iRobot Roomba 690 vs EcoVacs Deebot N79S – What’s the best robotic vacuum under $300?

Spread the love

If you dislike cleaning as much as me, you likely don’t get around to vacuuming as often as you should. The need for frequent vacuuming increases when you have others in the house contributing to the mess; whether it’s children or pets leaving behind dirt, kitty litter, or fur.

To address this challenge, there have been several generations of robotic vacuums which have increased in intelligence and power over time. Two of the best robotic vacuums you can buy at a reasonable price are the iRobot Roomba 690 and EcoVacs Deebot N79S.


Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Comparison

iRobot Roomba 690

Pros

Pros
  • Intuitive control using iRobot app
  • Better cleaning performance and navigation sensors
  • Works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

Cons

Cons
  • Higher average price
  • Occasionally misses spots while cleaning

EcoVacs Deebot N79S

Pros

Pros
  • Lower list price
  • Newer N79S model has 50% more power than the previous version
  • Provides Find Me alert if it gets stuck

Cons

Cons
  • Lower suction and cleaning performance
  • Issues with ECOVACS HOME app controls
  • Occasionally misses spots while cleaning
  • Does not work with Google Assistant

Detailed Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Review

Review Categories:

  • Ease of Setup
  • Cleaning Control & Quality
  • Charging & Other Features
  • Pricing

EASE OF SETUP

Robotic vacuums are mostly plug-n-play after finding the ideal location for the charging base. It’s recommended to put the base in a location that’s clear from obstacles, close to an outlet, and has a strong WiFi connection for best results. You’ll need to power on the vacuum and place it on the base so it can fully charge.

Using the iRobot HOME or ECOVACS HOME app, you will need to connect your robotic vacuum to the WiFi network following the instructions on the screen. You will then activate the robotic vacuum and set up the cleaning schedule on the mobile app.

Advantage: Tie

CLEANING CONTROL & POWER

While both robotic vacuums work on most floor types, they work best on carpet since the mid-range models have less power than their higher-end peers. However, these mid-range vacuums will do wonders for the majority of homes looking for a reasonably priced robotic vacuum.

iRobot Roomba 690
iRobot Roomba 690 Robotic Vacuum

During regular use, you can tell the difference in suction power, dirt sensors, and smart navigation between the iRobot Roomba 690 and EcoVacs Deebot N79S robotic vacuums. The Roomba 690 has more power to pickup smaller particles and can sense when an area needs more passes to fully clean. The Dirt Detect feature works great and you can actually see the Roomba working harder on some spots. When testing on hair and animal fur, the Roomba seemed to be more effective at picking up finer particles than the Deebot.

One thing to note, EcoVacs updated the Deebot N79 model to the new Deebot N79S which now provides up to 50% more suction power. This helps narrow the gap between the two, but the iRobot Roomba 690 still appears to perform better overall.

Advantage: iRobot Roomba 690

CHARGING & OTHER FEATURES

The iRobot Roomba 690 and EcoVacs Deebot N79S robotic vacuums automatically return to the charging base when power is getting low. This is one thing you don’t need to worry about.

Both vacuums have smart features that help detect proximity to walls, furniture, and even stairs to prevent a costly tumble. The EcoVacs Deebot N79S has a neat Find Me feature to alert you to the vacuum’s location when it gets stuck under furniture or somewhere you can’t see.

EcoVacs Deebot N79S
EcoVacs Deebot N79S Robotic Vacuum

Finally, the mobile apps for these two robotic vacuums are similar in function, however, the iRobot HOME app is far superior and actually works like it should. You can tell iRobot has been building robotic solutions for a long time and continues to do a great job putting the power in your hands.

Advantage: iRobot Roomba 690

PRICING

iRobot Roomba 690

EcoVacs Deebot N79S


Recommended Robotic Vacuum

There is no doubt the iRobot Roomba 690 (Buy Now) is the clear leader and is our top recommendation when it comes to the best robotic vacuum under $300. The intelligence and power iRobot has designed into this vacuum will make your home cleaner day-by-day without you lifting a finger.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.