Roomba 690 vs 890: What are the main differences?
Getting a robot vacuum that works effectively and grants cleaning freedom doesn’t have to be an overly expensive purchase. iRobot is the premier brand of the robot vacuum market that caters to a range of budgets whilst maintaining performance across its range. Two technologically advanced options are the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890; mid-priced range machines with intelligent software. This article will shed some light on the Roomba 690 and 890, and explain their principal differences and who they are suitable for.
The Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 are mid to high-end Roombas which are equipped with smart home functionality, making them two of the best currently available. Before reading this article I highly recommend you take a look at our Roomba model comparison article, as this provides a detailed overview of the whole of iRobots range. if you own a pet, you may want to read our post on Roombas for pet hair.
Contents
Overview of Roomba 690 and Roomba 980
When comparing the Roomba 690 and 890, the principal upgrade to the higher model is in the motor power. Beyond that, they are very similar robot vacuums with slightly different prices. It is worth noting that the Roomba 960 and 980 are superior to these two robot vacuums both due to the navigation technology they use and the motor power they have.
iRobot Roomba 690
As an up together robot vacuum with impressive WiFi connectivity, the Roomba 690 can best be described as the budget smart home option of iRobots range. The suction power is on the weaker side of the motors available from iRobot and the navigation technology is iAdapt 1.0, randomly sensor-driven. Admittedly not the most advanced robot, the Roomba 690 is cheap considering it has smart features via the app as well as voice control with Alex and Googles Assistant. A good choice for smaller living spaces with hard floors, you probably wouldn’t want to bother pushing the limits of the Roomba 690 on deep thick carpets and a large living area.
iRobot Roomba 890
To go straight into describing the Roomba 890 following the Roomba 690 only needs to say a few words; the same but with a more powerful cleaning motor. Beyond this, the other features and specs of the Roomba 890 are the same too. In-depth control and monitoring with the iRobot Home app and the same level of Navigation technology mean that it too is more suited for a smaller living space. It can certainly clean to the right standard on hard floors and will in most cases be able to hand light dirt on carpets, just not to the same standard as newer Roombas.
1.Design of Roomba 690 vs 890
The only obvious difference between the two models in the Roomba 690’s silver and black finish compared to the brown and black of the Roomba 890 Regarding the shape and dimensions of the robot vacuums, both the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 share the exact numbers and styles. All Roombas hang low in order to fit under furniture and any other obstacles. Dimensions and weight measurements of the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 are as follows:
- Diameter: 13.8 inches
- Height: 3.6 inches
- Weight: 8.7 lbs
2.WiFi Connectivity & App
As two of the first WiFi connectable robots from iRobot, the Roomba 690 and 890 are connectable to the internet and controllable through iOS and Android. A new element of control and scheduling are accessible through this user interface. Going another step further, voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant is possible, as is IFTTT automation.
- Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 are connected devices
- Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 have voice control options
iAdapt 1.0 is a more basic navigation technology used by most Roombas, including the 690 and 890. An array of sensors around the Roombas inform the device of where obstacles are and accordingly which way to move. This is less efficient and sophisticated as the Smart Mapping & VSLAM navigation used by the newer models. Effectively the randomly driven movement will not always ensure everywhere has been cleaned and in a timely manner.
On the back of this navigation system includes some other sensor-driven technologies that assist fine-tuning the performance of the Roomba 690 and 890. Dirt Detect automatically identifies areas which need some extra attention from having more dirt, and the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 accordingly spend more time cleaning it. Cliff Detect can tell where step edges are in order to prevent the robots falling, breaking or injuring anyone.
4.Cleaning Technology
Cleaning power if the only difference between the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 that creates an improved performance in the latter. The Roomba 690 uses the original 3-Stage Cleaning System found in the majority of Roombas, especially older ones.
With a little bit more oomph, the Roomba 890 uses the Aeroforce 3-Stage Cleaning System, which is fives time more powerful. This doesn’t mean that the suction is fives the Roomba 690’s, but without a doubt, it will be significantly higher. In reality, this means that the 890 will more reliably clean hard floors and outperform the 690 significantly on carpets.
If you expect your Roomba to be faced with lots of mess on carpets, it is recommended to consider going for either the Roomba 980 or i7+ as they have the 3rd Gen Motors carpet boost option. It is important to remember that robot vacuums are not as good as regular vacuums on thicker carpets in particular, and even the Roomba 980 will not do the full job.
Final Word
Out of all the Roombas that we have compared on this site, the differences between the Roomba 690 and Roomba 890 have proven to be the smallest. The only differences are the color scheme, the 690s silver compared to the 890s brown, and the more powerful motor in the Roomba 890. Both devices are recommended for smaller cleaning areas and in this instance, the Roomba 690 is the hard floor choice, whilst the Roomba 890 is the carpet choice.
A related article you should read is our Roomba 960 and 980 Comparison.
