In this article, we are going to be looking at Roomba 650 vs. 690. These budget-conscious robotic vacuums are not newer but have more advanced features like the Roomba 890 or the Roomba 980.
The Roomba 650 is a bit older model and the Roomba 690 was actually introduced to replace the 650 and remains one of Roomba’s five flagship models sold on their website. So now, the Roomba 650 is only offered from third-party retailers.
The comparable features between the Roomba 650 and 690 are three-stage cleaning process, HEPA filtration, a virtual barrier, and infrared navigation.
And, we are going to discuss these features in great detail including design, usability, value, features, battery power, returns, warranty, and many other factors.
Roomba 650 vs. Roomba 690
Table of Contents
Roomba has developed several high-end robot vacuums with their new series, but both of these two vacuums the 650 and the 690 belong to the 600 series.
Although they are almost similar, the most noticeable difference is voice control and wifi connectivity which also increases the price tag of 690 due to these extra features.
So 690 can be a bit expensive but you can enjoy the voice command feature and scheduled cleanings through wifi connectivity.
Roomba 650 Review
The Roomba 650 an affordable vacuum that only comes with basic features that are justified by the lower price tag.
It comes with a three-stage cleaning process, spot cleaning mode, scheduled cleanings, and a handle to positioning it around your space. It does lack one or two more advanced features but the idea behind this robot was to be budget-friendly robot vacuum.
The Roomba 650 is suitable for those people looking for a robot with basic features but in a lower price tag. While it lacks advanced navigation and wifi connectivity, but scheduled cleanings and spot clean makes this robot vacuum worthy of your money.
- Brings basic cleaning features and offers solid cleaning performance.
- Entry level and inexpensive model
- Lacks memory features resulting in slightly clumsier navigation.
- Lacks wifi or app remote control.
Roomba 690 Review
The Roomba 690 robot vacuum comes with few similar features to the Roomba 650, but has updated look compared to 650 and boasts some advanced features like wifi connectivity and voice control.
The advantage of these extra features is that you can simply control your robot using your smartphone and put it on scheduled cleanings as well as connect it with your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to operate the robot using voice commands. This wireless connection allows for a sleeker look on the robot itself and puts the power in your hands.
Overall, the Roomba 690 not only has features of 650 but also smartphone/voice control. That said, the Roomba 690 offers top-tier cleaning performance, smartphone control, at a reasonable price tag.
- Comes with voice control and wifi connectivity
- Smaller in size than the Roomba 650, which is good to sneak in tight areas.
- Lacks memory feature means slightly clumsier navigation.
- Slightly expensive than the Roomba 650.
Roomba 650 Design
Regarding design, there are a lot of similarities between the bot robots. The Roomba 650 has a mainly black body with a slight melon colored accent distinguishing the buttons section. The colors of the button are silver for an extra visual pop.
The 650 features a handle like Roomba 690 at the front side, and at the back side is dust bin release level. However, the 650 not only contains the “CLEAN” button but:
- Auto clean: start / return home
- Handle
- Bumper
- Dust bin release
Roomba 690 Design
The Roomba 690 is almost similar to the 650 model. The only differences here are aesthetic. The 690 comes with a black and silver scheme with neon green accents that point out the lift handle or dust bin release on the body.
The central control pad compared to 650 is simplified. The wifi capabilities, schedules cleanings, and some other settings can be accessed via a smartphone app. Similarly, you can also use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Auto clean: start / return home
- Handle
- Bumper
- Dust bin release
How Roomba 650 Cleans
Although the Roomba 650 lacks memory feature, the dirt detection feature allows this robot to sport the dirtiest places in your home. With the help of infrared light scan 60 times per second, the robot figures out the navigational path to reduce bumps and bruises.
Furthermore, the three-stage cleaning process allows the robot to agitate, brush and suck any type of debris across any type of floors. The bristles brush agitates the debris and the spinning side brush gathers debris from the edges. Once all debris is in the path of the central brush roll, the vacuum sucks it up and transmits it into the dustbin.
The Roomba 650 shares a similar cleaning process like of the Roomba 690 and uses the same basic parts to do it.
- Wheels
- Spinning brush
- Charging pins
- Brushroll
- Dust bin/filter
How Roomba 690 Cleans
As mentioned earlier, the Roomba 690 comes with all the basic features of the Roomba 650. All basic features include spinning brushes, center bristle brush roll, and filtration system. The navigation system is identical with the same number of edge sensors, in the same location.
Pet owners will find the bristle brush roll on both of these vacuums a little difficult. But, the other robot vacuums like 870, 890, 960, or 980 are equipped with advanced dual brush rolls which use rubber debris extractors to prevent tangles and suck let of pet hairs.
The parts that part of cleaning is:
- Wheels
- Spinning brushes
- Charging pins
- Brushroll
- Dust bin release
- Edge sensors
Size Difference
The Roomba 650 and 690 both are similar but not extremely identical in size like 3.6″ tall. Similarly, the 650 has 13.4″ diameter, while the 690 has 13″ diameter. The Roomba 650 is slightly wider, while Room 690 is slightly smaller in width.
Regarding weight, the Roomba 650 weighs 11.8 pounds, while the Roomba 690 weighs 7.8 pounds which make the 650 heavier or 690 lighter.
Roomba 650 Accessories & Parts
The Roomba 650 comes with the following accessories and parts:
- Virtual wall barrier
- Charging station
- HEPA filter
- Cleaning tool
- Battery
- Spinning brush
Roomba 690 Accessories & Parts
The Roomba 690 comes with the following accessories and parts:
- Virtual wall barrier (advanced with Halo mode, see below)
- Charging station
- HEPA filter
- Cleaning tool
- Battery (not shown)
- Spinning brush (not shown)
The Advanced Virtual Barrier by 690 - Halo Mode
The virtual barrier of the Roomba 650 can only be used for straight paths and doorways, while the Roomba 690 model barrier can operate with two separate models.
One to create a straight path and Halo Mode to create a 4' diameter zone like around the furniture or pet food area.
Roomba 650 Usability
The Roomba 650 is easy to use and it can be put to cleaning job right out of the package.
To start a cleaning cycle, simply hit the "Clean" button or put it on a schedule for later cleaning.
Roomba 690 Usability
The Roomba 690 has consistent usability like other models which is simple, easy, and time efficient.
As the Roomba 690 brings the wifi connectivity, so installing the application in your smartphone can take a few minutes to make it ready to clean.
Roomba 650 Maneuverability
The Roomba 650 is good in terms of maneuverability. It falls under 4" for the height and has 13" diameter of width. With these specifications, navigation of the Roomba 650 becomes a bit sporadic. As it lacks the memory feature, so the navigation totally depends on the bump ring, drop detection, and infrared sensors.
- Weight – 7.9 lbs.
- Width – 13.4″
- Height – 3.6″
- Turning – 360°
Roomba 690 Maneuverability
At this point, you should remember that the Roomba 690 is almost identical to the 650 model. Having the same height of 650, the 690 is 0.4" narrowed, but regarding maneuverability, this small difference is negligible.
The advanced virtual barrier is very helpful for the Roomba to navigate around difficult furniture or awkward spaces.
- Weight – 7.8 lbs.
- Width – 13″
- Height – 3.6″
- Turning – 360°
Regarding navigation, both the Roomba 650 and 690 use iAdapt 1.0 without any memory feature. Therefore, the traffic pattern is slightly sporadic, moving in straight lines until it bumps into an edge, to rotate and turn around.
Roomba 650 Maintenance
The maintenance of the Roomba 650 is comparable with the Roomba 690. Empty the dust bin, clean larger brushes and extractors, and clean and replace filters.
The annual maintenance cost of the Roomba 650 is $33.
The replacement parts bought from iRobot can be slightly expensive, but third-party vendors can give you at a lower cost which can reduce the annual costs.
| Accessory / Part | Replacement Frequency | Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HEPA filter | 2 months | Check Price |
| Spinning brush | 6 months | Check Price |
| Front wheel | 12 months | Check Price |
| Brushroll | 12 months | Check Price |
| Battery | 18-36 months | Check Price |
Roomba 690 Maintenance
The Roomba 690 has similar maintenance to the 650 model. Being in the 600 series, they have similar parts and replacement procedures.
The annual maintenance cost for the Roomba 690 is also $33.
As with the Roomba 650, you can get branded parts from iRobot for 690 or go to third-party vendors.
| Accessory / Part | Replacement Frequency | Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| HEPA filter | 2 months | Check Price |
| Spinning brush | 6 months | Check Price |
| Front wheel | 12 months | Check Price |
| Brushroll | 12 months | Check Price |
| Battery | 18-36 months | Check Price |
Roomba 650 Battery
The Roomba 650 comes with a Lithium-ion battery of 3,000 mAh which gives a run time of around 60-90 minutes, depending on the mess and obstacles coming in the robot way.
| Battery | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,000 mAh |
| Charging Time | 2-3 hours |
| Run Time | 60-90 minutes |
| Replacement Cost | Check Price |
It takes about 2-3 hours to fully charge.
Roomba 690 Battery
The Roomba 690 comes with a Lithium-ion battery of 1,800 mAh and gives the run time of around 60 minutes, sometimes longer depending upon the complexity of the floor and level of clean.
| Battery | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,800 mAh |
| Charging Time | 2-3 hours |
| Run Time | 90 minutes |
| Replacement Cost | Check Price |
Similar to the Roomba 650, the Roomba 690 takes about 2-3 hours to fully charge.
Roomba 650 and 690 Noise
The Roomba 650 makes considerable noise of 61 dB from a distance of 3 feet which is quieter.
The Roomba 690 produces 68 dB of sound which is louder than the Roomba 650.
Roomba 650 Value
The Roomba 650 not only delivers solid value but also simplicity, a sleek design, dirt detection navigation, and scheduled cleanings. Furthermore, the replacement parts can be obtained by third-party retailers.
The 650 model comes with a battery that gives longer run time, the same HEPA filtration system (AeroVac), and the same style brush roll. The other type of filtration like AeroForce is available in more advanced models like Roomba 890 as well as dual brush roll debris extractors.
- Warranty – 1-Year limited
- Returns – 30 days via Amazon. Varies by retailer
- Company – Great
- Value – Great
iRobot is the most widely known manufacturer of Robot Vacuums. All of their products have a large number of positive reviews and the company has no record of questionable practices or frivolous consumer lawsuits.
Roomba 690 Value
On the other hand, the Roomba 690 delivers great value. It not only comes with features of the 650 but also extra features like schedule cleanings, wifi connectivity and has easy to use design.
Although the price tag is higher than the 650 but the advanced features like voice control, advanced virtual barrier and wifi connectivity are worth for that price. The barrier is useful if you have pets around or you simply want not to steer the robot in radial areas.
Roomba 650 Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Type | Robot |
| Manufacturer | iRobot |
| Model | Roomba 650 |
| Length | 13.4" |
| Width | 13.4" |
| Height | 3.8" |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs. |
| Floor Type | All (indoor) |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh |
| Dust Bin Capacity | 0.3 liter |
| Cordless | Yes |
| Bagless | Yes |
| Returns | 30 days via Amazon. Varies by retailer |
| Warranty | 1-Year limited |
| Price | Check Price |
Roomba 690 Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Type | Robot |
| Manufacturer | iRobot |
| Model | Roomba 690 |
| Length | 13" |
| Width | 13" |
| Height | 3.6" |
| Weight | 7.8 lbs |
| Floor Type | All (indoor) |
| Battery | 1,800 mAh |
| Dust Bin Capacity | 0.3 liter |
| Cordless | Yes |
| Bagless | Yes |
| Returns | 30 days via Amazon. Varies by retailer |
| Warranty | 1-Year limited |
| Price | Check Price |
Roomba 650 vs. 690: Which Should You Buy?
So in the fight of Roomba 650 vs 690, which Roomba wins and which one you should buy?
Both of these vacuums deliver outstanding performance, efficient cleaning power, despite their simple features. Regardless of the advantages and disadvantages of both vacuums, the winner of Roomba 650 and 690 comparison is the Roomba 690.
As mentioned earlier, the Roomba 650 came as a replacement of the Roomba 690. Further, the Roomba 690 brought new advanced features like wifi connectivity, smartphone control, voice control, and advanced barrier.
The Roomba 650 and 690 both are the part of 600 series which means they have a range of similarities like:
- Auto clean
- Auto-recharge
- Schedule cleanings for around 7 days
- The filtration system used is AeroVac
- Bristle brushroll
- iAdapt 1.0 navigation
- 3.6″ height
- Virtual wall barrier
- 0.3L dust bin capacity
- Full bin indicator light
Some features that are only available in the Roomba 690
- Wifi connectivity
- Voice control
- virtual wall barrier
- More efficient battery usage
Here comes the list of some other comparisons for you:
- Roomba 690 vs. 890
- Roomba 614 vs. 690
- Roomba 890 vs 980 (coming soon)
- Neato vs. Roomba (coming soon)
- iLife vs. Roomba (coming soon)
- Bobsweep vs. Roomba (coming soon)
Winner by Category
Accessories
The Roomba 690 brings additional accessories than the 650 like advanced virtual wall barrier. Despite this small difference Roomba 690 is the winner.
Cleaning
The Roomba 690 performs better than the Roomba 650 across all flooring types, so the winner is 690.
Usability
Both robots have good usability, but the wifi capabilities and voice control feature make the Roomba 690 win this point as well.
Maintenance
Maintenance cost for both vacuums are identical so this category has a draw.
Battery
The Roomba 650 comes with a 1,800 nickel hydrate battery while the 690 comes with a 3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery that gives longer run time, but the 650 can be upgraded with the same battery to gain similar performance like the 690.
Noise
The Roomba 650 is slightly quieter at 61 decibels compared to Roomba 690 at 68 decibels. So, the 650 wins here.
Value
The Roomba 690 is more expensive but offers many additional features and the added price for the additional features makes it the better value Roomba.
Should You Buy the Roomba 650?
The Roomba 650 is a quality vacuum cleaner that and still popular in the list of budget-friendly robot vacuums. The only disadvantage of this robot is the bristle brush but the 690 also uses the same brush so it's a non-factor in this comparison.
The alternative to this brush is an advanced dual debris extractor system that is available in the Roomba 800 series and prevents unnecessary tangles which makes it a great option for pet owners.
You should buy the Roomba 650 if:
- You want a less expensive vacuum even it doesn’t have wifi connectivity.
- You prefer to control the robot manually instead of using a smartphone.
- You want a quieter vacuum for your home
Should You Buy the Roomba 690?
The Roomba 690 is a great vacuum cleaner with a slightly pricier tag than the 650, but still a budget vacuum. Comes with excellent features like wifi connectivity, scheduled cleanings, voice control, and upgraded virtual wall barrier that makes the 690 a step ahead of the 650.
As the Roomba 690 is a flagship model, it's also available in the official website of iRobot as well as on many third-party retailers. if you're looking for an affordable robot vacuum cleaner with amazing features, the Roomba 690 is an ideal choice.
You should buy the Roomba 690 if:
- You want to control the robot using your Smartphone.
- You want to control the robot using your voice through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- You want an advanced virtual wall barrier to create a safe zone up to 4′ in diameter.
- Want a current model, because the 650 has become an older model but not obsolete.
In this article, we explained Roomba 650 vs. 690: Differences & Similarities to help you make a better decision. The pros, cons, features, functions, and other options are described in greater details for your comfort.
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