Most people I know aren’t the very font of vacuuming. Even if they do enjoy it, they can’t deny that vacuuming is yet another necessary task that takes time away from more enjoyable activities. So if you are looking to cut back on the time you spend cleaning your house, why not go for a robotic vacuum cleaner? These appliances are easy to operate and can easily clean your home while you are at work or having fun elsewhere. There are plenty of brands and models to choose from, so here, I will compare the Eufy RoboVac 11S with the iRobot Roomba 690 to make your choice a little bit easier.
Quick Comparison Table –
RoboVac 11S vs Roomba 690
Both the Eufy RoboVac 11S and the Roomba 690 are good choices for anyone on a budget. Both vacuums offer great performances
Feature | Eufy RoboVac 11s | iRobot Roomba 690 |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | 12.8 × 12.8 × 2.9 in. | 13 × 13 × 3.6 in. |
Weight | 5.73 lbs. | 7.8 lbs. |
Battery | Lithium-ion | Lithium-polymer |
Run Time | 100 min. | 90 min. |
Dust bin capacity | 0.6 L | 0.4 L |
Wi-Fi connectivity | No | Yes |
Remote control | Yes | Yes |
HEPA filter | No | Yes |
Eufy RoboVac 11S
The RoboVac 11S is by far the quietest robotic vacuum I’ve ever tested. If you have the TV on or play music, you will not even notice that the vacuum is in the same room as you. I actually forgot that it was working hard while I was sampling my favorite band’s latest album.
On top of that, it is also the slimmest robotic vacuum I’ve ever tested. I’ve never had trouble with robotic vacuums getting stuck under my furniture, or being unable to clean underneath it, but I know that there are some very low coffee tables and shelves out that. Even a very small difference in height can make a difference, and if you have very little space between your floors and furniture, this is certainly something you need to consider. What’s the use of having a vacuum that can’t reach every spot in your house?
See our full Best Eufy RoboVac Vacuum Buying Guide.
The long run time is another advantage of the 11S. On hardwood floors, it can work for a solid 1.5 hours before it’s necessary to charge the batteries. If you have carpets or particularly dirty floors that require a power boost, then the overall run time will reduce, and the battery needs to charge sooner. However, the 11S had no trouble cleaning my entire downstairs area on one charge (approximately 2000 square feet).
While I have mostly hardwood floors and vinyl, I also have pets, so there’s plenty of furs that need to be vacuumed up. This is where the large dust bin of the 11S comes in handy. I don’t need to worry about the bin being full before the entire floors are cleaned. The bin is easy to remove and empty.
When the battery runs low, the 11S automatically shuts off the suction and returns to the charging base. Indicator lights on top of the vacuum quickly show you the state of the battery: if it’s blue, the battery is fully charged and the vacuum is ready for action; if it’s orange, the battery is charging. If the light is red, there’s an error. A chart on the bottom of the vacuum helps you to quickly figure out what the problem might be; perhaps there’s a clog or the vacuum didn’t fully dock onto the charging station. I have not had any trouble with my test subject, but a glance at the chart indicates that most problems seem to be easy to fix. If not, you can easily contact customer service.
One drawback of the 11S is the fact that it cannot be controlled via Wi-Fi. Unlike the Roomba 690, the 11S comes without an app. You can use the included remote control to start and stop cleaning runs and to schedule them ahead of time, but there’s little flexibility. The vacuum will run at the same time every day, and if you forget to schedule the vacuum before you leave the house, the vacuum will have to wait until you get back home. If you have a busy schedule and are often in a hurry—like I am—then remembering to turn on the vacuum before running out is likely to slip your mind.
What’s in the Box?
The RoboVac 11S arrives with a number of accessories:
- Vacuum and charging station
- Adapter
- Remote control with AA batteries
- Cleaning tool
- Two replacement brushes
- Two replacement filters
Pros
- The 11S is extremely quiet.
- The low clearance makes it perfect for homes with low furniture.
- It can clean even larger homes in one run due to its long run time.
- It is very easy to operate; a blinking red light and a beeping sound alert you if troubleshooting is necessary.
Cons
- It has trouble operating on dark carpets.
- Unless the charging station is set against a wall, the vacuum might have trouble docking properly, which means the battery won’t charge.
- There is little flexibility in scheduling or controlling your vacuum when you’re away from home.
iRobot Roomba 690
The Roomba 690 is perhaps not the most powerful vacuum in iRobot’s line, but it does a very good job cleaning up pet hair, crumbs, cat litter, and larger debris you might find under your kitchen table. Its dirt detection technology makes sure that the vacuum focuses on those high-traffic areas that quickly get dirty and need extra attention. Thanks to the side brushes and cleaning pads, the dust in your home stands no chance.
I have tested the 690 on several occasions now and have always been impressed with its determination to pick up whatever dirt it might find on my floors. The transition from one type of flooring to another has never been a problem, even if there is a significant height difference, like the spot where my hardwood floor is covered by a thick area rug.
Also Read: Roomba 980 vs. Neato Botvac D7 Comparison
The Roomba 690 has a shorter run time than the RoboVac 11S, so it usually needs to recharge before it finishes vacuuming my entire downstairs floors, but I can be sure that the vacuum gets every square inch cleaned.
This model does not move as erratically as other models I have tested, so I feel confident that it doesn’t skip any parts—unless I block it from accessing certain areas. The virtual wall that comes with the vacuum is a handy tool to control where I want the vacuum to run.
For example, I have two thin cables running along the wall in my living room, and once the vacuum got stuck on them. It hasn’t happened again since then, but I now prefer to block the 690 from cleaning that area while I’m not home.
The big plus of the 690, compared to the RoboVac 11S, is its Wi-Fi connectivity. You can use your smart device to download the appliance’s app, and controlling the vacuum is a breeze. Of course, Wi-Fi is not necessary to control it—you can always use the easy-access onboard buttons—but if you want to start a cleaning run during the day so that you come home to a clean house (or if you don’t feel like getting off the couch), then it’s easy enough to use the app to get your vacuum moving.
The dust bin on the 690 is easy to remove and empty. It’s not as large as the bin on the 11S, but since it is recommended that you regularly clean your vacuum no matter what, this is not that big of a drawback. Trouble-shooting your Roomba is also not as easy as it is with the 11S, but iRobot is known for its customer service, so if you can’t figure out on your own what’s wrong with your machine, you will find good support from the manufacturer.
You may also like: Roomba 860 vs 890, which one is better?
What’s in the Box?
- Vacuum and charging station
- Line Cord
- One virtual wall barrier with AA batteries
- One replacement filter
- One flat cleaning tool
Pros
- The Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to operate the vacuum even from far away.
- It easily transitions between different types of flooring.
- Special sensors detect particularly dirty areas and concentrate cleaning in these spots.
- The position and design of its brushes ensure that even tricky corners get cleaned.
Cons
- It might be too noisy for some people to have it run while you are at home.
- It does not always return to the base in time for charging, meaning you need to manually move it to the docking station.
- Carpets, particularly shaggy ones, significantly reduce the run time of a battery charge, meaning the vacuum needs to recharge more frequently.
Q&A Time
Q: Which model do you recommend for a home with several long-haired dogs?
A: Both the Roomba 690 and the RoboVac 11S are good vacuums for pet owners. The Roomba 690 has slightly more suction power, but the 11S has a larger dust bin, so you don’t have to empty it as often.
Q: I have a lot of cables on the floor of my office. How can I keep the vacuum from coming into that room?
A: The Roomba 690 comes with a virtual wall that you can position in a way to prevent the vacuum from entering your office. The RoboVac 11S does not have anything comparable, so you’ll either have to keep the door closed or build another physical barrier.
Q: I have a very dark carpet in the family room. Will that
A: Dark surfaces are a problem for most robotic vacuums. Their sensors sometimes don’t recognize them as a solid floor. With that being said, both vacuums operated well on my black-and-white area rug and I haven’t had any trouble with them myself.
Q: I really like the RoboVac 11S, but I wish it had Wi-Fi capability like the Roomba 690. Which one should I pick?
A: There is a newer model of the RoboVac 11S available. The Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30c runs for as long as the 11c and is just as quiet, but it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity. That means you can control the 30c via an app and also connect it to a voice-control system like Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Home Assistant. On top of it, the 30c comes with boundary strips that function much like Roomba’s virtual wall, so you can section off areas you don’t want the RoboVac to clean. It’s a little more expensive than the 11c, but it might be worth it for you.
Q: I’ve had several Roombas and would like to stick with this brand. But I really don’t need the Wi-Fi connectivity.
A: There are very good Roomba models available that are a bit more basic, but just as powerful as the 690. If Wi-Fi connectivity or app control is not as important to you, then maybe the Roomba 630 or 650 are better for your needs. We have a comparison of these models here: Roomba 630 vs 650 vs 690 Comparison.
Q: I think there are robotic vacuums on the market that can be voice-controlled. Are the RoboVac 11c or Roomba 690 two of those vacuums?
A: Since the RoboVac 11c cannot connect to Wi-Fi, it cannot be voice-controlled. But the Roomba 690 does have Wi-Fi connectivity and can be set up so that it can be controlled via Amazon Alexa.
Conclusion
Overall, both the Roomba 690 and the RoboVac 11S are great vacuums for the relatively small price tag. Unless you are looking for the latest and greatest, you’ll do well with either model. I personally like the RoboVac 11S a little better because it is quiet and slim, however, I have to give the nod to the Roomba 690 because of its Wi-Fi connectivity.
Even though you don’t get cleaning reports and can’t set your cleaning preferences like you can with newer Roomba models like the Roomba e5 or i7, you are still very flexible when it comes to programming and running the 690.
The fact that you can control the vacuum via the Home app while you are away from home is a great plus for anyone with a busy life. You might not remember to program your robotic vacuum while you are rushing out of the house in the morning, but having an app let you start the vacuum during your commute to work is a big plus.