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Buyers who are currently looking for a robot vacuum are very fortunate because they have a lot of manufacturers to choose from. Two of the brands that are now generating the most buzz in the robot vacuum space are Eufy RoboVac and iRobot Roomba.
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Eufy RoboVac
Eufy has a line of budget vacuums that will keep your floors clean. The Eufy RoboVac series has several models under $300 and features some of the technologies that are familiar to most people who currently own a robot vacuum. This means that you are getting the same kind of technologies that you see on more expensive vacuums, without having to pay too much!
Eufy RoboVacs share some things in common. Each of the different models makes use of a three-stage cleaning process wherein the main brush agitates, loosen and sweeps dust and dirt from your floors, then side brushes extend the cleaning area of the robot vacuum in a single pass. The dust and dirt that get swept up by these brushes are then sucked into the dust collector. Eufy RoboVacs use high-efficiency triple filters that keep the dust inside the collector, preventing them from recirculating into the air.
All RoboVac models use a high-capacity lithium battery, which is better than the older nickel metal hydride battery because it lasts longer and is more durable. Runtimes for these robot vacuums start at 90 minutes to 100 minutes.
When it comes to suction, the Eufy RoboVacs give you more power than the more expensive robot vacuums. For instance, the first generation Eufy RoboVac 11 already gives you 1,000 Pa of vacuuming power, while the RoboVac 30 gives you 50% more. There is also the BoostIQ technology that is featured in later RoboVac models. This allows your robot vacuum to use a more powerful suction where it is needed. But even with all that power, Eufy RoboVac models work rather quietly, enabling you to carry a conversation at normal volumes while they do the cleaning.
All RoboVac models can efficiently clean hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. The earlier RoboVac models are not suitable for cleaning medium-pile carpets or thicker ones. However, the RoboVac 11+, 11S and 30 will be able to clean medium-pile carpets without any trouble.
With big caster wheels, the Eufy RoboVac will not have problems cleaning on different floor types. RoboVacs can easily clear climbs of more than half an inch to 0.63 inches.
Pricing
The Eufy RoboVac has a price tag of less than $300. The original Eufy RoboVac 11 currently has a reduced price of $159.99 on Amazon, while the RoboVac 11+ has a price tag of $249.99. While it is not currently available, the RoboVac 11c came out to the market with a selling price of $299.00, while RoboVac 11c Pet Edition sells exclusively at Walmart for $289.00. The two latest models, the RoboVac 11S and the RoboVac 30, cost $229.99 and $269.99, respectively.
Side-by-side comparison of the different Eufy RoboVac models
| RoboVac 11 | RoboVac 11+ | RoboVac 11c | RoboVac 11c Pet Edition | RoboVac 11S | RoboVac 30 | |
| Price |
$159.99 |
$249.99 |
No current pricing | $289.00 |
$229.99 |
$269.99 |
| Dimensions (d x h, inches) | 13.0 x 3.1 | 12.8 x 3.4 | 13.0 x 3.1 | 13.0 x 3.0 | 12.8 x 2.9 | 12.8 x 2.9 |
| Maximum suction power (Pa) | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1300 | 1500 |
| BoostIQ technology | N/A | 1st Gen | N/A | N/A | 2nd Gen | 2nd Gen |
| Dust collector capacity (liters) | 0.60 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.60 | 0.60 |
| Noise level (decibels) | 57 | 60 | 57 | 57 | 55 | 55 |
| Climbing threshold (inches) | 0.59 | 0.59 | 0.59 | 0.59 | 0.63 | 0.63 |
| Boundary strips | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| Cleans hardwood floors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cleans medium pile carpets | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| High performance triple-filter system | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Run time (minutes) | 90 | 100 | 90 | 90 | 100 | 100 |
Eufy RoboVac 11 is the first to be released, and it was hailed as one of the best budget robot vacuums available at the time. It features maximum vacuum suction of 1,000 Pa, quickly filling up its 0.6-liter dust collector. More than that, it is a very efficient robot vacuum that is able to easily clean hardwood floors.
Eufy then came out with the RoboVac 11+ and the RoboVac 11c. These models do not differ much from the original RoboVac 11, but the 11+ does have the BoostIQ technology that gives it more suction power, allowing it to clean dirtier areas in a snap. It also has a longer runtime at 100 minutes. The RoboVac 11c, on the other hand, is Wi-Fi connected, allowing you to control your robot vacuum using your smartphone. The RoboVac 11c is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, allowing you to use voice commands to control your robot vacuum. Eufy also came out with the RoboVac 11c Pet Edition, which is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.
These robot vacuums have a high profile at more than three inches, which is why Eufy came out with the RoboVac 11S. The S in its name stands for slim, as RoboVac 11S has a lower profile at 2.9 inches. It also has a narrower diameter at only 12.8 inches, which is a half an inch lower than the 11+. Even with its lower profile, the RoboVac 11S can deliver up to 1,300 Pa of suction power. The 11S has better caster wheels than the previous models, so it can manage to climb up to 0.63 inches. It also features the second generation BoostIQ, which is faster than the previous generation. The improved BoostIQ now gives you more power in just 1.5 seconds.
Then you have the RoboVac 30. The Eufy RoboVac 30 is marketed as an upgraded RoboVac 11S, with its suction power reaching 1,500 Pa. This is the first RoboVac model that works with boundary strips, which keep it from leaving the room or going inside an off-limits area.
iRobot Roomba
When you talk about robot vacuums, iRobot’s Roomba is considered the gold standard. The company has been making robot vacuums since 2002. From that time up until now, the company has not stopped innovating and has continuously come out with features and functionalities that other robot vacuum manufacturers can only replicate.
There are currently five Roomba models available on the iRobot website:
Roombas share some technologies. For instance, all currently available Roomba models except for the Roomba 614 are Wi-Fi connected, allowing you to control them using the companion mobile app. You can also operate them using voice commands if you have either Amazon Alexa speakers or Google Assistant.
Roombas either use the iAdapt or the iAdapt 2.0 navigation system. iAdapt makes use of sensors to direct your robot vacuum where to go, search for dirtier areas, and avoid falling off stairs. The 900-series adds to these sensors with a visual localization camera that allows it to create virtual maps of your floors. It will then use this map to know where it is and where it needs to go for a more comprehensive clean. This also allows the Roomba 960 and Roomba 980 to resume cleaning after charging.
Roombas also use a three-stage cleaning system, combining a main brush, a side brush, and a powerful vacuum suction to clean dirt and dust off your floors. Speaking of cleaning technology, Roombas use three technologies: AeroVac, AeroVac 2 and AeroForce. AeroVac is what series 600 Roomba robots use, applying optimized vacuum suction to pull the hair, dust, debris, and dirt off the main and side brushes. AeroVac 2 has a more powerful vacuum than the first generation AeroVac. Meanwhile, more advanced Roomba models use the AeroForce technology, which makes use of the debris extractor instead of the main brush. Because the debris extractor does not have brushes, pet, and human hair are not tangled in it. The rubber material also breaks down bigger debris, making it easy to send into the dustbin. Suction power is five times stronger than that of the AeroVac.
Series 600 has AeroVac filters, while Series 800 and Series 900 Roomba models have the AeroForce High-Efficiency filters. The AeroForce High-Efficiency filters can trap 99% of dust, pollen, and allergens that are 10 microns or bigger.
All Roomba models that are currently available allow you to schedule cleaning up to 7 days a week. They can also find their way back to the charging dock if their battery runs low, or you can manually dock them. They also use some sort of navigation control device, which prevents them from going out of a particular room or entering one that you do not like them to clean. These are:
- Virtual walls can emit an infrared beam that blocks any Roomba from crossing.
- Virtual wall lighthouses can act as a virtual wall, but you can also set it to lighthouse mode, which keeps the robot inside the room until it is spotless. When the robot finishes the room, the lighthouse will then guide it to the next room.
- Dual mode virtual wall barriers can block a Roomba from going out of the room. They also have virtual wall halos that can protect a specific area within a room that the Roomba is cleaning. The halo function will allow you to protect expensive furniture, decor, and vases, and even ensure that your pet’s food bowl will be safe.
| Model | Roomba 614 | Roomba 690 | Roomba 890 | Roomba 960 | Roomba 980 |
| Price | $299.99 (Check out the latest price here!) | $349.99 (Check out the latest price here!) | $499.99 (Check out the latest price here!) | $699.99 (Check out the latest price here!) | $899.99 (Check out the latest price here!) |
| Cleans all floor types | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Patented 3-stage cleaning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max. run time (minutes) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 | 120 |
| Self-charging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dirt detect | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connected | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tangle-free rollers | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-room cleaning | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| High-efficiency filter | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recharge and resume | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Clean map reports | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Custom cleaning preferences | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Deeper cleaning on carpets | No | No | No | No | Yes |
While the Roomba 690, 890, 960 and 980 all feature Wi-Fi connectivity and may be controlled using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and the mobile app, only the Roomba 960 and Roomba 980 have clean maps reports. These reports show you where the robot vacuums have cleaned using a virtual map of your floors.
The Series 900 Roombas also have longer run times. It is 75 minutes for the Roomba 960 and 120 minutes for the Roomba 980. Another set of features that are available only on the Series 900 models are the custom cleaning preferences, which include invoking the two-pass cleaning, edge cleaning mode, and the full bin action control.
Only the Roomba 980 has the carpet boost feature, which makes it the most powerful Roomba model ever.
Final say: Roomba vs. Eufy RoboVac
If you want Wi-Fi connectivity, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a better navigation system and a more thorough clean, you should really invest in a Roomba. The higher-end Series 900 Roomba models allow you to customize your cleaning to the level of efficiency you want.
However, you might find Roomba 960 and 980 too expensive. Even the lowest priced Wi-Fi connected Roomba, the 690, sells for $350.
If you can forego on the convenience that a Wi-Fi-connected robot vacuum offers, you should consider getting a Eufy RoboVac or a Roomba 614. All of these cost less than $300 and deliver a good clean.
Patrick Sinclair is a geek; make no mistake about that. He runs All Home Robotics in his spare time so he doesn’t have to think about his depressing cubicle and it gives him an excuse to buy expensive gadgets to review!
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