Choosing the right robotic vacuum for your home is often confusing because you don’t know how to compare the cost to the features.
Depending on how much you want to spend, you may find that you can afford a state of the model vacuum that comes loaded with bells and whistles or that you need to stick with one that lacks some of those features but is more affordable.
In this article, I’ll offer a direct comparison of the Roomba 890 vs 960 to show you which ones come out on top in a head to head battle between the two vacuum cleaners.
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Roomba 890 vs 960: Which is Better?
In a comparison of the Roomba 890 vs Roomba 960, the 960 comes out on top.
Not only does it have a larger capacity, but it comes with a camera on top that checks for obstacles and hazards.
It’s capable of cleaning an entire level in one session and will go over your floors twice.
The 890 only does one pass over your home and isn’t strong enough to clean an entire floor. With the 960, you’ll also get a battery that lasts for 15 minutes.
The Roomba 890 vs 960: The In-Depth Review and Comparison
The Roomba 890 Review
The 890 is a solid and affordable robotic vacuum. It has a large capacity of .62 liters and dual brushes that stay in constant contact with the floor.
It uses a three-stage system to loosen and lift debris before pulling it into the vacuum. Works well on pet hair and the most common forms of debris.
You need to create cleaning schedules via a downloadable app
You can learn more about this model in our pros and cons.
Pros:
- Holds .62 liters of debris as it cleans around your home.
- Has dual brushes that touch your floor as the vacuum moves.
- The battery lasts for up to 90 minutes before it needs charging.
- Compatible with Google devices through the app.
- Connects wirelessly to an internet router.
- Designed to work on different types of carpet and hardwood floors.
- It has up to five times the suction power of other robotic vacuum cleaners.
- The internal filter works on particles of 10 micros in size.
- Removes pet hair and other allergens from your floors.
- Dirt sensor detects the high traffic areas and increases the suction power in those spaces.
- Removes both pet and human hair without the hair tangling around the brushes.
- Smart navigation keeps the vacuum moving quickly through your home.
Cons:
- It can get stuck when it moves underneath furniture and around obstacles.
- It does not always return to the charger.
- May not work with your wireless router.
- No longer available from iRobot.
Bottom line:
The biggest issue with the 890 is that it’s an older model. That means iRobot no longer makes it and that you may have problems getting the support that you need.
Those looking to save money on a robot vacuum will find that the 890 has some nice features that make it worth the money, including being compatible with Google devices and its three-stage cleaning system.
The Roomba 960 Review
When money is no object and you want a top robotic vacuum, the Roomba 960 is the one to choose.
It has a strong filtration system that removes most allergens caused by pets and a navigation system that learns the design of your home.
It navigates through your whole home and learns how to avoid obstacles. Dirt Detect Technology automatically finds dirt in your home and changes the suction power as needed
You can see how it compares to the 890 in the following list of pros and cons.
Pros:
- Holds .82 liters of liter inside.
- Up to five times more powerful than past versions of the vacuum.
- The efficient filter removes up to 99 percent of pet hair and allergens.
- Rubber brushes remain in contact with the floors to remove more debris.
- Compatible with other robots for those who need to vacuum and mop their floors.
- Works on carpet and other types of home flooring.
- It comes with an app that shows how much space it cleaned and how much time it took.
- Lets you set cleaning schedules on the app and through connected devices.
- Returns to the charging base at the end of a cleaning session.
- Weighs less than nine pounds.
- Runs for 75 minutes before it needs charging.
- Connects to any wireless router.
- Fully customizable.
Cons:
- It does not work well with area and floor rugs.
- May show error messages for no reason.
- Not suitable for homes with more than one pet.
- It can lose its connection with the app.
Bottom line:
The iRobot Roomba 960 robot vacuum is a smart choice for those who want to clean their homes without pushing around a heavy vacuum.
It features a navigation system that learns the layout of your home, which teaches it how to avoid common obstacles.
This is one of the best Roomba model that work well on pet hair. because it removes up to 99% of the allergens that pets leave behind.
You’ll also find that it has more suction power than the 890 and a larger trash canister.
Roomba 890 vs 960 – A Quick and Easy Comparison Table
Product Name | Roomba 890 | Roomba 960 |
|---|---|---|
Image |  |  |
Price | ||
Capacity/Volume | 62 liters | 82 liters |
Three-Stage Cleaning System | Yes | Yes |
Runtime | 60 minutes | 75 minutes |
App | Yes | Yes |
Dual Rubber Brushes | Yes | Yes |
iAdapt Technology | Yes, older version | Yes, 2.0 |
Entire Floor Cleaning | No | Yes |
Edge Cleaning Mode | No | Yes |
Passage | One | Two |
Camera | No | Yes |
The Roomba 890 versus the 960: Which Should You Buy?
A Roomba carpet cleaner is a robotic vacuum that works when you’re home and outside.
These vacuums come with an app from iRobot that you can download to your smartphone to set cleaning times and sessions.
You can sync the vacuum to a Google device and control it through that item too. The biggest difference between Roomba 890 and 960 models is the runtime.
Not only does the 960 have a longer-lasting battery, but it beats the 890 in other categories too.
Should You Buy the Roomba 890?
If you want a carpet cleaning machine that does an adequate job on pet hair and won’t break the bank, the 890 might meet your needs.
This is an older version of the robotic vacuum that comes with a technology package designed to help it clean without snagging on furniture.
You may find that it becomes trapped on an area rug or that it can’t find a way out from underneath your couch.
Another issue with the 890 vacuum is that it can only run for 60 minutes. Depending on how much suction it uses, the vacuum may run for even less time.
Once the battery runs low, it will return to the charging station. If you use the app to set the schedule, the vacuum can head back out and finish cleaning later.
The 890 lacks some of the features that shoppers like, including a double pass cleaning mode and an edge cleaning mode.
Should You Buy the Roomba 960?
The best Roomba that money can buy and the best Roomba for hard floors is 960. Thanks to the 75-minute battery, it cleans for more time than the 890 does.
This model has an edge cleaning mode that comes in handy when you have uneven floors or area rugs.
It moves across those surfaces and can return to remove any debris left around the edges.
The double-pass mode is another nice feature because it lets the vacuum go through your home twice for better cleaning.
Though the 960 does cost more, it’s worth the price. This Roomba has a light that shines when the basket is full, but it will keep cleaning after that light comes on.
With a capacity of .82 liters, it also holds more debris than the 890 does. There is a built-in camera that helps the vacuum navigate under furniture and around obstacles too, which is a feature not found on the 890.
Conclusion
Smart shoppers use comparisons to make sure that they get the best products and that they don’t spend money on a vacuum that won’t work in their homes.
As you look at an iRobot Roomba 890 review, you’ll find that customers talk about how long the battery lasted, what features they liked the best and what made them wish they spent more on a better vacuum.
Some of the same information is available in an iRobot Roomba 960 review too.
When we compared these two models, we kept coming back to the Roomba 960 because of both the battery life and the double cleaning power.
With the 890, you may need to let the vacuum pass through your home once and then charge the battery again before sending it out. The 960 can make two passes through your home on a single charge and then recharge itself.
In a compare of other Roomba models, the 960 comes out on top because of the 2.0 technology that adapts to the design and layout of your home. Both the 890 and older models have an older version of that technology.
If you can afford the cost and want a good vacuum, the Roomba 960 is the best.
