Robotic vacuums are the future; there’s no denying it. Today, we are going to take a look at Roomba 650, a vacuum cleaner that laid a foundation for all future Roombas.
In our Roomba 650 review, we will walk you through its main perks and features, from design to usability.
The goal here is to present the product objectively and to offer some alternatives, in case you didn’t like what you read.
Roomba 650 Review: The Quick Overview (Old but not Outdated)
iRobot Roomba 650 is 13.4 x 3.6 x 13.4 inches big, weighing roughly 12 pounds. It is old, but not outdated.
Maybe Roomba 650 (see the brief video of Roomba 600 series)doesn’t feature some of the more advanced traits and functions of latest Roombas (880, 960 or 980), but it is still a very efficient vacuum cleaner, and that’s what truly matters.
It features a 3-Stage Cleaning System (agitation, brushing, and vacuuming), paired with Dual Multi-Surface brushes, but more on that later.
It also features iRobot’s Dirt Detect technology (see here), as well as the iAdapt Navigation system, which enables it to clean orderly and neatly.
Roomba 650 comes with extra attachments, features Edge-Sweeping brush for cleaning corners and near walls.It can also be scheduled to clean and will automatically recharge when recharging is needed.
Main Features and Tenets of iRobot Roomba 650
In this section, we will go through the things mentioned in our introduction and expand on what we said in our brief presentation of Roomba 650 (see above).
Later, we will provide you with some alternatives to Roomba 650.
On Design
Roomba 650 is smart, it has to be, for it was designed to be smart. Like all Roombas, it is only 3.6 inches tall, so that it could clean beneath low profile furniture.
Roomba 650 has a bumper (to prevent damage to itself and the objects around it), handle (for more convenient transporting), and an easy to empty dustbin.
More importantly, Roomba was designed to be user-friendly and straightforward.
On the top, you have only a couple of controls, used for scheduling and cleaning. You can program it seven weeks in advance, which is also very convenient.
Once you schedule it, press the big CLEAN button, and you are good to go.
Cleaning System
An essential aspect of every vacuum cleaner is its cleaning performance.
As we said previously, Roomba 650 uses the combination of 3-Stage Cleaning, Dual Muti-Surface Brushes, and Dirt Detect technology.
Roomba 650 has two brushes, one bigger than the other.
The smaller brush loosens the debris, and in a way prepares it for the big brush, which then collects the dirt, hair, dust and other dirt; this is the first stage.
The second stage refers to the Edge-Sweeping brush, which allows Roomba 650 to collect dust and debris alongside walls and edges.
This brush is positioned on the front right side of the vacuum and works together and simultaneously with Dual Multi-Surface Brushes.
Alas, once all the debris is loosened and collected, it is vacuumed with immense vacuuming power.
Roomba 650 also uses Dirt Detect technology; with the help of Dirt Detect sensors, Roomba 650 will detect high-traffic areas in your home, and apply more thorough cleaning.
Note that the Roomba 650 adapts to all surfaces automatically, and doesn’t struggle with the low ground to high ground transition (for instance, it will transition from hardwood to carpet without any issues).
Navigation
Roomba 650 uses iRobot’s iAdapt Navigation system. It isn’t as good as iRobot’s iAdapt 2.0 (as explained in our other robot vacuum cleaner reviews), but it allows Roomba to get the job done.
If it acts like a drunk sailor for the first time, fear not: Roomba 650 will try every route in every direction until it memorizes them and figures out the best pathway, and the more you use it, the smarter it gets.
Roomba 650 also features detect sensors, making sure it doesn’t fall off the stairs.
Like most other robotic vacuums, Roomba 650 comes with a charging dock.
When the lowest threshold is reached (concerning battery), Roomba 650 will automatically dock in and recharge.
We advise you to declutter the room as much as you can, so that the Roomba 650 cleans more efficiently, and that it can find its way to the dock rapidly and carelessly.
User-Friendliness
Roomba 650 is very simple to use. While it doesn’t connect to iRobot’s HOME app, programming and maintaining it is very simple. Note that you don’t have to program it, but it is much more convenient to do so.
You will, however, have to clean it adequately, so that the vacuum can do its job.
Maintaining includes regular emptying of a dustbin, rollers/brushes cleaning and filter exchange. You will receive cleaning tools from iRobot, as well as some replacement parts.
Should You Purchase Robotic Vacuum Cleaner?
There’s no doubt that more people would buy robotic vacuums if they weren’t so expensive.
But we are sure that, as time passes, and as robotic vacuums become, less expensive, more efficient and sophisticated, more and more people will buy them. Why?
First and foremost, they vacuum; vacuuming is tiring (for me at least). Robotic vacuums are also efficient cleaners: they possess learning algorithms and sensors, which they use to avoid obstacles and remember the room they clean.
Robotic vacuums also save time, the transition from surface to surface smoothly, and can detect the debris and dirt the human eye might miss. Some even arrive with Virtual Walls, which you can set to limit the vacuum’s movement.
Alas, they recharge on their own. Some even have Recharge and Resume option (like more advanced Roombas), which allows the vacuum to clean, recharge, and then continue cleaning the room.
Top 3 Alternatives of Roomba 650 Robot Vacuum
Here, we will present you with three additional Roombas, for those who seek more sophistication and convenience, as well as for those who are interested in the Roomba pet series.
iRobot Roomba 980 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
It features iAdapt 2.0 Navigation, AeroForce Cleaning (10X on Roomba official scale), and deeper cleaning on the carpet.
It is the best Roomba for pet hair, as well as for carpet cleaning.
980 also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, features Recharge and Resume mode, uses High-Efficiency filters, amongst other things.
Those interested in buying the latest and most sophisticated Roomba can click here to find more info about it.
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Related – Roomba 960 Vs 980 – Review and Comparison
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- More expensive than 650
- Better cleaning performance
- More efficient battery (Roomba 650 operates for 60, Roomba 980 for 120 minutes)
- Better navigation system
- Connects to the HOME app and features voice-activated controls
iRobot Roomba 960 Review – Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Virtual Walls, Multi-Room Coverage, and so forth. 960 doesn’t feature deeper carpet cleaning, and has slightly less vacuuming power than the roomba 980, but is still a strong vacuum.
Also, while it isn’t the best robot vacuum for pet hair, it is good for vacuuming pet hair.
Roomba 650 can’t really compare with these new robotic vacuums (feature wise), but it can clean almost as good as these alternatives.
Roomba 960 is arguably an excellent robot vacuum for hardwood floors and rugs. You can click here if you are interested in purchasing 960.
- More expensive than 650.
- More sophisticated navigation system.
- Extra features (Alexa, Multi-Room Coverage, AeroForce cleaning, etc.).
- Better performance on hardwood and rugs.
iRobot Roomba 880 – Multi-Room Cleaning, with Supreme Battery Life
Well, 650 is cheaper and much easier to use (880 comes with poorly written instructions), and offers similar cleaning performance.
Then again, 880 is a better vacuum for carpet and deals well with pet hair. Objectively, 880 is probably a better item, but I like 650 more.
Those interested in 880 can click here to find more info about it.
Comparison Table for Roomba 650 vs 880 vs 960 vs 980
Product Name | Roomba 650 | Roomba 880 | Roomba 960 | Roomba 980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | ||||
AeroForce System Power | No | 5x Air Power | 5x Air Power | 10x Air Power |
Multi-Room Coverage | No | Yes | Yes + Entire Floor Cleaning | Yes + Entire Floor Cleaning |
Battery Durability (min) | 60 | 180 | 75 | 120 |
HOME App Compatible | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Automatic Recharge | Yes | Yes | Yes + Recharge And Resume | Yes + Recharge And Resume |
Final Words
This Roomba 650 review showed us that 650 is still a valuable robotic vacuum cleaner. But, this article also taught us that 650 couldn’t keep up with advanced Roombas when it comes to sophistication and convenience.
Then again, some of you might not be interested in Alexa or HOME app compatibility, which is understandable.
More importantly, you will pay a lot less money for 650, and it will still tidy up your home and clean it efficiently on all surfaces.
If you are still unsure, consider searching and reading more robot vacuum comparison. If interested in Roomba 650, you can click here to explore it, read customer reviews, and buy it if you really liked it!
