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

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 affordable and appealing to the customers.

This has created a new problem which is picking the right robotic vacuum for your household. It can be especially hard for people who are new to this kind of cleaning.

There are plenty of series available on the market, although, you may only know a few top manufacturers. They created thousands of products, and it’s impossible to compare all of them. That is why we created this article.

Today, we will focus on two very popular models, that are a common choice among many household owners – Roomba 805 vs Roomba 960. Those units are not only very efficient but also quite affordable, compared to many other models on the market.

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

Roomba 805 vs Roomba 960

NAME:	Roomba 805	Roomba 960
MAXIMUM CAPACITY:	600 Pa	900 Pa
SIZE:	13.9 x 13.9 x 3.62 in.	13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 in.
WEIGHT:	8.4 lb.	8.5 lb.
NOISE LEVEL:	65 dB	65 dB
UNIQUE FEATURES:	–	Advanced navigation system, more remote control features
CAPACITY:	0.6 l. (20 oz.)	0.6 l. (20 oz.)
BATTERY LIFE:	60 minutes	75 minutes
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	Amazon.com	Amazon.com

Main differences

In the beginning, we would like to address, that either one of those robotic vacuums should be a sufficient choice for everyday cleaning. They are overall good cleaners, that do not require your constant attention, opposed to the standard vacuums. However, there are some key differences, that you should keep in mind.

The first major difference is suction power. This is usually one of the most important factors when it comes to cleaning efficiency, and most of the time, the higher the suction the better. This is because vacuums with higher suction are better at removing deeply embedded dirt and debris.

Roomba 805 has only 600 Pa suction while the Roomba 960 boasts 900 Pa suction. This difference can be seen mainly on rugs and carpeted areas, or when removing larger parts of dirt and debris. Nonetheless, both should be sufficient for standard, everyday cleaning.

Another important dissimilarity is runtime. This will be the main limiting factor when it comes to the maximum cleaning time. Therefore, if you want the vacuum to clean as much area as possible in one go, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

Roomba 805 can operate for up to 60 minutes while the Roomba 960 can operate for 75 minutes. Additionally, you have to keep in mind, that both vacuums have an “auto-recharge” function, that allows them to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning after.

The next difference is the navigation system. Roomba 960 has a much more advanced navigation system that uses Visual localization. It allows the Roomba to create and navigate by the best possible cleaning path, opposed to just randomly bouncing around like the Roomba 805.

The last dissimilarity is remote control features. Special apps, voice commands, and remote controllers are a standard in today’s robotic vacuums. However, there is only one way to navigate the Roomba 805, and it’s through the remote controller.

Roomba 960 can be operated using a special manufacturer’s app, as well as simple voice commands, thanks to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

Those are pretty much all the important aspects, that you should know about. Based on the factors above, you can already make the final decision, although, we highly recommend reading the rest of the article. This way, you won’t skip any important details.

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is one of the most important aspects when comparing robotic vacuums. By this, we mean how well a particular unit does, compared to other vacuums from a similar price range. In this case, both units are doing a great job when it comes to overall performance.

The suction is the main difference when it comes to the cleaning system. Like we mentioned earlier, the Roomba 960 offers 300 Pa more suction, which can be noticeably on carpets and rugged areas, although, most of the time it won’t be a big problem.

Considering the fact, that both vacuums were created for standard, everyday cleaning, most of the customers should be satisfied with either option.

NOTE: Both Roomba 805 are compatible with bare floors and low-medium pile carpets. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend using them on high-pile carpets or very dark hardwood floors.

The navigation system in both units also hugely differs, as the one in Roomba 960 is more advanced. It utilizes visual navigation which works by temporarily scanning the room and picking the best possible cleaning path. 

Then, the unit navigates in tight little rows, opposed to just randomly bouncing around like the Roomba 805. Thanks to this feature, the cleaning process is more efficient and the floor can be cleaned faster.

Unfortunately, there is no mapping in either model, therefore, features such as no-go zones or clean zones aren’t available. The only convenient way to keep Roomba 805 and Roomba 960 out of a certain area, is to use a “Dual-mode barrier” which is a beacon device, that can be placed on the floor.

Like we mentioned earlier, both vacuums have an “auto-recharge” function, that allows them to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning. You don’t have to do anything, as the whole process is automized. However, due to the lack of mapping, the vacuum won’t start from the same place it stopped.

Those are pretty much all the important aspects of cleaning performance. To be honest, though, there may be some in-direct factors which can alter the cleaning performance, however, we will talk about those in the latter part of the article.

Capacity

Capacity most of the time won’t limit maximum cleaning time, as the battery tends to run out faster. However, it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you don’t fancy emptying the dustbin too often.

The capacity of both Roomba 805 and Roomba 960 is completely the same which is 0.6 L. This should be more than enough for a couple of days of cleaning, although, we highly recommend taking regular maintenance. This highly reduces any chances of damage.

Noise level

Noise level is an aspect, that’s often skipped when comparing robotic vacuums, however, we always take this factor into account. 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.

The noise level of both Roomba 805 and Roomba 960 is very similar, the units produce approximately 65 dB. This is a typical noise level for the majority of robotic vacuums, and it might be hard to find something quieter.

Remote control features

The manufacturers usually implement multiple remote control features, in order to make using their products easier and more convenient. Things such as voice commands, special smartphone apps, and remote controllers are standard.

However, this can’t be found everywhere – The only way to control Roomba 805 is through a special remote controller. Its opponent – the 960 model allows for much more flexibility, offering Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatibility, as well as an official manufacturer’s app.

Battery life

The battery life is an important aspect, as it’s the main limiting factor in terms of maximum cleaning time. Therefore, if you want your new vacuum to operate as long as possible in one go, it’s definitely something to keep in mind. We also recommend taking this aspect into consideration if you own a big household.

The maximum runtime for Roomba 805 is 60 minutes while the maximum runtime for Roomba 960 is 75 minutes. This isn’t a huge difference, although, we always try to cover even the smallest dissimilarities.

You should also keep in mind, that both units have an “auto-recharge” function, that allows the vacuums to go back to their docking station, recharge, and continue cleaning after. The vacuums won’t start from the exact place they stopped, as neither one of them has a mapping technology.

Design

Design is another important aspect of every robotic vacuum, as they need to fit under and around most of the furniture. What’s more, most of the time, the design has to remain convenient and easy to use. Thankfully, both units meet all the requirements mentioned above.

If you would like to learn some more technical information, Roomba 805 measures 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.62 in. and weighs around 8.4 lb. while the Roomba 960 measures 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 in. and weighs 8.5 lb. Both products are rather portable which inevitably is an advantage.

Price

Price is another crucial aspect, however, most people check the price difference right away. Therefore, you probably already know the price difference, nonetheless, we still decided to touch on this aspect.

Used Roomba 805 can be found on Amazon for the price of $199.99 (Click here to see the price!) while the Roomba 960 also can be found on Amazon for the price of $443.99 (Click here to see the price!). It’s a big difference, as one of the models can be found only used.

We highly recommend always double-check the price, as it tends to fluctuate a lot. What’s more, on Amazon the vacuums tend to be often discounted.

Necessary maintenance

Maintenance is another aspect, that is often skipped by people who own robotic vacuums. It’s a huge mistake, as in order to keep your new Roomba operating at the desired level, as well as to prevent permanent damage you should always take proper maintenance steps.

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

In order to keep your new Roomba operating at the desired level, you should:

• 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 need to address, that those are only a couple of basic maintenance steps. If you want to learn all the essential details, you will have to read the user’s guide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both vacuums are very efficient units, which should be sufficient for most of the customers. However, there are some key differences which you should keep in mind before making the final decision.

Some of the most important differences are suction power (Roomba 960 has 300 Pa more suction power), runtime (Roomba 960 can operate 15 minutes longer), navigation system (Roomba 960 has a much more advanced navigation system with visual localization), and remote control features (Roomba 960 can be operated through voice commands or official manufacturer’s app).

Based on the factors above, we can easily say, that the Roomba 960 is a winner of this comparison. This vacuum is better in almost every aspect, compared to its opponent. Nonetheless, the Roomba 805 is still a fairly efficient unit, that won’t have any problems with day-to-day cleaning.

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