In this article, we will talk about two very popular robotic vacuums – Roomba 960 vs 805.

Robotic vacuums are getting more and more popular nowadays, thanks to constant improvements. The manufacturers continuously enhance their cleaning technologies, in order to achieve the best efficiency at an affordable price.

This has led to a new problem which is picking the right robotic vacuum. Some may say, that the market is flooded right now with a wide range of products. Each popular brand has many series available, and choosing one product is quite hard, especially for beginners.

This is why we created this article – Today, we will compare two very popular robotic vacuums coming from a well-known company – Roomba 960 vs Roomba 805. Those two units are a common choice among people who are new to this type of technology.

Based on the opinions online, as well as our own experience, we will give you a thorough review of each robotic vacuum. At the end of the article, we will also pick a winner of this comparison.

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

Roomba 690 vs Roomba 805

NAME:	Roomba 690	Roomba 805
MAXIMUM SUCTION:	600 Pa	600 Pa
SIZE:	13 x 13 x 3.6 in.	13.90 x 13.90 x 3.62 in.
WEIGHT:	7.8 lb.	8.4 lb.
NOISE LEVEL:	66 dB.	65 dB.
UNIQUE FEATURES:	Compatible with iRobot Home app, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant	–
CAPACITY:	0.6 L. (20 oz.)	0.6 L. (20 oz.)
BATTERY LIFE:	90 minutes	60 minutes
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	Amazon.com	Amazon.com

Main differences

In the beginning, we would like to address, that each vacuum from this comparison is a reliable product. What’s more, we are convinced that either one of them should be sufficient for everyday cleaning. However, there are some key differences, that you should keep in mind.

The first major difference is brush design. The products feature different cleaning technologies, Roomba 805 has a special “AeroForce™ Tangle-Free Extractor” brush while the Roomba 690 has a special “Dual Multi-surface Brushes” brush. The first one should work way better with pet hair, therefore it’s definitely something to consider if you are a pet owner.

The second important dissimilarity is battery life. Battery life is the most limiting factor in all cord-free cleaning devices, so if you have a bigger household or you want to cover a large area, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

The Roomba 690 can operate for 90 minutes while the Roomba 805 operates only for up to 60 minutes. This can be quite surprising as the first model features more advanced technology and similar suction. The charging time of both models is fairly similar which is approximately 120 minutes.

The last crucial difference is connectivity. Most of the time, the manufacturers offer many remote control features to make using their products more convenient. Smartphone connectivity and voice commands are standard nowadays. Roomba 690 has all of those, however, the 805 models can be controlled only with a special remote controller.

Those are all the most important differences, that you should keep in mind. Based on the factors above you can already make the final decision, however, we would highly recommend reading the rest of the article. This way you can learn more well-detailed information.

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is one of the most important factors when choosing a new cleaning device. By this, we mean how well a particular unit does, compared to other vacuums. There are many factors, that influence the cleaning performance which we will talk about below.

The suction power in both robotic vacuums is approximately the same, therefore, neither one of them has an advantage. The performance of both units should be dependent mostly on the brush design and overall cleaning technology.

The Roomba 690 features a “Dual Multi-surface Brushes” brush, that works pretty well in most scenarios while the Roomba 805 features an “AeroForce™ Tangle-Free Extractor” brush, that was designed for easier pet hair cleaning.

We didn’t see any major difference when comparing vacuums in standard dirt and debris cleaning. However, you may want to consider the 805 model if you are a pet owner. This vacuum was designed specifically for people like you, therefore, we would highly recommend going after this option.

Each Roomba is provided with multiple sensors such as dirt detect sensors, full bin sensors, and cliff sensors. They allow the Roomba to smoothly navigate between and under most of the furniture. They also prevent the robotic vacuum from falling down the stairs.

Since both products don’t include any mapping technology, those sensors are the only way to determine the most efficient cleaning path. Due to the lack of mapping, there’s also only one way to set a boundary, that can’t be entered by Roomba. This is by using a special beacon-type device.

Depending on the listing, this special tower comes with a vacuum or can be purchased separately later on. Since there’s no other convenient way to set virtual boundaries, we highly recommend checking the price of those towers.

We would also like to mention, that those units have an auto-recharge function, that allows them to return to their docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning from the place they stopped. This can be very handy, especially for people who own big households.

Each unit also has multiple cleaning modes and a special schedule function. Depending on the model, you can activate them by your smartphone or remote controller, which comes included.

Capacity

Capacity is the second most important limiting factor, right next to the battery life. In most scenarios, the capacity of either Roomba shouldn’t be a problem. After all, the device will sooner run out of battery rather than empty space. However, it can be something to consider if you don’t want to empty the dustbin too often.

The Roomba 690 can hold up to 0.6 L. (approximately 20 oz.) while the Roomba 805 can also hold up to 0.6 L. (approximately 20 oz.). There’s no difference between those products. Most of the time, this capacity should be enough for two days of cleaning.

Noise level

Noise level is something, that many people don’t pay attention to, however, we always take this factor into consideration. After all, the robotic vacuums were created in order to free up your time, therefore, an extra loud vacuum in the background can be quite distracting.

The noise level of both Roombas oscillates around 65 dB which is a pretty standard noise level for a robotic vacuum. We would compare this noise level to a standard conversation or an operating microwave. 

Remote control features

The manufacturers often implement multiple remote control features, that make using their products much more convenient. We can say, that smartphone connectivity or simple voice commands are a standard nowadays.

However, the Roomba 805 can’t be operated in any other way than by using a special remote controller, that comes in the package. The situation looks different when it comes to the Roomba 690 which has a smartphone, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa connectivity.

With a few simple clicks on your smartphone, you can start the cleaning process or schedule it. After connecting the device to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, you can also use simple voice commands.

Battery life

The battery is the most limiting factor when it comes to the maximum cleaning time. Therefore, if you own a big household, or you want to cover a large area all at once, it’s definitely something to consider.

The battery life in those two Roomba products differs significantly, as the Roomba 690 can operate for up to 90 minutes whereas the Roomba 805 can operate for up to 60 minutes. This can be quite surprising, as the 690 model features more advanced technology and the same suction power.

The charging time in both models remains the same despite the difference in battery life, oscillating around 120 minutes.

Design

Design is the crucial part of every robotic vacuum, as they need to fit under and around most of the furniture. In order to achieve this, the design has to remain slim and low-profile, although, it also needs to be convenient, so most people don’t have any problems using the vacuum.

Fortunately, both units meet the requirements above, offering small and portable units, that are easy to use. If you would like to learn some more technical information, the Roomba 690 measures 13 x 13 x 3.6 in. and weighs 7.8 lb. The Roomba 805 measures 13.90 x 13.90 x 3.62 in. and weighs 8.4 lb.

Price

Price is probably the most important part when comparing different robotic vacuums, however, most people check the price right away. Although we still decided to touch on this aspect, as there are some things, that should be highlighted.

The price tends to fluctuate a lot, therefore, you may find the Roomba’s from this article in completely different prices from those written below. This is why we always recommend double-checking the price when comparing products.

The Roomba 690 is currently listed on Amazon for the price of $429.00 (Click here to see the price!), while the used Roomba 805 is also currently listed on Amazon for the price of $199.99 (Click here to see the price!).

Necessary maintenance

Maintenance is something, that is skipped by many people, however, in our opinion, it’s a big mistake. In order to keep your new robotic vacuum operating at the desired level and to prevent permanent damage, you should always take proper 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 couple of basic maintenance tips, that should work for most of the robotic vacuums. In order to learn all the important details, you will have to read the user’s guide.

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 robotic vacuums are reliable units, that should be sufficient for most people. Either one of them will be perfect for standard everyday cleaning, however, there are some details, that you should keep in mind before making the final decision.

Some of the most important differences are brush design (tangle-free in Roomba 805), battery life (30 minutes longer in Roomba 690), and connectivity (more remote control features in Roomba 690).

Based on the factors above, we would say that the Roomba 690 is a winner of this comparison. This is mainly due to longer battery life and better remote control features. Nonetheless, the Roomba 805 is still a great choice, especially if you own any pets.

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