Roomba e5 vs Roomba 960: Roomba Battle! Which is Best?

Last Updated on April 15th, 2019 by Natalia Bickell

Are you looking for a new robot vacuum? More than likely you’ve heard of the popular Roomba brand. iRobot, who manufactures the Roomba devices, makes a variety of high-quality robot vacuums. Let’s take a look at two of these devices, the Roomba e5 and the Roomba 960. We’ll provide a review of each robot vacuum, then take a look at how they compare to one another. First up, the Roomba e5.

Roomba e5

The Roomba e5 smart robot vacuum is a device that offers plenty of features along with strong cleaning capabilities. This cleaner is not as expensive as other Roomba models, which means it doesn’t come with all the fancy bells and whistles the top of the line vacuums have. Still, at the end of the day, the e5 is still a solid robot vacuum.

Design

When it comes to the e5, the design is similar to all its Roomba counterparts. Its circular shape and color pattern are very similar to the other robot vacuums in the Roomba universe. Located on the top of the e5 are several buttons. They are in the center of the vacuum and are labeled Clean Home, and Spot clean.

The Clean button is used to turn the vacuum on and off as well as to begin a cleaning. The Home button does just what it says and tells the Roomba e5 to return to its dock and begin charging. Spot clean is used for cleaning certain spots or areas. The e5 will move in small circles over a certain space until it decides that the area is clean.

On the bottom of the vacuum, you’ll discover three wheels, two brush rolls, the dustbin, a spinning brush, and the battery.

In regards to size, the e5 sticks closely to the same size and shape as other Roomba robot vacuums. It is 13.3” in diameter, 3.6” tall, and weighs 7.2 pounds. These measurements are right in line with what you might expect when looking at a Roomba robot vacuum.

Parts and Accessories

The Roomba e5 comes with a charging base and a virtual wall. You’ll notice the charging base is pretty standard. When the e5 needs to charge up its battery, it will automatically head back to its base and begin charging until its full or its time to clean again.

The virtual wall is a dual-mode barrier that comes with the e5 as well. This barrier helps to keep the Roomba from entering specific areas by creating virtual lines. It establishes a linear line that extends out to ten feet and a radial line that can reach up to four feet in diameter.

Features

While the Roomba e5 doesn’t offer the fancy features that many of its counterparts have, there are still a few options that you might find useful. Primarily, scheduling and app control are two functions that most people will put to use.

Scheduling, for instance, gives you the ability to set up a daily or weekly schedule. Or, if you only need to schedule a one-time cleaning, you can set that up as well. With daily and weekly scheduling, you can tell the e5 to clean at a specific day and time every day. Whether you’re at home or away, your robot vacuum will begin its cleaning cycle at the specified time.

If you need a one-time cleaning, you can set up your Roomba to clean at a specific time, that way you don’t forget to do it. For instance, if you have family visiting, you might want to schedule a cleaning the day before so that your floors look nice and clean prior to their arrival.

App control gives you the option to use your smartphone to control your Roomba. Through the mobile application, you can set up your schedule, tell the e5 that you want it to start cleaning or put the device into spot cleaning mode. You can also tell the vacuum to head back to its charging base if its cleaning and you need it to stop.

Usability

Actually using a robot vacuum might sound like it would be a complicated task, however, the reality is that it is quite simple. The Roomba e5 is one of the easiest to set up and use. There are no complex tasks or processes to complete in order to use your Roomba e5. All you have to do is press Clean and let it run. Or if you prefer, you can download the iRobot mobile application and do it all right from your smartphone.

Set up is easy as well. Unbox everything that comes with the robot vacuum, plug the charging base into an outlet, place the Roomba e5 onto the base, and you’re all set. Let your Roomba charge for a few hours and then you’ll be ready to clean. Keep in mind that Roomba recommends that you charge your robot vacuum for at least two hours prior to using it for the first time.

Once you’ve let your vacuum charge for a few hours, press the Clean button and watch your Roomba e5 get to work. This device will drive through your home finding dirt, debris, and hair, and suck them right up. While your Roomba e5 is busy cleaning, you can busy yourself with other chores or tasks. Or you can sit down and take a break.

Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the more prevalent pros and cons of the Roomba e5.

Pros

• Wifi connectivity
• Control vacuum through the smartphone application
• Powerful cleaning performance
• Easy to use and set up
• Create daily or weekly schedules

Cons

• Cannot recharge and resume current clean
• No onboard camera to create a map of your home

Verdict

Roomba’s e5 robot vacuum is one of the newer models offered by iRobot. This device provides a great cleaning performance, includes wireless capabilities, and has a price tag that anyone can afford. Its software and specs make it a great value to anyone looking to own a robot vacuum. Choosing the Roomba e5 means you’ll be getting a robust, reliable, and quality robot vacuum.

Roomba 960

The Roomba 960 robot vacuum is full of high-quality features that include dirt detection, memory mapping, smartphone control, advanced suction, and much more. This top of the line vacuum is going to cost a little more due to the inclusion of all the fancy bells and whistles. If you’re looking for a top-tier robot vacuum, and don’t mind spending a little extra money, the Roomba 960 is a great choice.

Design

Just like all the other Roomba robot vacuums on the market, the 960 comes in the shape of a circle. On top of the unit, you’ll find a small handle, as well as a built-in camera and the buttons to control the device. A lot of the Roomba’s have a very basic look, however, the 960 is a little more futuristic with its camera and small handle.

The Roomba 960 uses the color scheme that many of the classic Roomba devices use, sporting a black and silver color combination with a matte finish.

Along the top of the robot vacuum runs a bumper ring, which allows for running into furniture and other obstacles. This prevents damage from occurring to both while the 960 is cleaning as it absorbs the force created when the robot bumps into objects.

Cleaning Process

The Roomba 960 cleans just like other Roomba models do: by using a three-stage process. This process includes loosening the dirt and debris, lifting it, and then sucking it into the robot vacuum. A combination of spinning brushes, dirt extractors, and powerful suction allows the 960 to maneuver throughout your home and address tough to clean messes.

Located on top of the Roomba 960 you’ll find a digital camera. This camera serves to map out the direction in which the robot needs to navigation. Additionally, the camera has an array of sensors at its disposal situated along the perimeter of the vacuum. The sensors, combined with the camera, help the Roomba 960 to track its position, map out your home, and always know where it is in relation to its dock.

In addition to sensors that aid in navigation, there are also sensors that help the robot to detect debris, dirt, and hair as it cleans your home. This helps the robot vacuum to determine and establish a more efficient path to travel. As a result, instead of bouncing around aimlessly for a few hours and then deciding to return to its dock, the Roomba 960 can calculate the path that makes the most sense.

Size and Dimension

The size, weight, and dimensions of the 960 are right in line with what you might expect from a Roomba robot vacuum. This robot checks in at 13.8” in diameter, sits 3.6” high and weighs 8.6 pounds. While the 960 does weight a little more than the average robot vacuum, it isn’t so heavy that you can’t pick it up and move it if necessary.

Parts and Accessories

Along with your Roomba 960 robot vacuum, you’ll also get the charging base, a filter, a spinning brush, and a virtual wall. Just like with the e5, the virtual wall can be used to set up invisible boundaries that you don’t want the robot to cross. You can set up both linear and radial walls, depending on whether you don’t want the robot to enter a specific room or a certain area.

Usability

Setting up and using the Roomba 960 is simple and straightforward. Set up of a Roomba device is easy. Once you’ve removed everything from the packaging, plug the base station into a nearby outlet and drop the 960 onto it so it can start charging. No assembly is required with the Roomba 960.

After you have left the robot vacuum charge up for a few hours, you can get started cleaning through a few different methods. You can either use the buttons situated on top of the Roomba 960 or you can open up the app on your smartphone and hit the Clean button. No matter which choice you make, you should have no problems getting the 960 off on its initial clean.

Through the iRobot smartphone app, you can tell the device when you want it to start cleaning, schedule daily or weekly cleanings, looking into prior cleanings, and much more. With the app, you never have to physically interact with the 960 other than to clean out its dustbin. You can control it right from your smartphone or tablet.

You can tell your Roomba 960 to go into spot cleaning mode, perform an auto clean, or to head back to its charging dock all from the convenience of the mobile app. The beauty of the app is that if you need to start a cleaning while you’re at work or away on vacation, you don’t have to be near the device to get started. Just open the app and tell the Roomba 960 what you want it to do.

Pros and Cons

All smart robot vacuums have their fair share of drawbacks and advantages. Here are some of the more common ones you might consider.

Pros

• Built-in camera maps out your home
• Efficient cleaning paths created with camera sensors
• Cleans all indoor surfaces
• Virtual barrier included
• Mobile application provides remote cleaning capabilities
• Easy to set up and use

Cons

• Has trouble with smaller debris like salt or sugar
• More expensive than most robot vacuums

Verdict

If you need a robot vacuum that will make vacuuming a hands-free chore and you want one with all the bells and whistles, the Roomba 960 might be just the device for you. This robot cleans your home thoroughly and doesn’t have trouble with any floor type. It can be controlled via a mobile application and is easy to set up and use. The Roomba 960 is a top-tier robot vacuum that provides a high-quality performance.

Comparison Chart

Here’s a high-level comparison chart of how these two robot vacuums stack up against one another side-by-side.

	e5	960
Dustbin	0.5 L	0.3 L
iAdapt Navigation	Yes	Yes
Virtual Wall	Yes	Yes
Smart Mapping	No	Yes
Floor Type	All (indoors)	All (indoors)
Battery	1800 mAh	2600 mAH
Weight	7.2 pounds	8.6 pounds
Height	3.6”	3.6”
Width	13.3”	13.8”
Length	13.3”	13.8”

Conclusion

Choosing between the Roomba e5 and 960 robot vacuums should be fairly straightforward depending on what you want. The e5 is a solid, reliable vacuum, but doesn’t boast all the features that the 960 has. That said, it also isn’t as expensive. Both will clean all surfaces in your home thoroughly and both can be controlled via the mobile application.

But if you don’t mind spending the money, the 960 provides the additional features that make owning a robot vacuum really worth it. You’ll get a bigger battery along with mapping features that give your device the ability to navigate easily through your home while creating the most efficient path possible.

No matter what you need in a robot vacuum, the Roomba e5 and 960 both provide excellent choices. Going with either of these devices will leave you wondering why you waited so long to get one yourself.