning Preference
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The Roombas in the 900 series differ from other Roombas in their navigation technology. Roombas in the 900 series use iAdapt 2.0 technology. This makes the Roombas in the 900 series more methodical in their cleaning. The Roomba 960 has visual localization.
This allows the Roomba to easily and efficiently navigate the entire level of your house and keep track of its location. If the battery tine runs out before its finished, this Roomba can recharge and resume cleaning.
This Roomba doesn’t come cheap. It’s the second most expensive Roomba available. However, it offers pretty much all the features of the Roomba 980 at a few hundred dollars cheaper.
In relation to the Roomba 690 you are basically comparing apples and oranges. The Roomba 690 is on the lower end of the spectrum price wise, while the Roomba 960 is on the higher end of the spectrum price wise.
This Roomba doesn’t have as much battery power as the Roomba 980 so it is not able to cover as much cleaning area. However, with a battery time of approximately 75 minutes this Roomba offers quite a bit.
Additionally, one of the main selling features of the Roombas in the 900 series is the fact that they can recharge by themselves and resume their cleaning jobs. This is as hands off as you get. If you have a large cleaning area or multiple rooms you will find this feature helpful.
Like the Roomba 690, 890, and 980 the Roomba 960 has Wifi connectivity. It is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The Roomba 960 has a handy phone app. There are a few features in the app that are unique to the 900 series. For example you can specify that the Roomba do more than one cleaning pass.
You can also select edge cleaning mode if you want to make sure the edge of your house and areas around furniture is cleaned properly. Another feature that is unique to the Roomba is what you can do when the dust bin is full. In the Roomba 900 series you have two options:
You can instruct your Roomba to continue cleaning even if the bin is full or you can have the Roomba pause its cleaning job if its bin is full. In this case the Roomba will return to where it started and once the bin is emptied, you can instruct the Roomba to resume its cleaning job.
This is a high tech Roomba, this vacuum has all the bells and whistles of the Roomba line. The only other vacuum that is comparable to the Roomba 960 is the Roomba 980 which is a bit more expensive.
PROS
- Can Clean Multiple Rooms
- Can Recharge and Resume Job
- Custom Cleaning Preferences such as edge cleaning and two pass cleaning
- Longer Battery Life means longer cleaning period
- Stronger Cleaning Power than the Roomba 690
- Uses visual localization to map your house for more efficient cleaning
CONS
- Expensive
- Doesn’t have the carpet boost feature of the Roomba 980
- Needs light for the Roomba to utilize visual localization to map the area it is in
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The Showdown: Roomba 690 vs 960
1. Wi-Fi Connectivity and the iRobot Home App
Both the Roomba 960 and the Roomba 690 have Wi-Fi connectivity and are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can use the iRobot app to control your Roomba.
There are a few controls that are unique to the Roomba 960. The iRobot app for the Roomba 960 allows you to customize your cleaning preferences.
For example the Roomba 960 generates a clean map report at the end of each cycle. You can also specify that you would like two cleaning passes if your floors are really dirty. There is also an edge cleaning mode that can be activated.
2. Large Area/ Multiple Rooms to clean
The Roomba 960 can clean up to 2000 square feet per a cleaning job. The Roomba 690 can clean up to 625 square feet per a cleaning job. If you have a large area to clean the Roomba 960 makes more sense.
The Roomba 960 also has a feature that allows it to resume cleaning jobs when the battery runs low. This is a good option if you have a large house with multiple rooms.
3. Price
There is a significant difference in price between the Roomba 690 and the Roomba 960. The Roomba 690 is almost half the price of the Roomba 960 and is marketed as an entry level Roomba.
The Roomba 960 is marketed as the top of the line Roomba and the price reflects this. If you are not prepared to shell out so much money for a vacuum you can consider the Roomba 690 or the Roomba 890.
4. Cleaning Technology
The Roomba 690 and the Roomba 960 use two different cleaning technologies. The Roomba 690 utilizes Aero Vac cleaning technology while the Roomba 960 utilizes Aeroforce cleaning technology.
The AeroVac cleaning technology utilizes counter rotating bristle brushes to collect dirt and debris that is then guided into the vacuum.
The Roomba 960 utilizes AeroForce cleaning technology which uses brushless extractors to collect dirt and debris which is broken down and then sucked into the vacuum. This results in more cleaning power and it also keeps maintenance to a minimum.
The Roomba 960 also has a function in the iRobot app that allows you to request extra cleaning for your wall edges. The Roomba 690 and most Roombas have a side brush that helps to clean the edges of your house.
Another feature worth mentioning is the two pass cleaning function available with the Roomba 960.
5. Design
Most of the Roomba vacuums have the same design and similar sizes. In the case of the Roomba 690 the diameter is 13 inches and it is 3.7 inches in height. The Roomba 960 is 13.78 inches in diameter and 3.58 inches in height.
There is a small difference in dimensions and both Roombas should be able to fit every nook and cranny in your house.
6. How easy is it to maintain?
The Roomba 690 AeroVac technology uses counter rotating brushes to remove dirt and debris. This also means that this brush is liable to get hair wrapped around it.
The Roomba 960 on the other hand uses a brush-less debris extractor that lessens the problem of hair wrapping around it. If you have pets you will appreciate this feature.
7. Battery Time/ Charging Time
Both Roomba vacuums use Lithium batteries. The batteries for both the Roomba 690 and 960 take around three hours to recharge. The runtime for the Roomba 690 is up to 60 minutes while the runtime for the Roomba 960 is up to 75 minutes.
8. Recharge and Resume Cleaning
If you have a large house or apartment or have to clean multiple rooms the Roomba 960 is the one for you. The Roomba has the ability to automatically recharge itself and resume cleaning where it stopped until the job is done. The vacuums in the 900 series are the only ones that has this feature and can cover up to 2000 sq ft per cycle.
9. Navigation
The Roomba 960 is the ideal choice if you have multiple rooms. The vacuum can automatically recharge and resume cleaning.
It also has an advanced navigation system to map the entire level of your house and keep track of the area that has been vacuumed.
10. Full Bin Indicator
When the bin is full you have the option to let the Roomba finish the cleaning job or have the the Roomba stop immediately so you can empty the bin and then resume its cleaning job.
Only the Roomba in the 900 series have this feature. The Roomba 690 doesn’t have this option.
Our Verdict Should I buy the Roomba 690 or 960
The Roomba 960 is our winner. The thing is you might not need all the features that the 960 provides so you should take our recommendation with a grain of salt and decide whether you really need all the extra features.
Most importantly the Roomba 960 is almost twice the cost of the Roomba 690, so if you are looking at it from a budget point of view the Roomba 690 wins.
If you have a small apartment or house and don’t require a lot of bells and whistles the Roomba 690 is an excellent choice.
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.
You should buy the Roomba 960: If you have a large house or have multi rooms that need cleaning and you want a hands off cleaning experience. This Roomba is ideal for someone who wants to have all possible features and be current with the latest technology available for the Roomba vacuums.
Recommended Reading
- Roomba Comparisons: Get information about all the Roomba vacuums on the market. Including the new models for 2018 the Roomba 675, e5, i7 and i7+
