iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver – How Good Is It?

Whenever you think of robot vacuums, there is a good chance that you will think of iRobot products. Such is the reputation of the company in developing state of the art robotic vacuum cleaners. And one of such vacuums that stand at the forefront is iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum cleaner. In this article, we will discuss everything about the Roomba 690.

What is iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver?

Features

Roomba 690 is the most prominent vacuum cleaner in iRobot’s 600 series. There are numerous reasons for this. It is rare that you find an economical robot vacuum cleaner that comprises features of a high-end model, and Roomba 690 is one such device. It comes with most of the modern features such as Wi-Fi, App Integration (smartphone sync), dirt detection sensors, and provision for scheduling, auto charging, and many more.

Design

When you see iRobot Roomba Black/Silver 690 for the first time, I am certain you will fall for its aesthetic looks. Its sleek design combined with a deadly color combo of black and silver is eye-catching. While the top of 690 is silvery in color, the outer ring is coated black. The interface of the unit located on the top is also pretty simple. The vacuum cleaner also comes with a handle for easy carry, especially, if you live in a multi storey home. The outer ring is made up of a cushy material so it can withstand any bumps caused by the walls, obstacles like furniture, etc, (just in case).

Pros and Cons of iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver

Pros

  • Very economical for the features it has to offer
  • App integration feature allows you to control Roomba 690 via your smart phone
  • Compatible with Alexa (Amazon) and Siri (Google) voice commands
  • High power suction
  • Easy to set-up
  • Maneuvers well even in hard to reach places
  • Dirt detection system makes for a neat clean

Cons

  • A bit noisy
  • Low performance on plush (high pile) carpets
  • Not capable of mapping home properly

Specifications of iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver

Brand

iRobot

Model

Roomba 690

Height of the unit

3.6 inches

Weight

7.8 pounds

Type of floor

All types of indoor surfaces

Battery

1800 mAh

Capacity of the bin

0.3 liters

Cordless

Yes

Reusable Filters

Yes

Filter Type

HEPA

Bagless

Yes

Virtual Wall Control

Yes

Auto Dock

Yes

Charging time

2 to 3 hours

Run time

60 minutes

Warranty

1 year

Price

Check here

 

Who should buy iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver?

Since, Roomba 690 is considered as an all-rounder, people from most backgrounds are bound to love it. The versatility of the unit and its capability of cleaning the floor real quick is what make it a great choice for any home owner. However, in this section, we will identify the sections of the people to whom this iRobot might be most suitable.

Consumers who want Wi-Fi Connectivity along with app control

You can control Roomba 690 with your smart phone or through any other device by downloading iRobot app and logging into it. Now all you need to have is an internet connection, and irrespective of where you are you can control your robotic vacuum. For example, if you are on a holiday, you can order Roomba to clean the house while you are sipping on a cold beer in the Bahamas.

People who love machines that are easy to operate

Robotic vacuums itself are conceived to serve the purpose of reducing burden on people. Be it physical or technical, your robot should not give you any hard time while trying to use it. This is exactly what the Roomba 690 does! All you need to do is click on the start button and the device will be on its way!

Value for price lovers

One of the most attractive features of iRobot Roomba 690 is its low price. Unlike many of the robotic vacuums that offer the same functions at a high price, Roomba’s price is considerable low. With excelling in so many departments performance wise, and coming stacked-up with all the latest functionalities, Roomba can be one of the best choices for people who want the real value for their money.

Review of iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver

Now that we know about many of the features and functions of the iRobot - Roomba 690, let us now discuss some of them in detail so you know what exactly you are taking home with you.

Compact dimensions

Roomba 690 comes with a height of about 3.6 inches and its width is 13 inches. This smaller and compact size allows it to explore even the most hard-to-reach places like, underneath the sofa or a cupboard, where most vacuum cleaners can’t reach. This makes it a complete cleaner. Also, with a weight of 7.8 pounds, which is much less compared its contemporaries; Roomba is not capable of knocking down any items it may bump into on its way like chairs or tables. This makes the unit and its surroundings safe.

Cleaning capabilities

  1. Hard floors: It is safe to say that not many robotic cleaners are as efficient as Roomba 690 when it comes to cleaning the hard surfaces. Irrespective of the size of the particles of the debris lying around, be it be cereal, rice, sugar or kitty litter, iRobot Roomba can clean them all with ease.
  2. Carpet-Low pile: The same goes with the low-pile carpets as well. However, the only exception I found during the tests is, fine particles, like grounded coffee or sugar, can challenge the robot. Medium to large size debris is sucked way easily.
  3. Carpet-High pile: Similar to the low carpet’s case, here too, the only challenge posed to the machine was fine particles. While Roomba was able to suck 99% of cereal, rice, and kitty litter, it could only suck 60 to 70% of the sugar. May be a slight increase in the suction power in its upgrade will eliminate this downside.

Easy set-up

As mentioned earlier, Roomba is one of the most uncomplicated machines as far as setting-up and operating are concerned. Once the unit arrives, all you need to do is unbox it, let it get charged for a few hours and start using it. All the required accessories come pre-fixed from the manufacturer itself, so there is no need to worry about going through the manual and building the robotic vacuum.

Scheduling

If you want Roomba to clean the floors on a particular day and at a particular time, you can schedule it do so either on your smart phone or on the unit itself manually. Whatever option you choose, each of them is easy and pretty much self-explanatory. Simply press the “CLEAN” knob on the top of the device and then “START” button for Roomba to start the cleaning cycle.

Auto Recharge

As soon as the cleaning cycle finishes or the battery gets weak, Roomba drives itself to the docking station to get charged. It does this all by itself with no manual interference. That is why I say; with Roomba 690 at your disposal there is hardly any reason to worry about dirt floors.

Comparison chart of iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver Vs. Roomba 960 Vs. Roomba

Brand

iRobot

iRobot

iRobot

Model

Roomba 690

Roomba 960

Roomba 655

Height of the unit

3.6 inches

3.6 inches

3.62 inches

Weight

7.8 pounds

8.6 pounds

7.9 Pounds

Type of floor

All types of indoor surfaces

All types of indoor surfaces

All types of indoor surfaces

Battery

1800 mAh

2600 mAh

1800 mAh

Capacity of the bin

0.3 liters

0.3 liters

0.3 liters

Cordless

Yes

Yes

Yes

Reusable Filters

Yes

No

No

Filter Type

HEPA

HEPA

Other

Bagless

Yes

Yes

Yes

Virtual Wall Control

Yes

Yes, Dual mode virtual wall ®

One Virtual wall

Auto Dock

Yes

Yes

Yes

Charging time

2 to 3 hours

180 mins (app.)

180 minutes

Run time

60 minutes

Up to 75 minutes

60 minutes max

Warranty

1 year

1 year

1 year

 

Questions about iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver

 

  1. How does Roomba know where to go and clean?

As mentioned in the review, Roomba maneuvers all by itself. You just need to press the start button and starts vacuuming the floor of the entire room it is in. When it comes across hurdles like chair or sofa, it softly bumps into them, and then it automatically maneuvers around them.

  1. What is the durability of the filter and is it washable?

Life of the filter depends on the frequency of your usage and the floor area. There is an additional filter that comes along with the unit. Replace the old one with it after a couple of months if you are a daily user.

  1. Since iRobot Roomba 690 is app controlled, do you need a smart phone to use it?

No, iRobot Roomba 690 isn’t exclusively app controlled. You can use it manually by pressing the buttons located on the top and sides. They are self-explanatory and you can understand the function of each button easily.

Video of iRobot - Roomba 690 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum - Black/Silver Review:

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