When looking at the best robot vacuums on the market, you’ll see the name Roomba come up often. Roomba makes some great vacuums that clean when you’re not home and let you set up a cleaning schedule. Not all of these models come with the same features though, which is why you should do a quick Roomba 690 vs 960 comparisons.
The 690 comes with voice controls and can connect to the WiFi in your home while still fitting your budget. With mapping technology and strong cleaning capabilities, the 960 offers some nice improvements on that old model. With my comparison, you can easily see how these two robot vacuums stack up.
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Roomba 690 vs. 960: Which is Worth the Price?
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Though it costs more than the 690 vacuum does, it’s clear that the 960 wins in a direct comparison. This model comes with a bigger camera and technology that helps it map the layout of your house. That teaches it where to go and what obstacles to avoid. It is also easier to use and comes with more features.
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iRobot Roomba 690 Review
The iRobot Roomba 690 robot vacuum with Wi-Fi connectivity gives you all the features of the base model but comes with a larger dust bin and a longer run time. You can use this vacuum for more than an hour before the battery dies and command it where to go with the sound of your voice. It also has a virtual wall that keeps it from leaving a designated space and a filter that works on most allergens.
Pros
- Built-in voice controls
- WiFi option
- Low price
- Virtual wall option
- Budget model
Cons
- Hard to clean brush roll
- Does not remember the layout of your home
Bottom Line
With the included Roomba 690 manual, you shouldn’t have any problems using this vacuum. Though it lacks some of the features that the 960 has, it’s a good budget-friendly robot vacuum.
iRobot Roomba 960 Review
You don’t need to look for Roomba 960 deals to save time cleaning your house because this robot vacuum is worth the price. It has a large camera that works with the built-in navigational technology to learn the layout of multiple rooms.
With a battery that lasts for up to 90 minutes, it can clean a large room or several small rooms before the battery runs out. You might like that it shuts down and returns to the docking station when the bin is full too.
Pros
- Large navigational camera
- Room mapping technology
- Remembers room layouts
- Large dust bin
- Automatic shutoff when the bin is full
Cons
- It is more expensive
- Doesn’t work on fine particles
Bottom Line
As one of the only robot cleaners that can cover an entire floor, iRobot Roomba 960 reviews are quite positive. It won’t run into the same wall repeatedly or trip over heavy furniture in your home.
Compare the Best Feature of iRobot 690 and 960
As the 690 and 960 from Roomba look quite similar, you might wonder why you should spend more money on the 960. You can easily compare the features and see why buying a Roomba 960 refurbished or new is worthwhile.
Design
Let’s compare the design of these vacuums first. While the 690 primarily uses shades of silver and black, it also has bright green parts that help you easily see the handle and how you can release the dust bin. With the clean button, you can tell the vacuum to start a new cleaning cycle. This model also works with a WiFi app and allows you to set a cleaning schedule for the next seven days.
While the 960 also uses silver and black, it looks more high tech as soon as you take it out of the box. Some of the Roomba 960 parts include a bumper around the sides to keep it from scraping against the walls and a camera that faces toward the front.
You can use the iRobot app to create a cleaning schedule on this model too. It also moves the clean button to a more convenient spot.
Cleaning Modes
Though both models give you access to an app for setting cleaning schedules, only the 960 comes with an edge cleaning mode. This lets the vacuum go back over your floors to remove dust and debris that it missed the first time to prevent that dust from building up in the corners. Both models include a spot cleaning mode when you need to take care of accidents. With the 960, you can also tell the vacuum to do multiple passes over the same room.
Navigation Technology
One feature that makes the 960 worth the price is navigation technology. No matter how many times you read through the iRobot Roomba 690 manual, you won’t find this option listed. The 960 features iAdapt 2.0 technology that follows a series of straight lines to reduce the risk of dust lines forming.
It also allows the vacuum to move in the same direction that you would. The navigation technology works with the built-in camera to map out the design of a room to avoid obstacles. Roomba 690 mapping simply tells the vacuum to move across the room. It can get caught on furniture or stuck in corners.
Roomba 690 vs 960: Which Should You Buy?
I highly recommend that you spend money on the 960 instead of waiting for a Target Roomba 690 sale or an online sale. This model comes with a HEPA filter that can work on pet hair and all other allergens in your home. The filter removes 99.9 percent of those particles and can work on fine particles too. With the 690, you get a basic filter that catches some of those particles inside.
Another feature you won’t find highlighted in iRobot Roomba 690 reviews is a front camera because this feature is only available on the 960. It helps the vacuum detect objects that it cannot move around or under. With regular use, the camera will help the vacuum map each room in your home. The 960 features plain sensors that may not detect all obstacles. Those sensors won’t map rooms either.
Final Word – Roomba 960 is the Winner
Between pet hair, the snacks that your kids knock over and the trash that you carry in on your shoes, your home may not be as clean as you would like. While both the 690 and the 960 can make quick work of messes and leave your home looking its best, the 960 beats its competitor in most categories. The Roomba 960 manual comes with instructions on how to use the smart navigation technology that maps your home and makes note of hazards and obstacles. It also has an easy to use design and long run time. Any Roomba 690 vs 960 comparison will show that the 960 comes out on top.
