iRobot 690 Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

Even though it was released in 2017, the iRobot Roomba 690 is still a popular robot vacuum. It has WiFi, an app and it is a budget-friendly model.

It is the best model in the 600 series and even though it is more of a low-budget vacuum, it still has smart and useful features you normally find only in high-end models.

Here are the main specs of the Roomba 690:

• Dimensions: 13 x 3.7 inches
• Weight: 7.8 lbs.
• Dual multi-surface brushes and sweeping brush
• Voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
• Runtime: 60 minutes; Charging time: 3 hours
• Noise level: 68 dB
• Dust bin: 20 oz

Design

The Roomba 690 is circular and has a silver and black body. While it is smaller than most Roomba models, it is also a bit above average in weight. The dust bin is positioned in the back and has a capacity of 20oz.

The controls are on top: you’ve got the power button, which also pauses the cleaning cycle, a spot cleaning button and a home button, for sending the Roomba 690 back at its dock.  

Features and performance

The Roomba 690 comes with an app (the iRobot HOME App) that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Once you download it you have to create an account and then pair the robot with your device, via the WiFi. There are clear instructions you can follow so setting up the robot is a breeze.

You can use the WiFi to turn on the Roomba 690 even if you are not at home and the app is as easy as it gets. You can check the battery level and schedule cleanings, receive notifications when the vacuum has finished its cycle, when it gets stuck or an error occurs, and you can also review your vacuum’s past cleanings from the Lifetime Performance Log section in the app.

The vacuum is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can just give a voice command and the robot will start cleaning.

When it comes to the quality of the cleaning, the Roomba 690 is quite powerful in terms of suction. It can pick up pretty much any debris, including small particles and pet hair. The vacuum has a runtime of approximately 60 minutes and when the battery is depleted, it knows to go back to its charging station (although it’s not always an easy task).

One cool feature of the vacuum is its dual mode virtual wall, which acts like a barrier, preventing the 690 to clean areas you don’t want it to clean. In the box you get the virtual wall which runs with 2 AA batteries and looks like a small tower that you can place wherever you want to. When it is in the ‘up’ position, it will create a 10-foot barrier and when it is in the ‘down’ position, the virtual wall will create a circular barrier of 4 feet.

The dual multi-surfaces brushes attached to the Roomba 690 make it easy for the vacuum to clean thoroughly pretty much any type of surface. There might be cases in which the robot struggles a bit with some types of carpets, but overall, the results are impressive. The Dirt Detect sensors on the vacuum work are also accurate and make the robot focus more on the areas where it detects more dirt.

Battery life is not that impressive with the Roomba 690. The robot can go for approximately 60 minutes on a single charge, which is not that great. It also takes about 3 hours to fully charge. Moreover, sometimes it has trouble returning to its charging station, if it is not placed really close by.

The Roomba 690 is a budget-friendly robot vacuum but still manages to pack some really high-end features. The fact that it has WiFi and supports voice command, while still having such a decent price, makes it a competitive product and one you should definitely consider.