In this article, we will talk about two very popular robotic vacuums – Roomba 650 vs 805.

Nowadays, robotic vacuums are getting more and more popular, thanks to constant technological improvements. Even though there are only a few top brands, that you could list from the top of your head, there are actually multiple series and hundreds of models available.

This has resulted in a new problem which is picking the right robotic vacuum for your household. Comparing all of them is impossible, therefore, we decided to create this article. Today, we will talk about two very common units – Roomba 650 vs Roomba 805.

Based on the opinions online, as well as our own experience, we will give you a thorough review of each product. At the end of this article, you can also find a winner of this comparison. Although, keep in mind, that you will have to decide for yourself which unit is more suitable for your situation.

Without further ado, let’s get into the proper part of this comparison.

Roomba 650 vs Roomba 805

NAME:	Roomba 650	Roomba 805
MAXIMUM SUCTION:	600 Pa	600 Pa
SIZE:	13.4 x 13.4 x 3.58 in.	13.9 x 13.9 x 3.62
WEIGHT:	7.72 lb.	8.38 lb.
NOISE LEVEL:	68 dB	65 dB
UNIQUE FEATURES:	–	Full bin indicator
CAPACITY:	0.4 L.	0.6 L.
BATTERY LIFE:	90 minutes	60 minutes
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	Amazon.com	Amazon.com

Main differences

Firstly, we would like to address, that each of these products is actually a very reliable device which should be more than sufficient for most of the users. However, there are a few key differences, that you should keep in mind before making the final decision.

The first major difference is battery life. This is the main factor limiting maximum cleaning time, therefore, it’s definitely something to consider if you own a big household. There’s a significant difference in runtime which can be a crucial aspect for some people.

The Roomba 650 can operate for 90 minutes while the Roomba 805 can operate only for 60 minutes. Maximum runtime determines how much area can be covered in a single cleaning, as the vacuum runs out of the battery sooner, than from empty space in the dustbin.

You should also keep in mind, that there is a “Recharge and resume” feature present in both models. This allows the vacuums to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue the cleaning process, in case they run out of battery.

Another important dissimilarity is dustbin capacity. While this may not really influence maximum cleaning time, it’s definitely something to consider if you don’t fancy emptying the dustbin too often. Most of the vacuum cleaners can hold dirt and debris from 2 days of cleaning, this shouldn’t be different in those models.

The Roomba 650 can a maximum dustbin capacity of 0.4 L. (13.5 oz.) while the Roomba 805 has a maximum dustbin capacity of 0.6 L. (20 oz.). This can give a slight advantage to the 805 model, and we will surely take this factor into consideration when picking the winner.

The last crucial difference is the full bin indicator. It’s a small light, that lets you know if the dustbin in your Roomba is full. This feature is only present in Roomba 805, however, many people claim, that even though it can be quite handy, the indicator tends to cause some problems.

In order to keep the indicator light working properly, you have to clean the dustbin regularly. This way, the sensor won’t catch too much dirt, and therefore, it won’t turn on the full bin indicator unless maximum capacity is reached.

Those are pretty much all important aspects, that you should keep in mind. Based on the factors above, you can already make the final decision. Although, we would highly recommend reading the rest of the article, in order to learn more well-detailed information.

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is probably the most important aspect when picking your new cleaning device. By this, we mean how well a particular unit does, compared to other cleaners from a similar price range. There are many factors, that can influence the performance which we will touch on below.

We also have to address, that both Roombas are actually quite dependable devices. The suction boasting around 600 Pa, seems to be completely sufficient for their purpose. The units do a great job on bare floors, however, we wouldn’t recommend buying them for carpet cleaning. 

The capacity of those models can also be quite low for pet hair cleaning, especially in hard-to-reach spots. Even though, there are other models which are far more efficient when cleaning high-pile carpets and pet hair, Roomba 650 and Roomba 805 should do just fine in all other scenarios.

The affordable price is also related to the lack of mapping – Both models operate by following a random path until the whole area is covered. This may not be the most efficient way of cleaning, however, it gets the job done. 

The units navigate with a full set of sensors, some of those are cliff-detect sensors, dirt-detect sensors, and more. Those prevent your Roomba from falling down the stairs or hitting the walls and furniture too hard. They also help the Roombas focus on particularly dirty spots.

Since there is no mapping, you also don’t have all the features related to this function. Therefore, you can’t set any virtual boundaries from an app (only by using a separate beacon-type device), see the cleaning map report, etc.

Another thing is the battery life, which differs quite significantly. We will, however, talk about this more in the latter part of the article. One thing, that we would like to emphasize is the “Recharge and return function” – This feature allows either Roomba to go back to its docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning after.

What’s important, the Roomba won’t start cleaning from the same place it stopped because there is no mapping. It will once again, create a random path and clean the floor until the whole area is covered.

Those are pretty much all the important aspects of cleaning performance. Of course, there are many more indirect factors that can influence the cleaning performance, such as battery life, capacity, etc. However, we will talk about the in the latter part of the article.

Capacity

Capacity is another important aspect that can sometimes influence maximum cleaning time. However, most often, the vacuum will run out of the battery sooner, than from the empty space in the dustbin.

The capacity in both units differs noticeably, as the Roomba 650 can hold only up to 0.4 L. (13.5 oz.) while the Roomba 805 can hold up to 0.6 L. (20 oz.) of dirt and debris. If you don’t want to empty and clean the dustbin too often, the Roomba 805 could be a better choice.

We would also like to emphasize, that many Roombas have a problem with full bin indicator. This is the reason why you need to clean the dustbin regularly – Otherwise, the Roomba can show, that the dustbin is constantly full.

Noise level

Noise level is something, that many people skip when choosing a new robotic vacuum, however, we always take this factor into consideration. After all, robotic vacuums were created to free up our time, therefore, an extra loud unit working in the background can be quite distracting.

There is little to no difference when it comes to the noise level in those vacuums. This can be related to the similar cleaning system which provides exactly the same suction in both units. Both Roomba 650 and Roomba 805 produce around 65 dB of noise.

We know, that this can mean nothing to you, so in order to make it more understandable – It’s a noise level similar to a standard conversation or a microwave operating.

Remote control features

The manufacturers usually provide multiple remote control features, in order to make using their products more convenient. Voice commands, remote controllers, or smartphone apps are a standard in the newest robotic vacuum cleaners, however, the situation looks different in models from this comparison.

Both Roomba 650 and Roomba 805 don’t feature any remote control features other than a standard remote controller which comes in the package. This means, you can’t connect them to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and you can’t operate them through your smartphone.

Nonetheless, there are still many features available, such as switching between different cleaning modes, scheduling the cleaning process, and more.

Battery life

Battery life is the most important factor which limits maximum cleaning time. Therefore, it’s definitely something to consider if you own a big household, or you want to cover a large area. This is something to keep an eye on, especially in those models, because the difference is significant.

The Roomba 650 can operate for up to 90 minutes while the Roomba 805 can operate only for up to 60 minutes. Therefore, the 605 model will be able to clean more area in one go.

Another thing to keep in mind is the “Recharge and resume function”, which allows the vacuum to go back to its docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning. The vacuum will not start from the same place it stopped, due to the lack of mapping. This feature is available in both Roombas from this comparison.

Design 

The design is an essential part of every robotic vacuum, as they need to fit under and around most of the furniture. What’s more, the design has to remain convenient most of the time, in order to make using the vacuums easy and comfortable.

Fortunately, both Roomba 650 and Roomba 805 meet the requirements written above. If you would like to learn some more technical information, the Roomba 650 measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 3.58 in. and weighs 7.72 lb. while the Roomba 805 measures 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.62 in. and weighs 8.4 lb.

Price

Price is another important aspect when choosing a new robotic vacuum, and most of the time it’s the first thing people check. This is why you may already know the price difference, nonetheless, we still decided to touch on this aspect.

The Roomba 650 can be currently a little hard to find, however, the price usually oscillates around $289.99 (Click here to see the current price!). Its competitor – The Roomba 805 can be found on Amazon for the price of $179.99 when used (Click here to see the current price!).

You should also keep in mind, that the price tends to fluctuate quite a bit, therefore, we would recommend visiting the links above before making the final decision.

Necessary maintenance

Maintenance is something, that many people don’t pay attention to when buying a new robotic vacuum. In our opinion, it’s a big mistake, as in order to keep your new unit operating at the desired level and prevent permanent damage you have to take basic maintenance steps.

We won’t be getting into details here, as it would simply make the whole article too long. We will, however, give you a few basic maintenance tips, that should work for most of the robotic vacuums.

In order to keep your new robotic vacuum operating at the desired level, you will have to:

• Regularly clean/rinse all the brushes
• Regularly check the brush roll and side brushes for any stuck dirt and/or debris
• At least once a week clean the cover of the vacuum/wheels
• Replace any used or damaged elements as fast as possible
• Regularly empty and check the vacuum’s dustbin for any stuck dirt or debris

Once again, we highly recommend reading the user’s guide in order to learn all the crucial maintenance steps.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Roomba 650 and Roomba 805 are great entry-level, reliable vacuum cleaners. Either one of them should be sufficient for a standard everyday floor cleaning, however, there are a few key differences, that you should keep in mind.

Some of the most important differences are battery life (Roomba 650 can operate for 30 minutes longer), capacity (Roomba 805 has 0.2 L. more dustbin capacity), and full bin indicator (this feature is only present in Roomba 805).

Based on the factors above, we would say, that the Roomba 650 is a winner of this comparison. This is mainly due to a longer battery life which can be quite handy for people with bigger households. Nonetheless, it’s up to you to decide which one will be more suitable for your situation.

We hope, that after reading this article you will be satisfied with your final choice.