iRobot, with its Roomba series, is one of the most notable manufacturers of robot vacuum cleaners. Today, we will discuss their two most advanced vacuums, the Roomba 960 and 980.
The article is written in a Roomba 960 vs 980 fashion, where we oppose the two items, compare their strengths and weaknesses, ranging from design to price.
This material should help not only those who are interested in buying the Roomba cleaner but to those who want to find new information related to robotic vacuum cleaners; we hope you’ll enjoy it!
Roomba 960 vs 980: Which Is A Better Option?
Whenever I’m comparing two Roomba vacuums, if one of them is 980, I’ll always bet on it. These are iRobot’s most advanced vacuum cleaners, but Roomba 980 would win the battle.
It features stronger suction power, delivers excellent cleaning performance (especially on carpets), and grants more sophisticated cleaning settings.
It is more expensive than the 960, which is the main reason why you should consider opting for 960 (or other Roomba vacuums). Still, if you want the best Roomba vacuum cleaner, then you should go for the Roomba 980.
Roomba 960 Review
Roomba 960 belongs to 900+ line and shares plenty of its features with 980.
It is robust, durable, and highly efficient. This vacuum cleans smartly, in the sense that it remembers obstacles, learns, adapts, and wastes no time.
It features things such as Voice-activated control, connection to iRobot Home application, multi-surface brushes, and Multi-Room navigation.
Most importantly, it is a very affordable, genuine value for money product. This item is relatively simple to use and maintain, and the dustbin empties without any issues.
Pros
- Plenty of smart features
- All-surface cleaning
- Value for money (cost-effective)
- Robust and durable
- Smart movement patterns and navigation
Cons
- Poor pet hair vacuuming
- Mediocre battery life (especially if vacuuming on rugs)
Bottom Line
Roomba 960 offers a lot of sophisticated and smart functions, but it isn’t an ideal robot vacuum cleaner for pet owners. Also, if you want carpet/rug performance, then it is better to go with the 980. But, the 960 is less expensive, perfect for homes with no pets.
Roomba 980 Review
Roomba 980 is the most advanced and feature-oriented iRobot’s vacuum cleaner.
It has all the perks of 960, but adds a couple of features on top of it, such as the stronger suctioning power, better cleaning on carpets and rugs, and more advanced cleaning settings via Smart Home application.
It is excellent for pet owners, and for people who want to get the most convenience out of their vacuum cleaners. But, keep in mind that this is a luxury vacuum, by far the most expensive Roomba vacuum cleaner.
Still, if you plan on using all of its features, I believe the price is justified, though it would be ideal to purchase it on sale.
Pros
- Sophisticated and feature-packed
- 10X suction power
- Excellent on-carpet vacuuming
- Excellent pet hair collector
- Advanced cleaning settings
Cons
- Perhaps too expensive
- The app should feature more functions
Bottom Line
Roomba 980 is my favorite Roomba device. It learns rapidly, which allows it to adapt to the new environment quickly.
Also, the 980’s movement is highly accurate, which helps conserve battery life. Alas, the surface transition is rather smooth, and going from low ground to high ground won’t be an issue for 980.
Roomba 960 Vs 980 – Comparing by Features
As we said, there are a lot of similarities between Roomba 960 and 980, especially when it comes to design and software-related features. Here are some of the most critical similarities:
Design
Both products feature Roomba’s standard circular design. The 960 is 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 inches big, 980 bigger by 0.01 inches in length and width, but is also 3.6 inches tall.
The smooth and low design allows these vacuums to reach beneath many surfaces, including furniture, beds, and other similar objects.
The 980 does feature one extra Virtual Wall barrier, for which it uses two spare AA batteries. Both feature side brushes, used for cleaning corners and wall edges.
Functions
To make the article more comfortable to read, here’s the list of most prominent functions both of these vacuums feature:
- iAdapt Multi-Room Navigation 2.0, used for room-to-room cleaning
- Recharge and Resume mode: the vacuum cleaner operates for 120 minutes, recharges, then continues cleaning
- 3 Stage Cleaning System (agitate -> brushing -> suctioning)
- Auto-Adjust, All-Floor cleaning: it allows the vacuums to transition from surface to surface without any issues
Keep in mind that these aren’t the only features/functions offered by these vacuums, but we believe that these are the most important ones.
Roomba 960 Vs 980: Major Differences You must Know
For starters, even though both of these vacuums feature Recharge And Resume mode, the 960 runs for 75 min, while the 980 runs for 120 minutes; in short, 980 is more efficient. Furthermore, only 980 features 10X air power, 960 5X.
Also, the 980 is much better when it comes to carpet cleaning and hair collecting (due to the 10X power). The 980 features Carpet Boost mode, 960 doesn’t. Alas, 980 has slightly more advanced movement, and memory algorithms, allowing it to quickly learn the most efficient cleaning pathways.
Comparison Table for Easily Compare 960 and 980
Specification | Roomba 960 | Roomba 980 |
|---|---|---|
Image |  |  |
Price | ||
Dimensions | 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.6 inches | 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.6 inches |
Entire Level Cleaning | 75 minutes | 120 minutes |
Recharge And Resume | Yes | Yes |
3-Stage Cleaning Power | 5X | 10X |
Advanced Cleaning Settings | No | Yes |
Carpet Boost Mode | No | Yes |
Roomba 960 vs 980: Which Should You Buy?
Those interested in more extensive and in-detail information should probably read both Roomba 960 Review and Roomba 980 Review (to form a complete view of both products).
But, having researched and reviewed plenty of Roomba products, I will always go with the 980, despite it being slightly overpriced.
980 is smart vacuum cleaner with excellent vacuuming power, conservative battery usage, and outstanding on-carpet performance.
It is also a fantastic pet hair collector. But, if you want to save some money and don’t have pets, you should probably go with the 960.
Conclusion
Roomba 980 wins the battle, but not by knockout. The 960 does have its benefits, the most prominent one being relatively reasonably priced.
However, those who seek the best features and the most reliable cleaning performance should go with the 980.
Keep in mind that, whichever you choose, you’ll get a lot of free time.
The only thing you need to do is pay attention to the vacuum’s alert system, empty it regularly and clean the brushes when cleaning is required. If you do that, your robotic friend will do wonders in your home.
