iRobot Roomba 650 vs 770 – Which is Better Value?

Last Updated on October 7th, 2019 by Natalia Bickell

Years ago, there was never this much talk about which robotic vacuum was right for your home and which wasn’t. There weren’t nearly as many options then as there are now and a lot of times, it comes down to two different vacuums made by the same company to decide which one you will get for your house.

When it comes to the iRobot Roomba 650 and the iRobot Roomba 770, which unit stands out as the better one for you, which unit is guaranteed to clean the most debris and which has the best features?

Bottom Line Up Front?

In a rush? Just want the key points? See below! Alternatively, you can read the full comparison below the table.

Roomba 770 Advantages	Roomba 650 Advantages
Dual HEPA Filters (good for allergies/pet owners)	At least $100 cheaper (see here)
Comes with 2 (vs 1) Virtual Walls	Slightly stronger customer reviews (on Amazon)
Comes with remote control (none for 650)
Full dust bin notification
Persistent Pass Cleaning (newer tech)
Less ongoing maintenance required

Features of iRobot Roomba 650

When it comes to when robotic vacuum picks up the most dirt, debris and pet hair, the Roomba 650 is at the top of the list. The unit is a typical iRobot model in terms of its shape. It is round and features built-in technology that tells it what area of your home to concentrate on more.

The unit is one of the most affordable iRobot vacuums currently available and here are some of the features you would get on this amazing vacuum.

3-Stage Cleaning Process Series I

This is a powerful process that is what allows the Roomba 650 to pick up as much dirt, hair and debris as it does. It has a spinning side brush that can get close to wall edges to grab any loose debris handing around.

It also has counter-rotating brushes that make it act like it has a built-in broom and dustpan to pick up the dirt. To finish it all off, this unit has an extremely powerful vacuum that will suck up hair, dirt and debris that might have otherwise been missed by the brushes.

It is the 3-stage cleaning process that allows this vacuum to pick up all the debris on the floor regardless of floor type. It can automatically detect and adjust to different type of floors including carpet, hardwood, linoleum, tile and more.

This vacuum uses iRobot’s Series I version of this process, which means it only relies on acoustics track debris.

Dirt Detect

The Roomba 650 was built with sensors that are made to locate the dirt during its run, allowing the unit to make another pass or two over the dirt to ensure all the dirt and debris was picked up as promised.

iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology

This is iRobot’s patented technology that keeps track of the sensors and software that are in the vacuum. It allows the vacuum to thoroughly cover the entire area of floor that needs to be covered in your home.

It is what makes it probable that you will see it go over the same area multiple times. It does this because the sensors detected dirt and the vacuum will not stop until all the dirt has been picked up.

Virtual Wall

The virtual wall built in this unit keeps it where it is supposed to and away from areas that could be dangerous. It can detect stairs and other possible danger areas and steers clear.

This feature is also what makes the vacuum know it is safe for it to go underneath other objects like furniture that you would be unable to reach with an upright vacuum.

It is a combination of many features that allow the vacuum to adjust to different floor types, as well as avoid loose cords and more.

On Board Scheduling

Many robotic vacuums allow you to arrange one or two scheduled times where it will clean, but this unit stands out because of the ability to schedule seven cleaning trips each week.

Just schedule the time you want it to operate, whether it is in the middle of the night, during dinner or while you’re at work and it will take care of the rest.

Once the scheduled times arrive, the unit will leave its docking station and report to the area where it needs to clean and once it is done, will return to the dock for recharging.

Features of iRobot Roomba 770

One might assume that since the Roomba 770 is just an updated version of iRobot’s robotic vacuums that this would have many of the same features as the Roomba 650.

While the two units do have many of the same features, this unit does come with a little more and with a retail price that is $100 higher, it would be expected. The Roomba 770 is advertised to clean up 98 percent of all dirt, dust and pet hair on your floor. What else does this product boast?

3-Stage Cleaning Process Series II

This cleaning process is very similar to that of the Roomba 650 but with one major change. The reason why iRobot claims this vacuum can clean up to 98 percent of debris on your floor is because it uses their advanced technology to clean which includes acoustic and optical sensors.

With the increased attention to details, this vacuum can get more of the dirt and dust that others would leave.

Dual HEPA Air Filters

This vacuum was built with dual HEPA air filters which helps keep the air clean while operating as they collect allergens, dust and other dangerous particulates. This will leave your home feeling fresher and cleaner after each use.

This is actually a significant advantage of the Roomba 770 over the 650  for pet owners.

Dirt Detect Series

With this feature, you will also get what iRobot calls a persistent pass cleaning pattern. With these sensors, the vacuum is set to clean just as you would if you were operating it.

The sensors acoustically find dirt and debris on the ground and will use its optical sensors to find any pet hair. This allows the Roomba 770 to concentrate more on the areas it needs to when get more dirt than other vacuums by using this unique cleaning pattern.

iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology

This is the same feature as seen on the Roomba 650. The iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology helps guide your vacuum underneath furniture, around obstacles, along floorboards and even helps guide the vacuum towards soft obstacles like couch skirts.

It is also built to recognize carpet fringe and cords, meaning it won’t get tangled up.

Virtual Wall

This is another area where the two robotic vacuums are similar, but in the case of the Roomba 770, it has two virtual walls that will keep it cleaning where it should and avoiding areas it shouldn’t.

On Board Scheduling

With seven different cleaning sessions that can be scheduled in a week, the iRobot Roomba will continue to clean your home even when you are away on vacation, on a work trip or staying with friends for the night.

It starts when it is scheduled to and once it completes its run, goes back to the docking station to recharge.

Remote Control

This might not seem like a major factor in any technological product, but when it comes to robotic vacuums, they don’t all come with one. This one does and allows you to turn it on without ever even getting up from your couch or bed.

iRobot Roomba 650 or iRobot Roomba 770

iRobot Roomba 650		iRobot Roomba 770
see for latest	Price	see here for latest
Yes, One	Virtual Wall	Yes, Two
Yes	Restart Mode	Yes
3.6	Height (inches)	3.4
Yes	Auto Adjust To Floor Type	Yes
Yes	Carpet/Hardwood/Tile	Yes
Yes	Charging Base	Yes
AeroVac	Type of Filter	HEPA
Yes	Dirt Detect	Yes
Round	Shape	Round

If you want to get more of the nitty gritty about either of these robots, you can check out my full review of the Roomba 650 here OR the Roomba 770 right here.

Which One Would I Pick?

This is the tough part. As a future robot vacuum owner, you have to decide which unit is best for you. If you are looking to save $100, then the Roomba 650 is the best choice for your home. It will leave it clean and has many of the same features as the Roomba 770.

However, the Roomba 770 has several extra features that make it a better purchase. With this vacuum, you get two virtual walls that keep the vacuum where it is supposed to stay, plus you also get an updated HEPA filter that keeps the air clean while operating.

You can view the latest prices for the Roomba 650 here.

The Roomba 770 also comes with a remote control, lets you know when the bin is full and needs to be emptied and was built with a persistent pass cleaning pattern that will ensure it puts in extra time on areas that have more dirt, dust and pet hair than other areas in the home.

For pet owners, I’d definitely go with the Roomba 770 because of the DUAL HEPA filters, which are a significant improvement over the single filter in the 650. Click here to see the latest prices on the Roomba 770.

You might also enjoy one of Roomba’s most recent models. Check out our top Roomba model guide here!