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In this article, we will talk about two very popular robotic vacuums – Roomba 805 vs 880.

Nowadays, robotic vacuums are getting more and more popular, thanks to constant technological improvements. The manufacturers continuously improve their products, in order to make them more attractive and affordable to the customers. This has resulted in a new problem which is picking the right robotic vacuum.

Even though there are only a few top brands in terms of robotic vacuum cleaners, there are multiple series and hundreds of models available. Comparing the products can be time-consuming and quite hard, especially for people who are new to this way of cleaning – This is why we created this article.

Today, we will talk about two very common models – Roomba 805 vs Roomba 880. Both vacuums are very reliable products, that can provide a satisfactory cleaning performance. They are great entry-level robotic vacuums, that come at an affordable price and have a convenient design.

Based on the opinions online and our own experience, we will give you a thorough review of each product. At the end of the article, you can also find a winner of this comparison.

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

Table of Contents

Roomba 805 vs Roomba 880

Main differences

In the beginning, we would like to address that either one of the products is quite efficient, and should be more than satisfying for standard everyday cleaning. However, there are some key differences which you should keep in mind before making the final decision.

The first major difference is suction power. This is one of the most important aspects when picking a new robotic vacuum. Typically, the more suction a vacuum has, the better it is at removing deeply embedded dirt and debris. What’s more, high suction also comes handy when cleaning all types of pet hair.

The Roomba 805 can produce up to 600 Pa which is rather a standard suction, however, the Roomba 880 boasts as much as 1000 Pa. This is quite a significant difference, although, it’s up to you to decide whether additional power is needed.

Another important dissimilarity is the filtration system. The Roomba 880 is a more recent model, that comes with a renewed filtration system, boasting advanced HEPA filters. They allow the vacuum to pick up the finest dirt and debris from the air, which isn’t possible in the Roomba 805.

This can be handy, especially, for people with various allergies, nonetheless, it’s always better to keep your room clean in all ways possible. The only disadvantage about the filtration system is that neither Roomba has a complete seal technology – It prevents dust from completely escaping into the air.

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, although, we highly recommend reading the rest of the article in order to learn more well-detailed information.

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is one of the most important aspects when choosing a new robotic vacuum. By this, we mean how well a particular device does, compared to other products from a similar price range.

Both vacuums do a pretty good job of removing all kinds of dirt and debris. Either one of them should be completely sufficient for a standard everyday cleaning, although, increased suction gives a slight advantage to the Roomba 880.

The Roomba 805 can only produce 600 Pa while the newer version boasts 1000 Pa suction. We highly recommend considering the latter option for pet owners, or floors with many low-pile carpets. In this case, more power translates to quicker and more efficient cleaning.

NOTE: Neither Roomba is eligible for cleaning medium and high-pile carpets – There are other products available on the market which are far better for this type of surface. Nonetheless, both Roombas should do fine on low-pile carpets.

The filtration system in those products also differs, as the Roomba 880 uses a more advanced HEPA filter. They pick up the finest dirt and debris from the air which can’t be said about the competing, standard filtration system.

Neither one of the Roombas utilizes any mapping technology, therefore, the features present in them are limited. The navigation is strictly based on the sensors such as cliff-detect sensors, dirt-detect-sensors, etc. They prevent the Roomba from hitting walls too hard or falling down the stairs.

The units navigate by setting a random path, and bouncing around until the whole area is covered. While this may not be the most efficient cleaning system, it certainly gets the job done.

Since there is no mapping, you also can’t see cleaning map reports or block certain areas from the app level. The only convenient way to prevent Roomba from entering particular areas is to set up a beacon-type device (it can be either purchased with the product or bought separately later).

The battery life of both products is the same and we will talk about this more in the latter part of the article. However, we would like to address, that both models boast an “Auto-recharge” function, that allows the Roombas to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue the cleaning process.

Due to the lack of mapping, the Roomba won’t start from the same place it stopped – It will continue following a random path.

Those are pretty much all important aspects of the cleaning performance. Of course, there could be more indirect factors that can alter the performance, however, we will talk about them in the latter part of the article.

Capacity

Capacity sometimes can be a factor limiting maximum cleaning time. However, most of the time, the vacuum will run out of battery sooner, than from empty space in a dustbin. Nonetheless, it’s certainly something to keep in mind if you don’t fancy emptying the dustbin too often.

The Roomba 805 has a capacity of 0.6 L. (20 oz.) which is a pretty good score, considering the fact, that some vacuums only have 0.3 L. (10 oz.) of capacity. In the Roomba 880, the dustbin capacity wasn’t given by the manufacturer, although, we find that it’s also somewhere around 0.6 L. (20 oz.).

Noise level

Noise level is an aspect, that’s often skipped when comparing robotic vacuums, however, we always take it into consideration. After all, robotic vacuums were created in order to free up our time, therefore, an extra loud unit running in the background can be quite distracting.

Thankfully, both vacuums from this comparison operate at rather a standard level. Roomba 805 produces around 65 dB while Roomba 880 produces around 68 dB. In order to make it more understandable, it’s comparable to the noise level of a standard conversation or microwave operating.

Remote control features

The manufacturers usually provide multiple remote control features, in order to make using their products more convenient. In the newest units navigating through voice commands, official manufacturer’s apps or remote controllers is a standard.

However, both Roomba 805 and Roomba 880 don’t provide any other navigation system than the remote controller, that comes in a package. Nonetheless, it’s still a great option that has all the features such as starting the cleaning process, scheduling the cleaning process, and switching between different cleaning modes.

Battery life

Battery life is the main aspect limiting maximum cleaning time, therefore, it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you own a big household, or you want to cover a large area. Keep in mind, that with the “auto-recharge” function, you don’t really have to clean the whole area in one go.

The Roomba 805 can operate for up to 60 minutes, just like the Roomba 880. This should be enough for everyday floor maintenance – Of course, the runtime can change depending on the floor surface or the amount of dirt and debris.

Keep in mind, both vacuums have an “auto-recharge” function which allows the vacuums to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning. This way, you don’t have to worry about charging the vacuum for a majority of the time.

The charging time also remains at the same level, which is approximately 120 minutes. This is the time needed to get the vacuum charged to 100% battery capacity. However, with the auto-recharge function, the vacuum tends to charge only up to 80%.

Design

The design of the vacuums is another important aspect, as they need to fit under and around most of the furniture. What’s more, they have to remain convenient and easy to use most of the time. Fortunately, both vacuums from this comparison meet the requirements written above.

If you would like to learn some more technical information, the Roomba 805 measures 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.62 in. and weighs 8.4 lb. while the Roomba 880 measures 13.90 x 13.90 x 3.6 in. and weighs 8.38 lb. Those are typical dimensions for a robotic vacuum which should work perfectly fine in most households.

Price

The price of the vacuums is probably the first thing majority of people check when comparing different units. Therefore, you may already know the price difference, nonetheless, we still decided to touch on this topic as it’s quite important.

Used Roomba 805 can be found on Amazon for a total price of $179.99 (Click here to see the price!) while the Roomba 880 is currently a little hard to find. Some models can still appear on Amazon for a similar price to its competitor (Click here to see the price!).

Keep in mind to always double-check the price, as the numbers written above can already differ. This is because most of the models listed on the Internet are used, and can’t be purchased from the official store.

Necessary maintenance

Maintenance is another aspect, that’s often skipped when choosing a new robotic vacuum which, in our opinion, is a big mistake. In order to keep your new vacuum operating at the desired level, and to 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 couple of 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 robotic vacuums are quite efficient units, that should work very well in everyday cleaning. What’s more, either one should be more than sufficient for most of the customers, however, there are some key differences.

Some of the most important differences are suction power (Roomba 805 has 600 Pa suction power while the Roomba 880 has 1000 Pa suction), and filtration system (filtration system in Roomba 880 is much more advanced).

Based on the factors above, we would say, that the Roomba 880 is a winner of this comparison. However, this model can be quite hard to find – In this case, the Roomba 805 can be a great alternative, that should satisfy most of your needs.

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

Laura Avila

Laura Avila, a female writer and cleaning enthusiast, shares her expertise on Cleaningfan.com. With years of experience, Laura provides practical tips to maintain a clean and organized home. Her articles inspire readers to create a comfortable living space.