iRobot, the manufacturer of Roomba models, has made it a point to give everyone the chance to own a robot vacuum. It is for this reason that the company has come out with several models with different features and prices.  Today, let us take a look at two polar opposites in terms of price: the Roomba 690 and the Roomba i7+.
Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Roomba 690
The Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Roomba 690 are:
- Roomba i7+ has the Imprint Smart Mapping, whereas Roomba 690 is more affordable.
- Roomba i7+ resumes its cycle after charging, whereas Roomba 690 only recharges itself but doesn’t resume.
- Roomba i7+ is better for people with pets, whereas Roomba 690 is small and can clean under furniture.
Roomba 690
The Roomba 690 is one of the two budget robots offered by iRobot. For a Roomba that costs less than $500, is it worth buying? Here are the things you need to know about the Roomba 690. Read my full Roomba 690 review here!
Design
The Roomba 690 looks like a large hockey puck that measures 13.0 by 13.0 by 3.7 inches. The dimension of this robot vacuum helps it get into tight corners and even clean under furniture. The robot vacuum weighs 7.8 pounds.
The Roomba 690 has a silver and black color theme, making it look somewhat modern and elegant. There are only a few things that you can find on the top of the robot and these include the CLEAN button, two smaller buttons, and the carrying handle. Even without the included remote control or your smartphone, you can stop, start, and pause the robot when cleaning. All of these are familiar to Roomba users. The design on the 690 does not differ much from the company’s other robots.
Turn the Roomba 690 over, and you will find the edge-sweeping brush, the dual-multi-surface brush, and the suction. These three forms the company’s patented three-stage cleaning system, which we will discuss later on. Inside, the Roomba 690 has a filter that traps the collected dirt and dust inside the dustbin.
This robot vacuum uses a lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 90 minutes of runtime.
Features of the Roomba 690
The Roomba 690 conveniently cleans hardwood, tile, and carpeted floors. The main brush will agitate and loosen dirt and dust, and then sweeps these into the path of the vacuum. The edge sweeping brushes will do the same for the debris that hides around the corners of furniture and walls. The Roomba 690 uses the Aerovac vacuuming technology that will suck all the dirt and send it to the dustbin. Here are the other features offered by the Roomba 690:
Dirt Detect technology
The Roomba 690, like all other iRobot vacuums, uses the company’s Dirt Detect technology that allows it to determine the filthier parts of your floor. The robot vacuum will stay longer until these areas are thoroughly cleaned. The robot pays particular attention to the spots that need it most.
Self-charging
The Roomba 690 will work for up to 90 minutes on a single charge. When it runs low on battery, the robot vacuum will find its way back to the charging dock to recharge.
Sensor-based navigation
The Roomba 690 uses the company’s iAdapt technology that makes use of sensors to find its way around the room. According to the company, every second, the Roomba 690 has more than five dozen decisions to choose from. The iAdapt technology allows the robot vacuum to ensure complete coverage when cleaning your floors.
These sensors also keep the robot vacuum safe from falling off stairs or bumping into walls.
Wi-Fi connected
The Roomba 690 will connect to your Wi-Fi network, enabling you to control it using your smartphone. With the companion app, you can operate the Roomba 690 and create cleaning schedules for it to follow. You can also tell your robot vacuum to start cleaning if you have Amazon Alexa or Google Home smart speakers.
Ratings and Reviews for the Roomba 690
The Roomba 690 gets a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5.0 on the company’s online store.
Reviewers like how easy it is to use, and how it cleans your rooms very thoroughly. They appreciate the long run time as well. However, there are also complaints that the 690 misses some spots, leaving patches of your floors uncleaned. It can also be noisy when working, and the small dustbin means that you will have to empty it more often.
Overall, this robot vacuum gets a high rating from both verified users and professional reviewers. The Roomba 690 has a rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 stars on Tom’s Guide.  Meanwhile, Wired.com gives it a rating of 8.0 out of 10.0 stars, while TopTenReviews.com gives it a score of 8.23 out of 10.0 stars.
Furthermore, verified buyers on Amazon give the Roomba 690 an average rating of 4.1 stars out of 5.0. There are close to 2,900 reviewers on the site attesting to how excellent this robot vacuum performs.
Who Should Buy the Roomba 690?
For those who are looking for a robot vacuum that can clean without hassles, the Roomba 690 will be an excellent choice. At prices ranging from $300 to $350, this is one of the best under- $500 robot vacuums that you can buy right now. More than the low price, the Roomba 690 delivers when it comes to cleaning. If you live in a small apartment or a small house, this robot vacuum might be perfect for you as it can do more than an hour of cleaning.
Roomba i7+
There are a lot of things that the Roomba i7+ shares with other robot vacuums from iRobot. It has a round form and it cleans your floors on its own. It charges itself when the battery runs low. The Roomba i7+ even looks the same as the earlier Roomba robot vacuum models.
However, this model is the most expensive in iRobot’s history. Selling at around $1,000 to $1,500, the Roomba i7+ can shock people with its price tag. The reason for the high price is because this robot vacuum has one-of-a-kind features that keep it a head above the rest. When it was introduced, we can hear every other competitor dying or scrambling to keep up. Here’s what you need to know about the Roomba i7+. Read my full Roomba i7+ review here!
Design
The Roomba i7+ does not differ much from the 690 and any other Roomba robot. It still has a circular shape with dimensions of 13.3 by 3.6 inches. It weighs 7.4 pounds and uses a lithium-ion battery. In fact, just looking at the robot, you could mistake it for any of the earlier Roombas. The i7+ also has an all-black color, which makes it look minimalist, futuristic, and a classic all at the same time.
The Roomba i7+ features the dual multi-surface brush and the side-sweeping brush underneath. What did change is the i7+’s charging dock, which iRobot calls the Clean Base. Unlike others, the Clean Base towers over the robot and looks like one of those automatic pet treat dispensers.
Features of the Roomba i7+
What does this robot vacuum do to justify its retail price of more than $1,000? A lot!
Self-emptying dustbin
This feature is probably the most often mentioned when it comes to the Roomba i7+. The Clean Base includes an extra vacuum that sucks out the dust and dirt from the Roomba i7+’s dust bin. When the i7+ docks to recharge, the Clean Base will turn on its own vacuum and empty the robot’s dustbin. The Clean Base has a paper bag that can hold up to 30 robot bins. That means even if you do manage to fill up the i7+’s dustbin every day, you will only take out the paper bag once a month.
Three-stage cleaning system
The Roomba i7+ uses the company’s three-stage cleaning system which makes use of the main brush, the side brush, and the powerful vacuum to clean your floors. This robot vacuum also uses the dirt detect technology. If you need your house to be thoroughly cleaned, then the Roomba i7+ is just perfect for you because it delivers up to 10 times the vacuuming power of the old Series 600 robots.
Wi-Fi connected
The Roomba i7+ can also connect to your Wi-Fi network, allowing you to use the mobile app or issue voice commands if you have Amazon Alexa or Google Home. However, even though it uses the same app as the Roomba 690, the i7+ still offers a few more features.
For instance, with the Roomba i7+, you can set customized cleaning preferences and see cleaning reports that have coverage maps. You can visually confirm that the Roomba i7+ has cleaned every inch of your room.
iAdapt 3.0 navigation
The Roomba i7+ uses sensors and an onboard camera to find its way around your house. The robot vacuum will employ the camera to create maps of your floors. The i7+ will then use this map to decide on a cleaning path. The iAdapt 3.0 system ensures that the robot cleans every nook and cranny of your house, without leaving a spot uncleaned.
What’s more, the Roomba i7+ can save these maps. You can then use the Imprint Smart Mapping feature to name each room of the house. That will allow you to schedule cleaning by room. For instance, you can schedule the robot to clean the kids’ room when they are at school.
Imprint Smart Mapping also allows you to use Alexa or Google Assistant to make the robot clean one room. For instance, if one of the kids spill something on the floor, you can just tell the Roomba i7+ to go clean that particular room. You do not have to get your smartphone or to physically pick up the i7+ and carry it to that room.
Great for pets
Because of the main brush not having bristles, the improved suction power and the high-efficiency filter that the Roomba i7+ uses, pet hair is no match for it. If you have dogs who shed a lot, then getting the Roomba i7+ will be the best decision you will make.
Ratings and reviews for the Roomba i7+
The Roomba i7+ is somewhat new, but more than 200 reviewers have already given it a high rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.0 on iRobot’s online store. People are happy with the efficient cleaning that this robot delivers while being very easy to use. They also like the long run time and the convenience that it gives maintenance-wise.
Professional reviewers TheVerge.com and Digital Trends both give the Roomba i7+ a rating of 8.0 out of 10.0 stars, citing the smart mapping feature, the automatic bin disposal, and the voice controls as the most noteworthy features. TheWired.com gives it a higher score at 9.0 stars out of 10.0. They like the robot for being able to clean its own bin and for taking everyone closer to autonomous cleaning robots. They concede that the price tag is quite surprising, but the robot vacuum is worth the splurge.
Meanwhile, TechHive.com gives it a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.0 and Engadget gives it an Engadget score of 87 percent, noting that critics give it 8.3 stars out of 10.0.
Who Should Buy the Roomba i7+?
If you can afford it, then you should definitely consider buying the Roomba i7+. This robot vacuum is an excellent way to forget about vacuuming entirely. When the trash bag is full, the Clean Base will send you an SMS message telling you that it is time to replace the bag. Imagine not having to think about dirt and dust for at least 30 days.
Those who like getting the best and the latest should also get the Roomba i7+. Moreover, people who have large houses will benefit from owning a Roomba i7+, because this robot vacuum can recharge itself and then automatically resumes cleaning when the battery is full.
The Roomba 690 vs. the Roomba i7+: Which One Should You Buy?
The Roomba i7+ is the company’s current flagship model, and it is easy to see why. Apart from being able to clean its own dustbin, and the advanced navigation technology that allows it also to save maps, there are other differences as well that might help you decide to go for the Roomba 690.
For one, the Roomba i7+ can resume cleaning after going back to the dock for a recharge. It also has a stronger vacuum; the company claims that the suction power of the i7+ is 10 times better than the 690’s. If you have pets, then the i7+ might be a better choice for you, as it does not choke that quickly when it comes to hair.
The Roomba i7+ also has a washable bin and a high-efficiency filter. As far as connected features are concerned, you can set up the Roomba i7+ to clean just the way you want with custom cleaning preferences. For instance, you can tell the i7+ to stop immediately or to continue cleaning when the dustbin is full. You can also command the i7+ to clean by room.
Side-by-side comparison: Roomba i7+ vs. Roomba 690
This side-by-side comparison will help you see the difference between the Roomba i7+ and the Roomba 690 more closely.
| Model | Roomba 690  |
Roomba i7+Â |
| Price | Check out the latest price here! | Check out the latest price here! |
| Dimensions | 13.0 x 3.7 | 13.3 x 3.6 |
| Cleans carpet and hard floors? | Yes | Yes |
| 3-Stage Cleaning System? | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum runtime (minutes)Â | 90Â | 75Â |
| Auto recharges | Yes | Yes |
| Auto resumes after charging | No | Yes |
| Dirt Detect | Yes | Yes |
| Edge-Sweeping Brush | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connected | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Voice command | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barriers | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes | Yes | Yes |
| Power-Lifting Suction | No | Yes |
| Ideal for pet hair? | No | Yes |
| High-Efficiency Filter | No | Yes |
| Washable bin | No | Yes |
| Entire level cleaning | No | Yes |
| Cleaning reports with coverage maps | No | Yes |
| Customize cleaning preferences | No | Yes |
| Automatic dirt disposal | No | Yes |
| Clean by room | No | Yes |
| Imprint Smart Mapping | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Will the Roomba 690 notify me when it’s full?
No, the Roomba 690 won’t notify you when the bin is full and you can’t specify what you want it to do when it’s bin is full either. Only the Roomba models after the 7oo series have the full bin indicator and full bin action control mode.
Can you use the Roomba 690 without WiFi?
You can still use the Roomba 690 for simple cleaning missions, but without Wi-Fi there are some features you will not have access to like remotely schedule cleaning…
How often does Roomba’s i7+ Clean Base need to be emptied?
The Clean Base will avoid you a lot of troubles…The unit holds up to 30 bins so you won’t have to change it after every use. If you clean daily, which will fill a bin or less, it means you will only have to empty the Clean Base once a month.
When the Roomba 690 is a better idea
There are times when you do not need the added features of the Roomba i7+. For instance, if you only want to clean a small area every day, then the Roomba 690 will suffice. Also, at around $700 cheaper, the Roomba 690 already delivers an excellent clean.
For everything else, however, the Roomba i7+ is definitely better.
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