Roomba 880 vs 770 – A Generational Battle: Does the Roomba 770 or 880 Have More Value?

Last Updated on November 20th, 2017 by

Robotic vacuums have changed the way people clean their homes.

Instead of scheduling off a block of time every Saturday morning to move furniture around your home to get all the dust mites, dirt, and debris from your floors, users can use their robot vacuum to clean all the different types of floors in their home without the need to move furniture.

These vacuums can also be scheduled to run while you are not home and many are even quiet enough to run while sleeping at night. One of the premiere companies in the world that produces these vacuums is iRobot.

With each new model they release, iRobot enhances their products and includes more features and benefits that make their products the best.

Special Holiday Pricing Update: Both the Roomba 880 and 770 have been discounted off and on throughout this Holiday shopping season. 

• The Roomba 880 is not currently discounted, but you can check here.
• The Roomba 770 is discounted for a record 32% off here! This is the best I’ve seen this season.

Two of the most recent models that were released by iRobot were the Roomba 880 and Roomba 770. These models are similar to one another, but both are constructed with the customer in mind and feature many benefits that help them stand out. When compared to each other, how do they compare?

In a hurry? Check out my high level advantages of both to make a quick decision. Read the full article for all the details.

Roomba 880 Advantages	Roomba 770 Advantages
2 Virtual Wall “Lighthouses” (can cover more rooms, good for larger homes/offices)	Over $200 cheaper than the 880 (For the latest prices and discounts, check here)
Comes with extra replacement HEPA filter	Not too far behind the 880 technology
Up to 50% more effective at picking up dirt
Larger dust bin
New longer lasting battery

Key Features of iRobot Roomba 880

When then iRobot Roomba 880 was designed and constructed, it was done so for those homes that have pets and for those owners that have severe allergies.

With an AeroForce Performance Cleaning System, the Roomba 880 helps get floors in homes, apartments, and office buildings cleaned like no other product on the market. Essentially what this product excels at is cleaning any type of flooring one could find with little to no maintenance.

Extended Battery Life: One of the biggest complaints about other robotic vacuums that have been released over the past decade is the battery life. That is not a problem users would have with this product. It has an extended life that is at the top of the industry.

The iRobot XLife battery will get users an average of twice the number of cleaning cycles per charge compared to other robotic vacuums, including those released by iRobot.

With your battery living twice as long as it would have previously, it allows the consumer more time with their vacuum without the need for replacing it.

Even if the Roomba 880 was to run out of charge in the middle of a cleaning cycle, it will return to the docking station, get a full charge and continue with the process where it left off.

More Advanced Cleaning Tech: A key feature of the Roomba 880 is its use of the iAdapt Responsive Navigation Technology. This technology allows the vacuum to clean any type of flooring and will remove all dirt, allergens, and debris that could lead to dangerous health issues.

Unique to the 880 model; however, is the AeroForce Performance Cleaning System which iRobot touts as more effective than past systems. In a few case studies that I ran (a bunch of spelled/crushed cheerios on the carpet) I only noticed a slight difference between the 770 and 880.

The 880 required at least one less pass to suck up all the fine crumbs. I don’t know if this is scientific enough, but it DID pass the eye test.

Scheduling: Owners of robot vacuums enjoy the convenience that comes with it which in large part includes the ability to schedule operation. While you are at work, taking a nap, or eating dinner, this vacuum can be operated to run.

It can be scheduled to run as many as seven times a week and with a quiet operation, it won’t disrupt anyone sleeping.

Other Features of Note

Robot vacuums are a big purchase for any household to make and one of the biggest fears is that it will break down.

Among the biggest fears in regards to the vacuum breaking would be falling down a flight of stairs, but this device has cliff detecting technology that will sense a change in the floor level and keep it from going over the edge.

Cornering Along Baseboards: The issue a lot of customers have with robot vacuums is that they don’t get close to the baseboard or the corners. That is something owners of the Roomba 880 wouldn’t have to worry about because of its wall to wall technology.

This unit also automatically adjusts itself to clean different types of flooring ranging from carpeted to wood and everything in between.

2 Virtual Lighthouses: The iRobot Roomba 880 comes equipped with Virtual Wall Lighthouses which can be placed around the home to ensure the unit only goes into rooms it is needed in.

While the Roomba 880 is in operation, whether as scheduled or just to pick up a spill on the ground, it can be operated by using the infrared remote control. This allows users to pause operation for any reason or to even just turn the unit on.

HEPA Filters: Part of what makes this vacuum so good for those with serious allergies is the HEPA filter that it is made with. This filter allows the vacuum to pick up all the dust and debris in the air and doesn’t allow any of the dangerous allergens to get pushed into the air.

Along with the HEPA filter, another reason why this vacuum is at the top of the class is iRobot’s Series II technology that makes persistent passes over areas of the floor multiple times.

What’s in the Box?

New customers looking to bring the iRobot Roomba 880 home will get the vacuum, plus an XLife battery, two Virtual Wall Lighthouses, home charging base, remote control, and additional HEPA filter.

Features of iRobot Roomba 770

The iRobot Roomba 770 is $200 cheaper than the Roomba 880 which may immediately make it more desire by some customers. The Roomba 880 is a more updated version of the Roomba 770, but the latter also has many features that make it a great buy for anyone looking to get a robot vacuum.

Solid 3-Stage Cleaning: When it comes to one of the best features of the Roomba 770, the top would be the 3-stage cleaning process that helps clean as much as 98 percent of dirt, dust, and debris found on the floor.

This advanced technology uses multiple sensors – acoustic and optical – that allow it to pick up more than many other products on the market. iRobot paid close attention to details when they constructed this unit and customers will be impressed with the quality of work being done.

Also Has HEPA Filters: Much like the Roomba 880, this robotic vacuum is equipped with HEPA air filters that clean the air when in use while it also collects all the dangerous particles from the air. After using the vacuum, the filter helps to make the air around the home feel fresher and cleaner.

Good Dirt Detection: When iRobot claims that this unit can clean up to 98 percent of dirt, dust, and debris, it needs to back it up and with the Dirt Detect Series, it does just that.

The vacuum will clean with a persistent pass cleaning pattern that ensures it takes the best route to cleaning floors.

It would essentially clean the floor just as it would if you were manually cleaning with a broom or upright vacuum. With its built-in sensors, the Roomba 770 is able to pick up more including pet hair.

Also Feature iAdapt Tech: The Roomba 770 features state of the art technology that iRobot has developed called iAdapt Responsive Cleaning Technology.

This is the technology that the company has used on many of their products and what it does is help it move around obstacles, clean underneath furniture, along the baseboards. The technology also helps the vacuum to avoid obstacles like couch skirts curtains, cords, carpet fringe, and more.

Other Features of Note

Also Comes With 2 Virtual Walls: The Roomba 770 also comes with two Virtual Walls, which allows users to block off any room that it isn’t needed for. The vacuum also comes with the ability to schedule as many as seven different vacuuming sessions throughout the week.

Even if you are away on vacation, at work, or taking an afternoon nap, this vacuum will constantly work to clean your home and there is no need to worry about the battery running out, as it will automatically return to the docking station at the conclusion of its operation.

What’s in the Box?

The iRobot Roomba 770 comes with a HEPA filter, two Virtual Walls, dirt detecting sensors, home charging base, and remote control.

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison: Roomba 880 vs 770

iRobot Roomba 880		iRobot Roomba 770
For the latest prices and discounts, check here	Price	For the latest prices and discounts, check here
Yes, Two	Virtual Wall Lighthouse	Yes (although called “virtual walls”)
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
HEPA	Type of Filter	HEPA
Yes	Dirt Detecting Sensors	Yes
No	Camera Vision Mapping System	No
Yes	Remote Control	Yes
Round	Shape	Round

 You decide: Which is Best?

Help other readers! Vote in the following poll, if you have an opinion one way or another.

Overall Recommendation

These two iRobot products may seem to be similar, but both have enough positive features that make them stand apart from the other. The Roomba 770 may be a better vacuum for those homes that feature pets, but it is also beneficial for homes without pets.

Right now, you can get a pretty good value for your money by going with the 770, partly because the new 800 series are driving prices for older series down. You can find a great price on the Roomba 770 here (in my experience).

The Roomba 880 is made for use in any size home or office and with iRobot’s advanced XLife battery, will last for double the amount of time of rival products. You really can’t beat the 880 in terms of overall performance.

It’s definitely more expensive, but if you have the money to spare, it is well worth it. Prices have been coming down for the Holidays and you’ll be able to find some great deals on the 880 at this product listing.